Harmony - st gregorios orthodox church of toronto

UK
Harmony
Indian Orthodox Church-Diocese of UK, EUROPE & AFRICA
Monthly News Letter-UK Region
Vol 1 Issue 3
“
Early on the first day
of the week, while it
was still dark, Mary
Magdalene went to the
tomb and saw that the
stone had been removed from the entrance (John 20:1)
Vol 1 Issue 3
May 2013
Volume 1 Issue 2
He is Risen!
May 2013
Indeed He is Risen!!!!!
Inside this issue:
Kalpana
3
Tree of Jesus
Christ
4
Diocesan News
6
Africa News
7
Kids Corner
8
Ladies Wing
9
Hearty Welcome to Catholicose
Catholicate of the East and Malankara Metropolitan H.H
Baselious Marthoma Paulose II will be on Apostolic visit
to the UK during September 2013. Devoted children of
Malankara Orthodox Church in the UK are looking forward to His Holiness presence and Apostolic blessings.
More details will be issued in due course.
Happy Birthday Thirumeni!
Youth –Synergy
10
Parish News
11
General
12
Our Diocesan Metropolitan H.G Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios
celebrated his 50th Birthday on 3rd May. All the Priests and
faithful members of the Diocese of UK Europe and Africa ‘Wish
Your Grace MANY HAPPY RETURNS OF THE DAY!’. We pray
to God Almighty continue shower upon you with all His Mercy and
Blessings.
OVBS 2013
Diocese of UK Europe and Africa-UK Region OVBS classes will be conducted during the
months of May through to July. (Read Kalpana on page 3)
Vol.1Issue 3
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UK Harmony
may 2013
Shepherd’s Message
v
Dearly Beloved in Christ,
I am very pleased to see that our Diocese is making remarkable progress in
spiritual empowerment as well as infrastructure development. Let us
Thank God Almighty for His abundant Mercy and Blessings showered
upon us .
It is very well acknowledged that all the Spiritual Organisations in our
Diocese are now well organized and performing in an exemplary way. I
would like to thank Achans and office bearers of all the spiritual
organisations for making this happen by doing a great ministry for the
Church.
May I invite your kind attention to the following:
Visit of Catholicos to the UK: God willing, supreme head of our
Church our Bava Thirumeni will be visiting the UK in the month of
September 2013. Let us all prepare to give an elegant and blessed
reception to the Supreme head of our Church, H.H Baselious Marthoma
Paulose II.
OVBS 2013: This year, we have a centralised OVBS programme which
will be conducted in all parishes across UK during May to July. Parents
are requested to make every effort to send their children to OVBS classes.
Family Conference 2013: Family conference for the Year 2013 will be
held from 23rd August through to 25th August. More details are available
on this issue and periodic updates will be given in due course. All are requested to attend the Family conference and make it a great success.
Sunday School Talent Competition: Diocesan level annual OSSAE
talent competitions and Sunday School Meet will be held at St Thomas
Indian Orthodox Parish – Hemel Hempstead on 14th September 2013.
Teachers and Parents shall give necessary guidance to children and encourage them to participate in the competition.
Maitri Charity Project: ‘Maitri’ Charity Project is getting a very positive
feedback from our members. The fund raised will be disbursed to the genuine needy one. Those who haven’t yet participated in the project, please
come forward and be part of this mission.
Divyabodhanam: I am very happy to see that there is a warm response
from our members to Divyabodhanam programme. I would request all of
you, who haven't yet done the course shall enrol and gain the benefit of
learning about our faith and worship.
May God Bless You All!
Your Shepherd in Christ
+Mathews Mar Thimothios Metropolitan
Vol.1Issue 3
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may 2013
UK Harmony
Page 3
Vol.1Issue 3
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UK Harmony
MAY 2013
George Alexander
Secretary
& Spokesperson
Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE
Society & Media Network
The
tree
from
which the cross
which Jesus Christ
was crucified was
taken from this
place. The Monastery was sold to
Greece in 1885 due
to heavy debt and
is presently under
the ownership of
the Patriarchate of
Jerusalem.
The Monastery Compound which held the Tree of
Jesus Cross
The Monastery of the Cross is a Georgian Orthodox Monastery situated in the
Holy Land. This monastery is situated near the Nahlaot neighbourhood of Jerusalem, and located at the Valley of the Cross, below the Israel Museum and the
Knesset.
