A
most
Exclusive interview with His
Holiness the Patriarch
Moran
Mor
Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas, by "Melthodhaye"
The Patriarchal
Youth
Organization, www.melthodhaye.com ,
has recently published
the first and
only
EXCLUSIVE
interview with
His Holiness
Moran Mor
Ignatius Zakka I
Iwas, Patriarch
and Supreme head
of the Syriac
Orthodox Church
of Antioch and
all the East!
In this unique
interview His
Holiness
reflects upon
his life and his
journey from
childhood all
the way to being
ordained as
Patriarch. H.H
also speaks
about his role
as Patriarch and
how a normal day
is lived as the
shepherd of the
Syriac Orthodox
Church.
"If I preach,
first of all I
preach (to)
myself, then I
preach (to) the
people."
"The main thing
for us, the
clergy, is to
fear God, to be
in faith and to
love one
another. To love
God, love our
Lord Jesus
Christ, and love
our neighbour.
And to serve our
church, and to
serve anyone
that needs our
service, in a
sacrifice way,
not to be
selfish. To deny
ourself for the
benefit of our
church and
humanity."
'We are proud of
Melthodhaye
which, in a
short time, they
took their
position in the
church as young
people, the
faithful, and
holding (the)
doctrine of our
Lord Jesus
Christ. And
trying to set
themselves (as)
a good example
to our youth. I
want them and
pray for them to
continue working
for the benefit
of the church...
And I want all
our youth to be
like them and
love the church,
God, and their
neighbours."
shubho
- Radio Malankara,
Internet Radio of Jacobite
Syrian Christian Church, the
fist internet Radio from
Malankara
www.radiomalankara.com
is now
available in (Mobile) Nokia
Internet Radio
To listen Radio Malankara in
your mobile please install the
Nokia Internet Radio
application.
To download the application
Please click on this link
Listen and Be Blessed
Mor Gabriel Church in Mount
Lebanon to be consecrated
by Holy Father on August 08,
2010
Kesrwan, Mount
Lebanon:
His Holiness the
Patriarch Moran
Mor Ignatius
Zakka I Iwas
will celebrate
the consecration
of the Mor
Gabriel Church
and the Syriac
Center in
Ajaltoun –
Kesrwan – Mount
Lebanon on
August 8, 2010.
It is a pioneer
center in the
Syrian orthodox
church of
Antioch, and one
of the most
important
projects of the
Archdiocese of
Mount Lebanon.
It stands in the
town of Ajaltoun,
the capital city
of Kesrwan and
is 15 km away
from the coastal
city of Jounieh
and 30 km to the
north away from
Beirut, the
capital of
Lebanon, admits
most of the
villages and
towns in the
mountain. Anyone
going up the
mountains or
down to the
coast passes
through this
town –Ajaltoun-
the center is 50
m away from the
highway.
The
overall area of
the land is 3600
m2 and the built
area is around
28000 m2. It is
composed of many
buildings in 8
stories: 3
underground
floors and 5
above the
ground. The
lower stories
are halls and
parking lots and
storage rooms,
used for
different
purposes while
the upper
stories include
the big church
and reception
halls, gathering
rooms, learning
and training
rooms and
bedrooms. There
are seven halls
on the different
floors for
information
gatherings,
meetings,
conferences,
researches and
church studies,
educational,
social,
ecumenical and
national
activities,
especially the
meetings for
religious
dialogues
(Christian-Christian
and
Christian-Muslim)
and general
activities about
issues like
ecumenical work,
human rights,
justice and
peace, woman,
youth and
children, people
with special
needs and
handicapped
(disabled), and
so on…that falls
within the
activities and
specialization
of the world
council of
churches (WCC)
and the middle
east council of
churches (MECC)
and other
organizations.
Innovative
ideas of Prof.
Varkey Mathew
resulted in a
cost effective
helmet
18
July 2010, Kottayam, Kerala:
Prof Varkey Mathew has come up
with an innovative helmet which
has developed from stem of a
plantain tree. He has utilized
the possibilities of Nano
technology, which is a fast
growing research technology wing
in the modern world for his
invention.
Prof. Varkey Mathew is a member
of St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox Church, Panampady,
Kottayam and is presently the
Sunday School teacher of St.
Joseph's Cathedral, Kottayam.
