Ahmedabad Diocese’s Devaria Mission Project to come up on ‘tithing’

Indian Malankara Orthodox Church
Liju Cherian- December 2013

GANDHIDHAM, Kachchh, Gujarat, India — The new Devaria Mission Project of Indian Orthodox Diocese of Ahmedabad (ODA) has been launched on November 21, 2013.

The foundation-stone laying ceremony was held in the blessed presence of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Metropolitans HG Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos, Bishop of Niranam Diocese, and HG Pulikkottil Dr Geeavarghese Mar Yulios, Bishop of Ahmedabad Diocese.

The Devaria Mission Project is also known as St Gregorios Krupa Alaya. The project launch was held at St Stephen’s Orthodox Church, Gandhidham, a city and municipality in the Kachchh District of Gujarat state.

The project’s foundation stone laying ceremony was held after the Holy Eucharist which was led by HG Dr Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos, along with Dr Mar Yulios, Rev Fr Philip Ramban and other vicars. Later a public meeting was also held at the Gandhidham St Stephen’s Orthodox Church in which Vicar Fr Santu Skariah, Ahmedabad Diocese Secretary Fr Jacob Mathews, Fr Varghese Tiju Iype, Adv Mathai Mampallil, clergies and dignitaries also took part.

The occasion also saw the celebration of the second Memorial Feast of Late Lamented HG Job Mar Philoxinos with HG Yuhanon Mar Chrisostomos leading the dhoopaprathana. A large number of faithful also attended the function.

Earlier, Ahmedabad Diocese Metropolitan HG Pullikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios had exhorted the faithful on the principle of ‘tithing’, the most common Christian ethics of setting aside at least 1/10 of one’s income for various charity purposes.

In a Bull No 85/13 dated October 30, 2013 issued from Muscat Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka, issued to all the Vicars, Associate Vicars, managing committee members and faithful members of the Diocese parishes and congregations during the occasion of Diocesan Day (Kudos Etho), Dr Mar Yulios explains about ‘tithing’, a key factor for a healthy Christian family.

The Metropolitan urged each one to practice giving tithes to the church regularly. “Give attention to the words of our Lord on this matter. Tithing should be the first principle of a healthy Christian family,” he emphasized. His Grace further stated that many Churches and families have taken to the principle of tithes seriously keeping two accounts namely for Almsgiving and another towards their daily domestic needs.

Some of the churches make it a point to keep tithing as their first Sacrament and those who do not follow this will cease to be a member of that particular Church. This is the same principle behind collecting the subscription each month. “Those who do not separate their one-tenth and not following charity out of that are commenting sin of omission,” the Bull stated.

Orthodox Diocese of Ahmedabad is planning to run its Devaria Mission Project at Gandhidham, Gujarat and various other charities from the Diocesan Tithing amount received from its parishes and urges prayerful decision on this score.

Source:
Independent