New Catholicos of the East Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Installed – Photo Report

His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Poulose II - Catholicose of the Apostolic Throne St Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan

Oxios Oxios Oxios!!!

1/11/2010

Indian Orthodox Church

Parumala/Kerala/India: Installation of Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the eighth Catholicos of the East from Malankara took place at Parumala.

Newly consecrated Catholicos, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II is the eighth Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India and 91st Catholicos in the lineage of Catholicoi of the East in the apostolic throne of St. Thomas. He is also the 21st Malankara Metropolitan of the church.
At 6.30 am all Metropolitans have ceremoniously accompanied the Catholicos into the Church and the day’s event began. Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese Thomas Mar Athanasius celebrated the Holy Qurbana. Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymus I was the chief celebrant for the consecration ceremony.
“At the inception of Catholicate in Malankara the first Catholicos was named as Paulose I. Now at the centenary of the Catholicate the Catholicos is again being called Paulose, precisely Paulose II. This is not a coincidence, but a great plan of God”, said the Principal of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Fr. Dr. K.M. George.
New Catholicos readout and put his signature on his confession of faith (Amalogia), which the new Pontiff himself piously submitted to the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II.

Thereafter the reigning Catholicos declared that the new Pontiff is worthy to be elevated to the Catholicate and to the throne of St. Thomas. This led to reading of the Gospel, with Metropolitans carrying the throne, on which the new Catholicos was sitting. This was to symbolize the authority of the new Catholicos over the Church of God. Staff for the new Catholicos was also handed over in a similar fashion, where nine Metropolitans held their hands below the hand of the New Catholicos, which was guided to the top by the reigning Catholicose.
Concluding the ceremony, litanies were read out, which were prayers for and divine felicitations to the new Pontiff.

Newly installed Catholicose Baselios Marthoma Paulose II completed the Holy Qurbana to mark the end of ceremony.

Priest Trustee Fr. Dr. Johns Abraham Konattu was the Master of Ceremony. Fr. M.P. George led the melodious choir.

Around 25 Metropolitans attended the event. A number of priests and thousands of faithful witnessed the historical ceremony.

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