Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrates the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch

The first Bishop of Mavelikara Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios celebrated the feast of St. Ignathios of Antioch, his heavenly patron, on 29th January 2009. The celebrations started with solemn Holy Qurbono offered by Mar Ignathios in the cathedral, Punnamoodu. The felicitation meeting was presided over by Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos. During the meeting the Mr. John Thevarath and Mrs, Annamma John Plamootil were given the official medal of the Diligent Son (Bar Itho Kasiro) and Diligent Daughter (Barz Itho Kasirtho)  of the church respectively. The meeting also marked the official launching of the social activities of the diocese by Sri. M. Murali MLA, Sri. Babu Prasad MLA, Sri. Vasudeva Sharma and Sri. Kodikkunnil Suresh. During  the function Archbishops Mar Mathew Moolakkattil and Thomas Mar Koorilos, Bishops Dr. Stanley Roman, Mar Mathew Arackkal, Dr. Joseph Kariyil, Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom, Abraham Mar Yulios,  Jacob Mar Barnabas and Thomas Mar Timotheos, Leader of Opposition Sri.  Oommen Chandy, Minister Sri. Monson Joseph, Sri.  Tiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Sri. G. Karthikeyan and  Sri. V.M. Sudheeran were present. Many priests, religious and lay people felicitated Mar Ignathios.

Dr. Abraham Mar Yulios consecrated as Bishop; New Bishop for the Malankara Catholic Church in Muvattupuzha

The duty of shepherding the Malankara Catholic flock of the Muvattupuzha diocese has been taken up by Dr. Abraham Mar Youlios, who was ordained as Bishop on February 9. 

The ordination was held at the headquarters of the diocese, St. Joseph’s Cathedral in Vazhapilly. The faithful hailed him by proclaiming “he is capable of guiding us”, as Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis handed the cross and the crosier (they serve as a reminder of pastoral duties) to the newly ordained Bishop. 

Dr. Abraham Kakanatt received the name Dr. Abraham Mar Youlios during the service of consecration to the order of Bishop, which was performed by the Malankara Catholic Bishops. 

At the beginning of the ceremony, the approval of the Pope was read out by the Chancellor, Fr. Anthony Valiyavilayil. The sermon was given by Bishop Stanley Roman. The priests of the diocese acknowledged the new Bishop by making him sit on the throne and lifting him thrice. After offering the benediction along with the other bishops, Mar Youlios carried out the ‘Sunthroneeso’ service as a part of taking up the responsibilities of the bishopric. The bishops who took part in the service were Archbishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, Geevargheese Mar Divannasios, Yuhanon Mar Chrisostum, Joshua Mar Ignathious, Joseph Mar Thomas and Jacob Mar Barnabas.