His wife, Reeba Varkey is also a
prominent personality who was
the ex-Chairperson of Kottayam
Municipality.
Roman Orthodox Church delegates
visits Holy Father
14 July 2010,
Ma'arat
Sayyidnaya,
Damascus: A two
member
delegation from
Roman Orthodox
Patriarchate at
Damascus visited
His Holiness at
St. Ephraim's
Patriarchal
Monastery here
on July 14,
Wednesday. The
delegation
included Fr.
Alexius and Mr.
Samer Shehedeh.
Fr. Alexius is
the director of
Ecumenical
Relations of
Roman Orthodox
Church. They
invited His
Holiness to the
forthcoming
conference about
Orthodoxy hosted
by the Roman
Orthodox Church
at Damascus.
Source: Syriac
Orthodox Patriarchate, Damascus
Turkish church
defaced with
Islamist
graffiti
Some offenders
deface the stone
walls of the
church with
various slogans
in Turkish, such
as “Clear off,
bastards” and
“Clear off,
Zionist dogs.”
DHA photo
14 July 2010,
Mardi'n:
Police
have started an investigation
after a suspected group of
people defaced the façade of the
1,700-year-old Mor Jacob Syriac
Orthodox Church in Nusaybin, in
the southeastern province of
Mardin, with pro-Islamic
slogans. The offenders allegedly
defaced the stone walls of the
church on Monday with various
slogans, such as "Clear off,
bastards," "Clear off, Zionist
dogs," "Heretics, lay off," and
"Zionist powers, clear off," in
Turkish and, "Allah u Muhammed,"
and "Prophet Muhammad, fight the
infidels and hypocrites," in
Arabic. The police will
fingerprint the lid of a paint
tin found on the ground at the
site of the graffiti and will
also fingerprint the wire fence
surrounding the church, which is
currently undergoing
restoration.
Nusaybin Mayor Ayºe Gökkan and
members of the town council also
went to the church upon hearing
of the vandalism, denouncing the
act.
Gökkan said the graffiti was an
insult to all members of the
Nusaybin community, whether
Syriac Orthodox, Kurdish,
Arabic, or Yezidi.
According to Gökkan, the offense
was not committed by one person
but by a group of people. Noting
that renovators had placed a
wired fence around the church
for construction purposes,
Gökkan said it would have been
impossible for one person to
climb and tear down the fence,
enter the church grounds and
deface the walls.
"If the police respect all
cultures, they should quickly
solve this case and prosecute
the offenders. The case is going
to be followed closely by the
municipality. [The municipality]
is not going to regard this as
an ordinary crime. Mor Jacob
Church is an asset to people of
all religions who belong to this
community, and the community is
going to protect this asset," he
said.
The church reportedly dates from
313 A.D. and is currently being
restored by the Mardin
Directorate of Museums.
Mehmet Deniz, the directorate's
resident art historian, Ural
Züngör, a museum restorer and
member of Istanbul University's
Department of Restoration
faculty and Süleyman Bayar, an
archaeologist, went to the
church to investigate the
incident.
The three collected paint
samples and said the graffiti
could be removed without
damaging the church's historical
texture.
The church is expected to
re-open its doors once the
restoration project is complete.
"Church
ready to compromise for
religious harmony of Kerala"
Catholicos
12
July 2010, Aluva, Kerala:Malankara
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
is ready for any compromise to
keep up the religious harmony in
India,
said Catholicos His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I. His Beatitude
was inaugurating the joint
Managing Committee and Diocesan
Council of Ankamali Diocese at
Aluva. Metropolitan of Ankamali
Region of the diocese, Dr. Mor
Severios Abraham presided over.
Metropolitans Mor Gregorios
Joseph, Mor Athanasius Elias
were present. Regional Secretary
Rev. Fr. Varghese Kallappara,
Priests Secretary Very Rev. Baby
John Cor Episcopus, C Y
Varghese, Baby Varghese, Reji C
Varkey, Adv. Jeyby Paul spoke on
the occasion.
"Revival
of Youth" - a Two Day Camp
organized jointly by Mor Behnan
Study Circle (MBSC) and Mor
Gregorian Centre, Thoothootty
concluded
12 July 2010,
Thoothooty, Kottayam, Kerala:
"Revival of Youth" a 2 day camp
organized jointly by Mor Behnan
Study Circle (MBSC) and Mor
Gregorian Centre, Thoothootty
concluded at Mor Gregorian
Centre here on July 12,
Saturday. The camp started on
July 11, Saturday with the
retreat led by Metropolitan Mor
Philoxenos Zacharias at 9.30 AM.
