Catholicos to Consecrate North India’s First Orthodox Retreat, Research Centre-cum-chapel

Chief Editor – OCP News Service

Catholicos to consecrate North India’s first Orthodox retreat, research center-cum-chapel at Abu Road, Rajasthan, on Sept 10, 11.

HGs Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Geevarghese Mar Yulios to be co-celebrants.

AHMEDABAD, India: The Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church founded by St Thomas will have its first-ever retreat-cum-research centre and a chapel in the name of apostle St Thomas in northern India.

Flanked by natural wonders of the Aravalli ranges in Mount Abu, the retreat centre is coming up at Kui village, Sirohi district of Abu Road, Rajasthan.

On September 10, Tuesday and September 11, 2019, Wednesday, HH Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Primate of the Indian Orthodox Church, Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan, will lead the consecration as the chief celebrant while HG Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan, Diocese of Bombay, and HG Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan, Diocese of Ahmedabad, will be co-celebrants during the holy service.

Built-in Rajasthani architecture style, the retreat centre is an initiative of the Ahmedabad Diocese as it completes its first decade of existence under Metropolitan Mar Yulios.

It was the bishop’s dream vision of having a spiritual space under the confluence of teachings in the traditional Indian guru-shishya (teacher-student) concept with opportunities to learn Orthodox liturgy, meditate among nature and a spiritual resource centre for engaging the faithful in the true faith and discipline of the holy Church.

The beautiful chapel named after St Thomas with Orthodox iconography will have a facility to accommodate 40 people at a time to study together aided with a high tech media room.

Located in the only hill station of Rajasthan, (Ahmedabad Diocese is part of the state), the famous Mt Abu is about 20 kilometres away and Nakki Lake, a paradise for nature lovers flanked by amazing natural wonders, and home to Guru Shikhar, a peak in the Arbuda mountains, the highest point of the Aravalli Range and Dilwara temple of the Jains.

On behalf of the Diocesan Council, Mar Yulios extends his invitation to all and acknowledges the immense contribution and support from every individual and all the parishes in the Diocese and outside who have contributed for the infrastructure of this project and request to continue their prayers and support.

The Diocesan Assembly held on July 26, 2019, unanimously approved the Abu Road project proposals of Diocesan Council and decided to direct member parishes to contribute an amount not less than their monthly salary, to meet the expenses of the consecration ceremony.

Those interested to financially the research centre may kindly contact Fr Philipose Abraham (Reju Achen), Manager, St Thomas Orthodox Retreat Centre, Abu Road on his mobile +91-9426347399.

Source:
OCP News Service