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Centenary Celebrations
GREETINGS
FROM THE CHRISTIAN CONFERENCE OF ASIA
ON
THE OCCASION OF THE CATHOLICATE CENTENNIAL CELEBRATION OF
THE
MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH
25 November 2012
The 1960 year old Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), celebrated the Centenary of the establishment of its Catholicate in Kerala, India in September 1912. A grand rally held at Marine Dive in Cochin, followed by a Public Reception, marked the end of the year long centenary celebrations that was held all over India and in dioceses abroad.
The Public Reception was graced by the 14th Dalai Llama H H Tenzin Gyatso, Nobel Laureate for Peace, eminent religious and political leaders, and ecumenical leaders Dr. Henriette Hutabarat Lebang, CCA General Secretary, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, Marthoma Metropolitan and former President of the CCA and Dr. Roger Gaekwad, General Secretary, NCCI.
Conveying greetings on behalf of the Christian Conference of Asia, Dr. Henriette said that it was "a great privilege to be invited to this momentous and historic occasion of the centennial celebration of the establishment of the Catholicate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church." She appreciated the Church for its peaceful co-existence with other religions for the last 1960 years, and commended its contributions to the life of the ecumenical movement in Asia in the past and the present.
Invoking God's blessings for reconciliation, peace and unity, she said "As you
celebrate the centennial of the Catholicate, we earnestly pray that the spirit
of God will continue to inspire you in your journey towards the visible unity
of the church as the body of Christ, particularly in proclaiming the gospel of
Jesus Christ who comes to heal and reconcile in the midst of woundedness and
divisions in our church and society today. I pray that you will not only be effective witnesses to the love of
Jesus Christ, but will also continue to contribute to the noble task of nation
building, and the global need of nurturing a culture of peace."
The Celebrations were attended by thousands of jubilant members from all over India and from the Diaspora overseas.
posted by communications on Sunday, November 25, 2012 |
