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August 7th, 2005
New Treasurer
elected for MGSOSA at Family Conference
Shiryl Mathai of Philadelphia
has been elected the first treasurer for the MGSOSA. His term is for
one year. Subsequent treasurers will have two year terms as the
other officers. Mr. Mathai has a Master's degree in Public Health.
An active youth member for years, most recently he has moderated the
main panel discussions at our family conferences. For a glimpse of
Family Conference 2005, visit www.malankara.com
Thirumeni sets
aside funds for MGSOSA
H.E. Mor Teethos Yeldo has
created a youth account within the Archdiocesan general fund to help
foster youth league development.
Guidance given
by MGSOSA general assembly
To facilitate the growth of
MGSOSA, the MGSOSA general assembly decided to request that each
parish youth group collect the equivalent of $5 per person and
forward this sum to the MGSOSA treasurer.
Church fight
in India increases in pitch
The Orthodox Church row in Kerala reached a
new pitch when the Metran faction removed their long standing
seminary administrator at
Thrikkunnathu. Seemingly, an internal power struggle prompted the
removal, which the faction's Catholicos himself executed. According
to the "staus quo" agreement worked out in the 1970's, no bishop was
to enter Thrikkunnathu Seminary and offer Holy Qurbono at its
church. The cemetery, which houses the tombs of famous saints, is
also closed. The only facility allowed to remain open was the
college itself, which generates large amounts of revenue for
the Metran side.
Subsequently to the removal,
other Metran faction bishops entered the seminary church. Holy
Qurbono was offered. The vast majority of laity at this church
belongs to the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Upon hearing of the
illegal activities at the seminary and fearful of losing the
property altogether, many Syrian Christians demanded a return to the
status quo and began to assemble near the seminary property. A
government official's car was unjustly destroyed; the assembled
being frustrated with the ineffective and seemingly biased mediation
offered by the government. Eventually, H.B. Baselious Thomas I,
Catholicos of the Syrian Christians, led a hunger strike to protest
the illegal activities at the seminary, quitting only after
admission to a local hospital and assurances from the Kerala Chief
Minister that the status quo would be upheld. Talks have begun to
reopen all churches in Kerala closed by this row. Read much more
about this at
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM You must join the group
to gain access to message postings.
Our Archbishop's birthday
Our Archbishop celebrated his
35th birthday on July 22nd, 2005. May his 36th year be blessed!
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