Reunion Celebrations

  • Posted on: 21 September 2012

Pathanamthitta, Kerala – 21 September 2012

The 20th and 21st of September are days which are of great historic and religious importance for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. On September 20, 1930, Archbishop Mar Ivanios reunited with the Catholic Church, marking the crowning of three centuries of attempts to reunite separated Christians in Malankara. The historic reunion of Mar Ivanios with Mar Theophilos, Father John Kuzhinapurath OIC, Deacon Alexander OIC, and Mr. Chacko Kilileth on the 20th of September is a moment which the Malankara Church has been celebrating for 82 years.

This year the Reunion celebrations were held in the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta. Together with the Reunion celebrations, the Eparchy organized the consecration of its cathedral named after the Prince of the Apostles and its heavenly patron, Saint Peter. On the 20th of September, the bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, including the Bishop of our Exarchate, Mar Eusebius, joined together to participate in the consecration of the cathedral. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos, was the main celebrant. His Beatitude Bechara Boutros al Rai, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of the Maronite Syrian Catholic Church, was present on the occasion. His Beatitude Boutros al Rai preached the homily during the ceremony.

On the 21st of September, following a liturgical reception to the Major Archbishop-Catholicos, the Patriarch, and the other bishops, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, along with His Beatitude Bechara Boutros al Rai, and Their Excellencies the Bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church celebrated the Holy Qurbono to commemorate the Reunion of 1930. Many priests, deacons, seminarians, religious, and laity of the Church participated in this auspicious occasion.

Exactly 82 years ago on this day, Mar Ivanios celebrated his first Holy Qurbono in the Catholic communion. This is a theologically, spiritually, and religiously important day for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. This day is also significant for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in a special way as its Bishop, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Eusebius, celebrates the second anniversary of his episcopal ordination.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Apostolic Exarchate joins the entire Church in offering thanksgiving to God Almighty for His Providence and praying for the continued bearing of fruits of the Reunion Movement.

The clergy, religious, and faithful of the Exarchate also congratulate and extend their prayerful best wishes to our beloved Bishop on the occasion of the anniversary of his episcopal ordination.