History of the Georgian Greek
Monastery
The Monastery was built in the 11th
century by Georgian Giorgi-Prokhore
of Shavsheti. during the rule of King
Bagrat IV. The place where monastery
is situated was granted by Constantine the Great,to king Mirian III of
Kartli after the conversion of his kingdom to Christianity in 327 A.D. The
place was originally consecrated in
4th century as per the instruction of
Constantine the Great. It is believed
that the monastery is constructed at
the burial place of Adams head even
though two other places claim to be
the location.
The tree from which the cross which
Jesus Christ was crucified was taken
from this place. The Monastery was
sold to Greece in 1885 due to heavy
debt and is presently under the ownership of the Patriarchate of Jerusalem.
The Monastery has a library which
holds several Georgian manuscripts.
Some of the survived manuscripts are
preserved in Mount Sinai, Tbilisi, Kutaisi, Saint Petersburg, Vienna, Paris,
London and Washington.
Vol.1Issue 3
Tree for Jesus Cross
The monastery has a small part
which is the remains of the Crusader
period and this has undergone several restoration works. It includes a
Church and a special window
through which one can see the spot
where the tree for the cross grew.
The Tree is believed to be planted by
Lot who came back to Abraham after
recognizing his sins. Abraham gave
him the branches of pine, fir and cypress tress. Lot planted them and it
grew into one single tree. There is a
painting behind the Altar of the
Church which depicts the story of
this miraculous tree.
Georgian Cultural Center
Georgians consider it the monastery
as their cultural center. The legendary national poet of Georgian, Shota
Rustveli has resided in this monastery when he wrote his epic work “the
Knight in the Panther's Skin".
After transfer of the monastery to
Greek Orthodox Patriarchate of Jerusalem, a Greek Theological Seminary
was opened here in 1855 was active
until 1908. It has mosaic dating back
to 4th century. Other facilities include living quarters and gift shop. It
also has a small museum of ethnic
costumes and church art.
(contd...p5)
4
UK Harmony
may 2013
(contd, from p4)
Destruction of Fresco
Georgian Orthodox
Church is one of
the ancient autocephalous Eastern
Orthodox Church..
It traces its origin
to the Apostolic
Work of St Andrew
and St. Nino
In the year 2004 some unknown persons defaced the fresco of the Legendary Georgian Poet Shota Rustaveli
prior to the visits of the Georgian
president Mikhail Saakashvili to Israel. Wikipedia reports that similar incidents have taken place during 1970's
and 80's when some Georgian inscriptions where replaced by Greek
ones. But later it was cleaned and the
Georgian inscription were made visible again.
Attempts to Return Ownership
The Georgian Government has been
working continuously to return back
the ownership this Monastery back to
the Georgia and the Georgian Orthodox Church. In February 2012 it was
announced by President Mikhail Saakashvili that a special teams will be
set up to return the Georgian Holy
Cross Monastery.
The Israeli government and Georgian
Embassy in Israel is cooperating with
each other to return the monastery
back to the Georgians.
Georgian Orthodox Church
Georgian Orthodox Church is one of
the ancient autocephalous Eastern
Orthodox Church.. It traces its origin
to the Apostolic Work of St Andrew
and St. Nino who is equal to the
Apostles and enlighter of Georgia. It
has 3,500,000 faithful worldwide and
the headquarters is situated at Tbilisi, Georgia. Eighty three percentage of
Georgians are members of the Orthodox Church. It enjoys special status
in Georgia. Its Primate CatholicosPatriarch Illya II is considered to me
most influential and trust personalities in Georgia.
MAY THE INTERCESSION OF OUR DEPARTED FATHERS BE A
FORTRESS FOR US
H.G Dr. Geevaghese Mar Ivanios,
Metroplitan for Diocese of Kottayam
entered into eternal rest on 12th April 2013.
Thirumeni was 73 years old. His Grace was
ordained as Episcopa in 1985 and become the
Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese in 1991.
Mar Ivanios always had deep affection towards our Diocese especially to the Malankara
Orthodox community in the UK since the time
he spent as a student at Oxford University in
early 1970s .
Fifth Annual memorial service of H.G Dr.
Thomas Mar Makarios, Former Metropolitan
for Diocese of Canada and Europe, was conducted in 23rd February. Mar Makarios, then
the Diocesan bishop of UK was left for heavenly abode on 23rd February 2008 in Newcastle,
during his episcopal visit to the UK.