The discussion session started
at 5.30 PM at Mor Gregorian
Centre premises. Metropolitans
Their Eminence Mor Coorilos
Geevarghese, Mor Osthatheos
Ishaq and Mor Philoxenos
Zacharias led the session. Biju
Piravom welcomed the gathering.
Very Rev. Cor Episcopus
Kuriakose Moolayil D.Min, Chev.
Bibby Abraham (Chief Editor,
Viswasasamrakshakan), John
Philip Kottaparambil (Admin,
http://SyrianChurch.org), Rev.
Fr. George Vayaliparambil
(General Secretary, MGJSM), Adv.
Abeesh Nadamel and others
participated. Delegates from
different parts of the country
participated. Dany Mukhathala
presented the report of the Mor
Behnan Study Circle.
11
July 2010, Kunnamthanam,
Thiruvalla, Kerala:
"Every Jacobite family should
become a temple of God", said
Mor Coorilos Geevarghese,
Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese.
His Eminence was inaugurating a
one day seminar organized by the
Martha Mariyam Vanitha Samajam
of Niranam diocese, held at St.
Peter's JSO Church, Kunnamthanam.
Fr. Thomas Palliyampil led the
Bible study and Fr. Mathew
Philip conducted Bible Quiz.
Very Rev. Mathews
Vadakkeparambil Cor-Episcopus
presided over the seminar. Fr.
Thomas Cherian, Diocesan
Secretary welcomed the gathering
and Mrs. Annamma Abraham,
Secretary of the
SAMAJAM proposed vote of thanks.
Over 100 delegates participated.
Mor Gregorios
Jacobite Syrian
Youth
Association
(MGJSYA) Mumbai
Diocese, One Day
Retreat held
11 July 2010, Marol,
Mumbai:
A one day
youth retreat of the Mumbai
diocese MGJSYA was held at St.
Ignatius Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox Church , Marol, Mumbai
on Sunday, 11th July 2010. Rev
Fr. James Abraham, working
president of MGJSYA presided
over the retreat, which was
attended by a large number of
youth members from all the
parishes of Mumbai Diocese. The
retreat consisted of various
songs, interactive sessions,
group activity etc. One of the
eminent speakers Br. Biju
Dominic delivered a powerful
message to the youths.
147th Parish Day
Celebrations and
Anniversary of
Family Units of
Manthalir St.
Thomas JSO
Church concluded
11 July, 2010, Manthalir,
Kerala:
147th Parish Day Celebrations
and Second Anniversary of Family
Units concluded at St. Mary's
JSO Church here on July 11,
Sunday. Metropolitan of
Thumpamon Diocese Mor Milithios
Yuhanon inaugurated the
celebrations. Vicar Rev. Fr.
Sajan T John presided over. Hon.
Member of Legislative Assembly K
C Rajagopalan inaugurated the
Kuriakose Mor Coorilos
Charitable Fund. Meritorious
students from the parish were
given awards by the
Metropolitan. Renowned
Psychologist Justin Padamadn
conducted classes. Earlier in
the morning, Metropolitan Mor
Milithios led the Holy Tri Mass.
The celebrations concluded with
the love feast.
Holy Father
visits Most Reverend Dr. Rowan
Williams, Archbishop of
Canterbury at Lambeth Palace
08 July 2010,
London, UK:
Holy
Father visited Most Reverend Dr.
Rowan Williams, the Archbishop
of Canterbury, the Supreme head
of Anglican Church of England at Lambeth Palace, the official
residence of the Archbishop on
July 08, Thursday. His Holiness
was welcomed at the Palace by
the Archbishop himself. His
Holiness was accompanied by His
Eminence
Mor Athanasius Touma Dokkoma,
the Patriarchal Vicar for Great
Britain. His Holiness thanked
Archbishop for his historical
visit to the patriarchate few
years ago. His Holiness
presented the Archbishop a Holy
Bible in Syriac.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group of Christians in the world.
