Malankara Syrian Church celebrates the 245th dukrono of Maphryono St. Baselios Shakralla

Syrian Orthodox Church in India

Kandanad, INDIA – Oct 22, 2009: The 245th dukrono of Maphryono St. Baselios Shakralla who came to India from Syria in the 18th century and entombed here at the Kandanad Morth Mariam Cathedral has been observed in the church with a Holy Mass celebrated today by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I, in co-operation of six priests. Metropolitans Their Eminences Mor Gregorios Joseph, Mor Ivanios Mathews and Mor Dioscorus Kuriakose were present during the Qurbono. Thousands of faithful participated in the feast day celebrations.
This is also the first anniversary of the Sainthood declaration of Mor Baselios Shakralla Bava. Since last year the name of the holy father is remembered in the Kanadanad Morth Mariam Cathedral.

St. Baselios Shakralla

Maphryono St. Baselios Shakralla (Shukr Allah) is one of those illustrious Syrian fathers who came down to guide the church in Malankara during an acutely turbulent time and died here. It is more than 200 years since the Holy Father attained his eternal rest. Yet his memory is etched in golden letters in the history of Malankara Church.

The Maphryono (Maphrian) was born in the city of Aleppo in Syria as the son of Deacon Musa al-Qasabji. Under the Malfono of the local church, he studied Syriac, becoming proficient in it and also in Arabic. After completing the studies in religious sciences, he become a monk and later was ordained a priest. He was of commendable deeds and character. His knowledge was extensive. A book on the catechism written by him in Arabic is kept in the Church at Aleppo. In 1748, he was consecrated Maphryono for the church in Malabar under the name Baselios by the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East Moran Mor Ignatius Geevarghese III. The book Mor Baselios wrote about his journey to Malabar and the subsequent events, in Syriac, gives an insight into the happenings of the time. His mission in Malabar was to validate the consecration of Mor Thoma V as the Metropolitan of Malankara Syrian Christian Church and to overcome the confusion then prevailing here. His sincere efforts had a positive impact, which helped a great to build up confidence among the faithful. After serving the Malankara Syriac Christian Church for 13 years, His Beatitude died in AD 1764 at Mattancherry in Cochin and his mortal remains were entombed at the Marth Mariam Jacobite Syrian Church, Kandanad on 22nd October.

Source:
http://www.syrianchurch.org/