Let us all pray for the soul of our beloved spiritual fathers and hope they would be in the company of heavenly hosts praising and glorifying
the Lord God for ever.
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UK Harmony
may 2013
Diocese News
Diocesan Annual General Body Meeting
The Diocesan Annual General Body Meeting for the year 2012-13 will be held
on 11th May 2013;1:00PM to 4:00PM at Camborne Church, Cambs, CB23
6GW. The venue is near to the city of Cambridge. All the Diocesan
representatives are requested to assure your prayerful presence in the meeting.
Diocese of UK Europe Africa Annual Family Get-together
Diocese of UK Europe Africa, annual family get together in Kerala was held
on 4th January 2013 at Menorah Indian Orthodox Centre, Venmony.
Diocesan Metropoltam HG Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios inaugurated the
meeting.
Chief guest Rev. Dr.
Jacob
Kurien
(Principal, Orthodox
Theological Seminary,
Kottayam)
delivered
the key note speech
and lead the seminars.
Annual Family
get-together at
Menorah centre
Venmony, Kerala
Significance of worship
oriented faith and the
importance of transferring Malnkara Orthodox Tradition and Culture to the next generation were emphasized
in the meeting.
More than 100
People attended
the meeting.
Approximately
one
hundred people among
members and well
wishers of the Diocese
attended the meeting.
Family Conference
23rd, 24th 25th
August 2013
Family Conference 2013
Reserve your place now!! Avoid last minute disappointment!!
The 4th Annual Family Conference of the Indian Orthodox Church, Diocese of UK Europe Africa-UK Region will be held on 23rd, 24th and 25th
August 2013 (Friday, Saturday & Sunday-Bank Holiday weekend) at
Whitemoor Lakes, Lichfield, Staffordshire, United Kingdom. Well professed Dignitaries will lead the conference. For more details and registration
please contact Dr.George Kuruvila– General Convenor at
[email protected]
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may 2013
Africa News
Diocesan Metropolitan HG Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios visited the Republic of Nigeria, the Federal Republic of Uganda and the Republic of Rwanda
in March 2013.The Children of Malankara Orthodox Church presently living
in these countries were overwhelmed by receiving their spiritual father. This is
first ever visit of a Bishop from Malankara Orthodox Church visiting these
countries. Devoted members of our church, lead by Mr. Jacob John
Poovathoor organised the infrastructure and logistics.
Diocesan
Metropolitan’s
Visit to African
States.
This is the
maiden visit of
a Bishop from
Malankara
Orthodox
Church to East
and
West Africa
Thirumeni with members of the congregation in Nigeria
Thirumeni with members of the congregation in Uganda (right)
and Rwanda (above)
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UK Harmony
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Chit– Chat
Page 8
Kids Corner
Sunday School News
Sunday School Teacher’s One Day Seminar
.
OSSAE UK regional one day seminar for sunday school teachers was held on 2nd February 2013 at
St.Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Brockely, London. More than seventy Delegates from Sunday
schools across the UK region attended the seminar .
OVBS 2013
Diocese of UK Europe and Africa-UK Region OVBS classes will be conducted during the months
of May through to July. (Kalpana on page 3)
Sunday School Talent Competition
First Diocesan level annual OSSAE talent competitions and Sunday School Meet will be held at
St Thomas Indian Orthodox Parish – Hemel Hempstead on 14th September 2013. Teachers and
Parents shall give necessary guidance to children and encourage them to participate in the competition. More details will be available from the Unit Sunday school head teachers
Congratulations!!!!
Following students successfully passed Sunday School Class X Exams-2012
St. Gregorios –London
Vincy Wilson
Roshan Pappachan
Ashly Sunny
Teena Rajan
Rhema Thomas
Blessy Eldo.
Vol.1Issue 3
St. Marys– Bristol
Alwin Raju
Jibin Mathew
Nithin Thankachen
Preethy Jose
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Page 9
Ladies Wing
Third annual one day conference of the Martha Mariam Samajam -UK Region, was held on 27th
April 2013 at St Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Hemel Hempstead. 'Wise or Foolish? Shaping
our Roles and Responsibilities in the 21st century' was the theme of the conference. Diocesan
Metropolitan H.G Dr.Mathews Mar Thimothios delivered the keynote speech and Episcopal
address. Fr.Happy Jacob, Fr.George Joy, Fr.Thomas P John, Mrs Elizabeth Joy and Mrs Shali Saji
Varghese lead the conference.
