Udupi: The Syrian Orthodox community of Brahmavar is all set to welcome the Catholicos (the Supreme Head, equivalent to the Pope for Roman Catholics) of the Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II. The Catholicos will make his maiden visit to St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral Brahmavar and its chapels (also known as ‘Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Community’) from 4th to 6th of December.
The Catholicos will arrive in Udupi on the morning of 4 December, 2015. Catholicos Paulose II will be warmly welcomed and taken in a procession from Udupi Karavali Junction to St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar at 9 am. In the evening at 4 pm, a public meet will be held in the Church compound in view of the maiden visit of Catholicos Paulose II. Along with it, the inaugural ceremony of the Centennial Celebrations of the Cosmopolitan Higher Primary School Brahmavar (the first educational institution of St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar) will also be held.
K J George, minister for Bengaluru Urban Development, will inaugurate the public meet. Rev Yakoob Mar Elias, Metropolitan of Brahmavar Diocese will preside over the function. Bishop of Udupi – Dr Gerald Isaac Lobo, Bishop Karnataka Southern Diocese of CSI – Mohan Manoraj, Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese – Dr Joseph Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of Madras Diocese – Dr Yuhanon Mar Dioscorus, Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese – Yuhanon Mar Demetrios, Konattu Trustee MOSC – Dr Johnas Abraham, Lay Trustee MOSC – George Muthoot, Malankara Association secretary – Dr George Joseph, minister for State for Primary and Secondary Education – Kimmane Rathnakar, minister for Urban Development – Vinay Kumar Sorake, Rajya Sabha MP – Oscar Fernandes, Udupi-Chikkamagaluru MP – Shobha Karandlaje, MLA of Udupi – Pramod Madhwaraj, former MP – Jayaprakash Hegde, Chairperson of KSDL – Veronica Cornelio and president of Varamballi Panchayat Nithyananda would take part as chief guests.
On 5 December, Catholicos Paulose II will set out to Hulikel, Shivamogga district to consecrate the newly built St Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church (a chapel of St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar). Thereafter, His Holiness will be visiting all the chapels, namely: Hosangady – St George Church, Kandlur – St Mary’s Church, Sastan – St Thomas Church, Kurady – St Peter and Paul’s Church and Kolalgiri – St Antony Church.
On 6 December, Catholicos Paulose II will be celebrating the holy mass at 8:30 am. During the mass, late Alvares Mar Julius Archbishop (Founder of Brahmavar Konkani Orthodox Community) and late Fr R Z Noronha (First Vicar General of St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral Brahmavar) will be declared as ‘Blessed Saints’. Thereafter, Paulose II will engage in talks with various spiritual organizations and management committees associated with St Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Brahmavar. In the morning on 7 December, Catholicos Paulose will bid adieu to Brahmavar.
