APOSTOLIC VISIT of  HIS HOLINESS IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS,

The Patriarch of Antioch and all the East,

The Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Church

His Holiness in INDIA from October 17-29th, 2008

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PATRIARCH ACCORDED WARM RECEPTION

 

NEDUMBASERRY, oCTOBER 17, 2008:  The supreme spiritual head of the Universal Syrian Church, Patriarch Ignathios Zaka-I Bava who arrived at the Kochi International Airport here as a part of his fourth apostolic visit to the Malankara Jacobite Church was accorded a warm reception on Friday morning.

 

The 26 metropolitans of the Jacobite Syrian Church led by Catholicos Thomas-I and scores of priests were among the hundreds of faithful who thronged the airport on Friday to receive their spiritual leader.

 

The airport witnessed total chaos when the Patriarch was escorted from the apron to the terminal of the airport. The arrangements made by the CISF and the CIAL authorities were ignored by the faithful. Many of the CIAL staff tried to get a closer view of the Patriarch defying the instructions of the CISF. The mediapersons who were provided seats in the airport terminal for attending the press meet of the Patriarch were pushed away by the mob.

 

Addressing the mediapersons at the airport, Zaka-I Bava said that his visit would further nurture the communal harmony in the State. He said specifically that his visit would not hurt any person or Church. Kerala is known for the cordial relationship among various communities, he recalled.

 

Zaka-I Bava who reached the airport by the Emirates Flight at 8.40 am, was received by Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, Metropolitans Joseph Mar Gregorios, Kuriakose Mar Julios and Alias Mar Athanasios, Church spokesperson Fr Varghese Kallappara, Church secretary Thambu George Thukalan, Church Trustee George Mathew Theckethalackal, K Babu MLA, former ministers P P Thankachan, P C Chacko, T M Jacob and T U Kuruvilla MLA, District Panchayat president P S Shyla, GCDA chairperson M C Josephine, V J Poulose, Benny Behanan and MA Chandrasekharan.

 

Patriarch Zaka-I was accompanied by Metropolitan Mathiyas Mar Philizinos (Damascus), Arch Bishops Augen Mor Cleemis (California) and Daniel Mor Cleemis (Beirut), three Rambans and two nuns. The Patriarch later left for Puthencruz by road escorted by hundreds of faithful at 9.40 am.

 

A strong police contingent led by DySP P N Unnirajan was deployed in the city-side of the airport. District Police Superintendent P Vijayan supervised the security arrangements at the airport.

Source:

The New Indian Express, 18 Oct. 18, 2008

 

 

 

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