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UK Harmony
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Pag
SYNERGY - Youth Joint
OCYM-UK LOGO COMPETITION:
Miss Senymol Daniel of St Gregorios OCYM unit, Brockley, London
won the best logo design competition held for selecting the official
logo for OCYM-UK Region
OCYM-UK LOGO
Annual Orthodox Youth Camp 2013 (AOYC 2013):
Annual Orthodox Youth Camp 2013 was held on 10th April through to 13th April 2013 at Pioneer
Youth Centre, Shropshire, England.
The Theme of the conference was ‘Where do you come from?’ (Jonah 1:8). Main resource persons
for the conference were Fr.Philip Kuruvila and Fr.Jacob Anish Varghese. About sixty delegates
from different OCYM unit across the UK were present in the conference. Diocesan Metropolitan
H.G Dr.Mathews Mar Thimothios, OCYM-UK region vice president Fr.Thomas P John, and UK
regional Youth Organiser Mr. Abraham Koshy Mathew lead the event. The participants were highly benefitted from the conference.
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Parish News
St Marys Indian Orthodox Parish Bristol:
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also
known as the Indian Orthodox Church commemorated their Metropolitan’s 50th birthday at St David’s Catholic Sixth-Form College, Cardiff. DR.
Mathews Mar Thimothios, born on 3rd May 1963, is
the Metropolitan of UK, Europe and Africa Diocese
of the Indian Orthodox Church.
The celebration commenced with the Holy Eucharist
being conducted by the Metropolitan himself with
support from Fr. Varghese Mathews and the altar
boys and was attended by over 160 devotees of the
faith from various regions of Wales and Bristol. This
was followed by a get-together which started off with
a prayer song specifically written by one of the parish members honouring the Metropolitan.
The head of various groups from the St Marys Indian Orthodox Church, Bristol and St Thomas Prayer
group, Wales thanked the Metropolitan for his spiritual leadership and wished him May God Almighty give
good health and all the success in the future. A memento was presented to the Metropolitan by Fr. Varghese Mathews and committee members as a token of appreciation for all the hard-work he has done as the
leader of their Diocese. As a tribute, the Metropolitan was also presented with 50 roses from 50 children
for his birthday.
Parish Day celebration of St.Thomas Indian Orthodox Church
Sunderland Inagurated by H.G Bishop Siemens Cunningham
സന്ദര്‍ലാന്‍ഡ്:ക്രൈസ്തവപാരാ്പര്്്തിന്റെയുംവിാ്വാസാസപ്ഷ്ണതയപംവയുംവിേര്ര്‍്ാഴ്ചയാംാം്േ
സന്ദര്‍ലാണ്ടില്‍്ു്നസയസതരപാസതവഓര്‍തിനര്ാ് തവോര്‍ച്റെയുേദുാ്ഘ്്ാര ാ ാവിേസറിയാു്രംാതവേ
പ്്വരസ്്ംവയുേഒര്സാപ്്വ്ാലവിേആല്സ്ംേജ്ാ്പതിന്റെയുേസാുാതിന,േസുംാതിനേബ്ിബങ്ങളാം്േസാു്തേ
പയവപ്പതേസാു്േ്്്നസേസരഭാപതിന്‍േപവുങ്ങ്ംോ്വാവദ്ധേ്വര്‍ബാ്ം്‍േആബലാൃധിേജ്ങ്ങളുയുേ
സാ്നസ്ധ്തിനാ‍േസപര്്നസസാംരപ്പാള്‍േ,േപവുര്‍്നസതേ്ു്നസസരഘഷ്ണ്യിാ്വാസാസതിന്റെയുേസരര ാ യസാം്േ
സാു്തോ്ഭാസസൃദ്ധസാംേതവര്ഹാ്്വ്നസ്്വേരവാ ിേ്ു്നസേസാിതവ്ാ്്്േസരേള്തിന്‍േ്്ൂേ്ാസ്സ്‍േ
്ൂരപേബ് പ്‌േസ്സതവേ്ണ്ണ്ഗഹാിേസവഖ്്ാഥ്പ്ംാം്തേസന്ദര്‍ലാറെ്േരസംര്‍േ
ദംാന്‍ഡര്,യസതരജായസസ്ഇതവദുാ്ാ്്ാ്്.ാതരൈസറിയ്‍സരറിയാ്പവുങ്ങ്ംാര്‍ആവാിസ്സസരസിങങ്ങള്‍േ
്ുതിന്തേപവുര്‍്നസതേ്ു്നസേര്്രാു്്ള്‍േ
