OCP–German Delegation Visits Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II of the East

Ben Kunjacko (Chief Public Relations Officer @ OCP ) – OCP News Service – 20/02/12019

Malankara- India: With the blessings of the Rt. Rev Dr. Chorbishop Kyriakose Thottupuram of Chicago (Chancellor), a delegation from Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE (Pan-Orthodox Christian NGO-Society) paid a cordial visit to His Holiness Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (Catholicos on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas & Malankara Metropolitan, Ecclesiastical Primate of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church and the head of the Malankara Nasranis) on the 19th of February 2019, at the Catholicate Palace, Kottayam. This was the maiden visit by an OCP delegation to the office of the Catholicos of the East, even though in April 2015, Dr. Rubina Khachatryan (OCP Delegate of Yerevan and All Armenia) received Catholicos Baselios Paulose II and the Malankara Church delegation in Yerevan.

OCP Delegate Dr. Rubina Khachatryan of Armenia meets Catholicose Baselios Paulose II & the Indian Orthodox Malankara Delegation

The OCP delegation was welcomed by Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of North America (President of the Ecumenical Relations Department of the Malankara Church) at the Secretariate of the Church. The delegation consisted of Manfred Karl Boehm (Editor of Christian Affair – Europe @ the OCP Editorial Board), Cornelia Voogt (OCP Associate in Germany) and George Alexander (Secretary – OCP Society). The German delegation of OCP Society is on a three-week research trip to Malankara. As a token of love, Metropolitan Nicholovos presented the delegation with icons of Christ.

During the meeting with His Holiness the Catholicos, Fr. Abraham Thomas (Secretary to the Ecumenical Relations Department) introduced the members of OCP delegation. He briefed on the Pan-Orthodox unity activities and on the various research initiatives of the Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE Society.

OCP Delegation holds a historic meeting with Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II at Puthenkurish

Manfred gave a short description of the problems faced by Christians in modern Europe. The Catholicos was provided a special briefing on the ongoing research project Metropolitan Alvares Julius Research Project (MARP).

On behalf of the OCP Society, Manfred and Cornelia presented Catholicos with the OCP Unity Icon of St. Peter and St. Thomas (written by Fr. Bobby Varghese). Metropolitan Nicholovos presented a specially designed photo (glimpses from the reception given by the OCP Society to the Malankara Church delegation in Armenia, 2015). Manfred presented a copy of the book ‘Cathedral and Churches of Europe’ and George presented a copy of the book ‘Western Rites of Syriac-Malankara Orthodox Churches’ to the Catholicos as well. The meeting was followed by dinner at the Catholicate Palace.

Pics – Focalize Photography. 

Source:
OCP News Service