The current archbishop is the Most Reverend Dr. Rowan Williams. He is the 104th, in a line that goes back more than 1400 years to St. Augustine of Canterbury, the "Apostle to the English", who founded the Church in England in the year 597. From the time of St Augustine until the 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were in full communion with the See of Rome and thus received the pallium. During the English Reformation the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, at first temporarily under Henry VIII and Edward VI and later permanently during the reign of Elizabeth I.
Source: Syriac
Orthodox Patriarchate, Damascus
Centenary celebration of United
Theological College, Bangalore
concluded
08 July 2010, Bangalore:
The United Theological College,
Bangalore celebrated its
centenary (100 years) on July
8th with a grand function.
Function started off with a
thanks giving service at 11:00
A.M. in the college, followed by
a stone laying program. The
public meeting started at 4:00
pm, The honourable governor
of
Karnataka His Excellency
Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj was
present along with the UTC
council members and
distinguished guests from all
over the world. The Holy
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
was invited for this grand
function, since the same has a
major role in UTC's current
success. The church was
represented by H.G. Mor Aphrem
Mathews and the chance we got to
speak can be seen as a rare
honor and shows the closeness of
UTC to the Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox church.
Source: Fr. Jerry Kurian
of SOCM &
Fr. Jacob Joseph of
UTC
His
Excellency Dr. Sami Khiyami,
Ambassador of Syria to United
Kingdom visits Holy Father at
London
07 July 2010, London:
Ambassador of Syria to UK, His
Excellency Dr. Sami Khiyami
visited His Holiness Patriarch
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas at
Headquarters of the Patriarchal
Vicariate of Great Britain here
on July 07, Wednesday. His
Excellency wished His Holiness a
pleasant stay at London. His
Holiness thanked Dr. Khiyami for
the arrangements made for the
visit of His Holiness to UK.
Metropolitans Their Eminences
Mor Athanasius
Touma Dokkoma, the Patriarchal
Vicar for Great Britain, Mor
Severios Jamil Hawa, Patriarchal
Vicar for Baghdad & Basra and
Mor Silwanos Petrus Issa Al-Nemeh,
Patriarchal Vicar for Homas &
Hama were present.
Source: Syriac
Orthodox Patriarchate, Damascus
His Holiness consecrated St.
Thomas Syriac Orthodox
Cathedral, London
<
Consecration & Inauguration of
St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox
Cathedral, London, UK,
BBC ReportReport
03 July 2010, London:
His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius
Zakka I Iwas consecrated St.
Thomas Syriac Orthodox Cathedral
on July 03, Saturday here. The
Cathedral, situated at 7-11
Armstrong Road, Acton, London,
W3 7JL, had been built in a mere
six months at the cost of around
1.8 million pounds. The Church
is situated on the first floor
with a spacious community hall
below it and offices and clergy
living accommodation upstairs.
Metropolitans Their Eminences
Mor Philoxenos Mathias Nayis
(Assistant to the Patriarch),
Dr. Mor Coorilos Aphrem Karim
(Archbishop, Eastern USA), Mor
Athanasius Touma Dokkoma
(Patriarchal Vicar, Great
Britain) assisted His Holiness.
His Holiness was
borne into the Cathedral on his
throne, carried on the shoulders
of several burly deacons, whilst
the congregation clapped, the
women ululated and the children
threw flower petals. The
proceedings opened with words of
welcome and the gratitude of the
community (largely Syriac
Orthodox from Iraq) expressed in
their warm statements about
British hospitality and the
singing of the British National
Anthem.
Among messages received
were one from Her Majesty The
Queen, The Right Hon. Dr. Gordon
Brown and the Archbishop of
Canterbury, Most Rev. Rowan
Williams. The Patriarch was
accompanied by a large retinue
of Syriac Orthodox metropolitans
and clergy and relics of St.
Thomas had been brought from
Mosul for the new Cathedral.
Among the ecumenical guests were
HE Archbishop Gregorios of Thyateira (Ecumenical
Patriarchate), HE Metropolitan
John of Western & Central Europe
(Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of
Antioch), the Archbishop of
Westminster (Mgr. Vincent
Nichols) and the Bishop of
Gibraltar in Europe (Right Rev’d
Geoffrey Rowell).