ഭാ്പ്ംസിതവ്ാ്തിന്റെയുസരാസവഖ്്ിാ്ള്രാാപവ്നസപാം്തര്്രാു്്ള്‍റിയതരവാ ിേേ്ു്നസേ
്ം്ാന്ദ്്സാംേ്്്സ്വ്നസതേസരരംാങിേജ്ങ്ങയളേസങഹാപവ്പസേസവയര്‍തിനവ്നസേഓര്‍സ്ള്രലറിയതേ
രൈ്ര്ു്ചുംര്‍തിന്തസ്സ്സ്‍േസൂഷ്ണ്റിയാന്‍ഡേഒ്വര്ു്േ്ലലേഓര്‍േ്ള്‍േപ്നസ,േബഹവതേഹാപ്പ്ംചന്‍ഡേ
ര്പൃപസിേ്‍്വ്നസേഓര്‍തിനര്ാ് തവേസഭാാ്വാസാസ്്ള്‍റിയവി,േരകമ്്േ്േ്്്റിയവി,േ്ന്ദ്ംവയുേ
ാാുാസല്വ്ള്‍േസസര്‍പ്പ്ചുയ്ാണ്ടിലതേസന്ദര്‍ലാണ്ടില്ലവിേര്്സ്തിനവസവകമ്േസലംാള്േസസൂഹിേുുവതിനേ
പ്്വ്ാള്്ാം്േ്ാതിന്്്റിയവ്നസവ,േതവര്ഹ്ൂട്ടാ്സറിയാം്േ----ാ്വാസാസസരര ാ യതിന്്ാം്േ---
Vol.1Issue 3
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UK Harmony
may2013
Congratulations to New Church Leaders
DIOCESE
INFORMATION
UK Regional Office
St.Gregorios Indian
Orthodox Church,
Cranfield Road,
London SE4 1UF
Tel .07541814466
H.H Abuna Mathias
Patriarch of the
Ethiopian Orthodox
Church
H.H Pope Francis
New supreme head
of Roman Catholic
Church
Malankara Orthodox Church, Diocese of UK
Europe Africa congratulates the newly elect
Pope Francis of Roman Catholic church and
Pope Abuna Mathias of Ethiopian Orthodox
Church .
A high level delegation of Malankara Orthodox Church lead by Catholicate of the east
H.H Baselious Marthoma Paulose II, attended the enthronement of the Patriarch of the
Ethiopian Orthodox Church
Maitri Charity Project
Please visit
www.indianorthodoxuk.org
‘Maitri’ Charity Project is getting very positive feedback from our members. The
fund raised will be disbursed to the genuine needy one. Maitri is exclusively for
charity includes: Financial assistance for the needy, support for any of the
charity projects run by our church, organise any charity programmes within
the UK. It is requested that all our members should participate in the project
by donating a minimum amount of £2 per month by a standing order instruction. The donations will be eligible for Gift Aid contribution. The Standing order form and Gift Aid declaration form are available from the parish office
bearers or Maitri project volunteers. If anyone wish to set up the standing order online, please contact diocesan office or respective parish office for further
details.
Feedback
The monthly newsletter of our UK Diocese is an invaluable resource tool and an incredible mode of
communication for our members scattered across the various parts of UK. May I suggest the editors to consider changing the format to an electronic format, rather than the traditional pdf design.
This would give more scope for publishing contributions with no strict restrictions on article length
and there would be no need for typesetting. This would also allow the readers to navigate in an interactive way by dipping in and out and can explore external websites and news with convenience."
Dr. Susil Jacob –Glasgow
Please send us your Feedback, News and Articles to [email protected]
Apologies
Due to un foreseen reasons we could not publish the last few issues. Apologies for the in
convenience caused and the in consistency occurred.
-Fr.Thomas P John
For private circulation only
Published by Rev. Fr. Thomas P John on behalf of Indian Orthodox Church, Diocese of UK, Europe and Africa
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