Catholicos to Hold Ecumenical Dialogue During Maiden Apostolic Visit to Singapore
LJV- Chief Editor- OCP News Service – 3/7/19
SINGAPORE: His Holiness Baselios Mar Paulose II, Catholicos of the East on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas & Malankara Metropolitan (Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church), will be the chief celebrant at the ‘Feast of St Thomas’ at St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Singapore on July 6, 7.
This will be the Holy Primate’s maiden visit to the island city-state. As part of the visit, His Holiness will also hold an ecumenical dialogue with Oriental Orthodox church representatives and Inter-Church leaders and representatives from different churches in Singapore.
This will be an informal meeting over fellowship dinner on July 7.
The confirmed list as obtained from St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral include Most Rev Archbishop William Goh, Roman Catholic Archbishop of Singapore, Very Rev Fr Isaac El Antony, Coptic Orthodox Church , Singapore, Rev Fr Pitirim, Vicar Russian Orthodox Church, Singapore, Very Rev Fr Movses Sargayan, Armenian Orthodox Church, Singapore, Rev Dr Ngoei Foong Nghian, NCCS (National Council of Churches of Singapore), General Secretary, Pastor Chong Nam Tuck, First Evangelical Reformed Church Singapore, Rev Dr Alex Thomas Mamoottil, Vicar, Marthoma Church , Singapore and Rev Aniyan K Paul, Vicar, Immanuel CSI Congregation, Singapore, among others
The Feast of St Thomas (Dukharono of St Thomas) is scheduled to be held for two days on July 6 and July 7.
On July 6, Saturday, a ceremonial welcome will be accorded to the visiting Catholicos and HG Dr. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, Chennai Orthodox Diocese Metropolitan, and Malankara Sabha Synod Secretary.
The reception will be followed by evening prayers, devotional message, harvest festival procession, and benediction.
On July 7, Perunal Sunday, the Catholicos will lead the holy liturgy in a trimass. There will be a public meeting followed by a festival offering (Nercha).
The Cathedral will also honour senior members during the occasion.
Other dignitaries who will take part include Chorbishop Philip Thomas, Vicar of St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Kuala Lumpur, Fr. Aswin Zefrin Fernandes, Executive Secretary, Department of Ecumenical Relations, and Jacob Mathew (Jojo), Malankara Sabha Managing Committee Member.
Fr. Thomas Issac, St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral Vicar/President and the management committee have requested all the members to take part in the feast in large numbers and be blessed.
St Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral is a parish of the Chennai Diocese of the Indian Orthodox Syrian Church and is located at 650 Yio Chu Kang Road, Singapore 787075.
Source:
OCP News Service