The Oriental
Orthodox clergy, who joined the
Syriac Metropolitans in the
sanctuary, included HE
Archbishop Antonios of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church) and
from the Coptic Orthodox Church
HE Metropolitan Seraphim
(who read the Epistle in
English), HG Bishop Missael of
Birmingham, HG Bishop Antony of
Scotland, Ireland & NE England,
HG Bishop Elia of Khartoum and
HG Bishop Angaelos (General
Bishop for UK). A number of
priests from the Coptic,
Ethiopian, Eritrean, Armenian
and Malankara churches were also
present.
Latter
Patriarchal Vicariate
(Malankara) of UK gave His
Holiness, a prayerful Welcome at
St. Thomas Jacobite Syriac
orthodox Church. Secretary to
the Holy Regional Episcopal
Synod of Malankara His Eminence
Joseph Mor Gregorios, who is in
UK currently, presented His
Holiness the gift of the
vicariate on behalf of the
priests and laity. Metropolitans
Mor Philoxenos Mathias Nayis
(Patriarchal Assistant), Mor
Severios Malke Mourad
(Patriarchal Vicar, Jerusalem,
Jordan) accompanied His
Holiness. His Holiness expressed
great happiness in the fast
growth of the Malankara
Congregations in UK.
The
overall area of
the land is 3600
m2 and the built
area is around
28000 m2. It is
composed of many
buildings in 8
stories: 3
underground
floors and 5
above the
ground. The
lower stories
are halls and
parking lots and
storage rooms,
used for
different
purposes while
the upper
stories include
the big church
and reception
halls, gathering
rooms, learning
and training
rooms and
bedrooms. There
are seven halls
on the different
floors for
information
gatherings,
meetings,
conferences,
researches and
church studies,
educational,
social,
ecumenical and
national
activities,
especially the
meetings for
religious
dialogues
(Christian-Christian
and
Christian-Muslim)
and general
activities about
issues like
ecumenical work,
human rights,
justice and
peace, woman,
youth and
children, people
with special
needs and
handicapped
(disabled), and
so on…that falls
within the
activities and
specialization
of the world
council of
churches (WCC)
and the middle
east council of
churches (MECC)
and other
organizations.
The Archbishop of Canterbury is the chief bishop and principal leader of the Church of England, the symbolic head of the worldwide Anglican Communion, and the diocesan bishop of the Diocese of Canterbury. In his role as head of the Anglican Communion, the archbishop leads the third largest group of Christians in the world.
e 16th century, the Archbishops of Canterbury were in full communion with the See of Rome and thus received the pallium. During the English Reformation the Church of England broke away from the authority of the Pope and the Roman Catholic Church, at first temporarily under Henry VIII and Edward VI and later permanently during the reign of Elizabeth I.
of
Karnataka His Excellency
Shri Hans Raj Bhardwaj was
present along with the UTC
council members and
distinguished guests from all
over the world. The Holy
Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
was invited for this grand
function, since the same has a
major role in UTC's current
success. The church was
represented by H.G. Mor Aphrem
Mathews and the chance we got to
speak can be seen as a rare
honor and shows the closeness of
UTC to the Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox church.
03 July 2010, London:
His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius
Zakka I Iwas consecrated St.
Thomas Syriac Orthodox Cathedral
on July 03, Saturday here. The
Cathedral, situated at 7-11
Armstrong Road, Acton, London,
W3 7JL, had been built in a mere
six months at the cost of around
1.8 million pounds. The Church
is situated on the first floor
with a spacious community hall
below it and offices and clergy
living accommodation upstairs.
Metropolitans Their Eminences
Mor Philoxenos Mathias Nayis
(Assistant to the Patriarch),
Dr. Mor Coorilos Aphrem Karim
(Archbishop, Eastern USA), Mor
Athanasius Touma Dokkoma
(Patriarchal Vicar, Great
Britain) assisted His Holiness. 
Latter
Patriarchal Vicariate
(Malankara) of UK gave His
Holiness, a prayerful Welcome at
St. Thomas Jacobite Syriac
orthodox Church. Secretary to
the Holy Regional Episcopal
Synod of Malankara His Eminence
Joseph Mor Gregorios, who is in
UK currently, presented His
Holiness the gift of the
vicariate on behalf of the
priests and laity. Metropolitans
Mor Philoxenos Mathias Nayis
(Patriarchal Assistant), Mor
Severios Malke Mourad
(Patriarchal Vicar, Jerusalem,
Jordan) accompanied His
Holiness. His Holiness expressed
great happiness in the fast
growth of the Malankara
Congregations in UK.