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Apostolic Voyage to India -1982
October 21-22, 2002

 

 

The Patriarch with His Beatitude the Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II Bava of blessed memory

and the Metropolitans during H.H's first Apostolic Visit to India in 1982

 

Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas had his first Apostolic visit to India in 1982, two years after his enthronement as the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East.  Earlier in 1964, when he was the Metropolitan of the diocese of Musal, had visited Malankara along with his immediate predecessor Mor Ignatius Yakoob III who came here to consecrate Catholicos Baselios Augen I for the Malankara Church.  

The next visit of His Holiness to India was in April 2000, to attend the Episcopal Jubilee celebration of the then Metropolitan of the Knanaya diocese, H.E. Mor Clemis Abraham. Again in September 2004 His Holiness visited India and blessed the faithful members of the Holy Church. During this visit H.H's silver jubilee of the Patriarchal enthronement was inaugurated at a grand function held at Marive Drive, Cochin.

The mammoth gathering assembled at Marine Drive, Cochin, to hear the words of the

Holy Father during the Patriarchal day function of 1982

It was on February 3rd 1982, His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas reached Bombay, which marked the beginning of his first Apostolic visit to India.  He later spend almost two months in Malankara, accepting the warm wishes of the children of India.  His Holiness was received by the State Governments as their special guest and were provided with all the facilities.  Irrespective of caste, creed and denomination, people thronged in large numbers, wherever he visited.  When he reached at Cochin on 7th February he was accorded a royal and loyal reception by a crowd, nearly 300000, including the ministers and high dignitaries.  Unprecedented in the history of the Malankara Church, the Patriarch had warm receptions by the Roman Catholic Church, The Mar Thoma Syrian Church, the Church of South India, the Church of the East, the Independent Church of Thoziyoor and the Church of North India.  It has to be recorded that our Hindu and Muslim brother too accorded him a warm and memorable welcome.

Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II (late),   Mor Dionysius Thomas (Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I)

and the Lay Trustee P.E.Thomas Palampadom (late), receiving His Holiness the Patriarch

at the Cochin Airport on Feb 7, 1982

His Beatitude the Catholicos of the East Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II of blessed memory, accompanied His Holiness throughout the Apostolic visit.  The consecration of the Holy Mooron (Chrism) at the famous Manarcaud St.Mary's Church was one of the high points of the Patriarch's first Apostolic visit.  His Beatitude the Catholicos and a host of prelates and priests assisted the Patriarch on the Holy ceremony.  This was only the third time in the history of the Malankara Church, Holy Mooron was consecrated here in India.  Earlier Patriarch Ignatius Peter IV (III) and Patriarch Ignatius Abdulla II had consecrated the Holy Mooron in 1876 and 1910 respectively, both the consecration was at the famous Mulunthuruthy Marthoman Church.  His Holiness also attended the 50th Dhukrono Jubilee of the late lamented Patriarch Ignatius Elias III at Majanikkara Dayro and offered, the Requiem Mass on Feb 13th.  On March 6th His Holiness consecrated an assistant Metropolitan, Abraham Mor Severious, for the diocese of Angamali. The ordination ceremony was at the Kothamangalam Marthoman church (Cheria Pally).  After successfully completing the first Apostolic visit, His Holiness the Patriarch left this country on March 24th.   His Holiness during this visit visited more than a hundred parishes - a tenth of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox parishes, including those at Mumbai, Banglore, Manglore, Chennai and New Delhi.

Consecration Ceremony of H. G. Mor Severios Abraham

at the Kothamangalam church

 

 

H.H. the Patriarch celebrating Holy Qurbono at the temporary chapel at Kottayam where the St. Joseph's Cathedral

is now situated.  Late Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpilly Thirumeni) is assisting His Holiness

 

H.H. with Mr. Neelam Sanjeeva Reddy,

the former President of India

H.H. with Dr. Mohammed Hidayatulla,

the former Vice-President of India

 

H.H. with Mrs. Indira Gandhi, the former Prime Minister of India

at the PM's office, New Delhi

 

   

H.H. with Mr. K Karunakaran the Former Chief Minister and

Mr. P J Joseph the former Minster of State for Herala

Mr. M P Veereendrakumar, the Managing Editor of

 Mathrubhumi garlanding His Holiness

 

 

 

1982 Apostolic visit of His Holiness
(Click the below photos)
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A souvenir published in 1982 in commemoration of  the Apostolic Visit of His Holiness, by the Kottayam diocese in India

 

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