(For Internal Circulation Only) Newsletter MAY - 2020

St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church PSP Area, Adjoining Service Centre-5, Opposite DDA Sports Complex, Dilshad Garden, Delhi- 110093

 Disclaimer : - All prayers and services mentioned in the newsletter are subject to further Government orders and Kalpana from the Bishops.

Note:-  Every Wednesday - Madhyastha Prarthana & evening prayer at 6.30pm  Every Saturday - evening prayer 6.30 pm  Every Sunday - morning 7.00 am namaskaram followed by Holy Qurbana

 For daily update visit our church website

1 WEBSITE :www.ststephens.in MOBILE NO. 8750001733

(For Internal Circulation Only) Newsletter MAY - 2020

Dear Faithful,

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord.

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma was the seventh of the East in Malankara (2005-2010). H.H.Baselios Marthoma Didymos I was born on 29 October 1921 to Ittyavira Thomas of Mulamootil House in Nedumbram near and Sosamma of Chiramel House in Mavelikara. He joined the Tabor Dayara in in 1939 and completed his high school education. He passed his intermediate from CMS College, in 1945, his B.A. from National College, Tiruchirapalli in1951, his B.T. from Maston Training College, Madras in1954, his M.A. from Christ College, Kanpur in 1961. He completed his training for priesthood under the disciplined guidance of Thomas Dionysius and H.H.Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East.

He received from H.H.Geevarghese II, Catholicos of the East, the order of Korooyo on 11 March 1942, full deaconship on 22 May 1947 and priesthood on 25 January 1950. He has served as headmaster of Ponnayya High School,Tiruchirapalli and St.Stephen's High School,Pathanapuram, as Professor of English in St.Stephen's College, Pathanapuram.On 16 May 1965,H.H.Baselios Augen made him Ramban. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association, which met on 28 December 1965 at M.D.Seminary, Kottayam elected him to the high order of Metropolitan. On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry H.H.Baselios Augen Bava consecrated him as Metropolitan Thomas Mar Timotheos.

He became the Metropolitan of Malabar on 11 November 1966. He continues to serve as the General Superior of Mount Tabor Dayara and Convent in Pathanapuram. On 10 September 1922, the Malankara Association, which met at , elected him as successor - designate to the and Catholicos of the East. His Holiness was consecrated and enthroned at as Catholicoi of the East in the of St.Thomas on 31 October 2005. He is the seventh Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East was relocated to and 90th in the lineage of Catholicoi of the East in the Apostolic throne of the St.Thomas. He is also the 19th Malankara Metropolitan of the Church.

His Holiness started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. He was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of Niranam. He went through a rigorous monastic life that tuned up his body through hard work and his mind through intense discipline and his spirit through spiritual exercise. Mar Didymos I was an exemplification of Eastern monastic life. He has been deeply rooted in his monastic practices and exercises long before he became a priest and a bishop. Prior to his to the episcopate, he had been a professional educator holding various position in the academia. He was a Mathematics instructor for many years. His Holiness was rightly credited with musical skills; his divine liturgies are musically mellifluous to the ears of the participants.

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(For Internal Circulation Only) Newsletter MAY - 2020

Didymos l Bava was the first Catholicos to preside over an official church secretariat, which administers to the affairs of the church. He also introduced progressive reforms in the administration of parishes, including the right for ladies of the congregations to participate in the parish assemblies (called palli-pothu-yogam). Some of the larger dioceses were divided creating new dioceses, in order to ensure more effective pastoral care and administration.

His Holiness entered the eternal realms on 26 May 2014 at Parumala Seminary. He was laid to rest at Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram.

May the blessed memory and intercession of our saintly forefathers be a source of refuge and strength for us always.

May God bless us all !!!

Fr.Oommen Mathew Vicar (Mob- 8741028471)

Message from Diocesan office Dear All 'MOST URGENT' Please note the DELHI DIOCESE COVID19 HELPLINE NUMBER 7291991741 (Dr.Mathew Varghese).Kindly give maximum publicity to this helpline number among our members. Please message/call Dr.Mathew Varghese for your queries and doubts about Covid 19.For any further assistance please call 9810397795. Regards from Fr Saji Yohannan

COVID -19 ASSISTANCE BY JOB MAR PHILOXENOS CHARITY AND ST. STEPHEN’S OCYM and OCMF

Dear all, If any member especially senior members who are staying alone or anyone in your locality/neighborhood needs utmost assistance for essential commodities or services please contact prayer group secretary /church office bearers /spiritual organizations OCYM, MMVS, MGOCSM. All possible assistance will be provided at the earliest. Following services shall be provided 1. Doorstep delivery of medicines, groceries and vegetables. 2. Medical guidance, queries on covid 19 and lab testing.

Charity convener Mr. Jayamon Chacko

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(For Internal Circulation Only) Newsletter MAY - 2020

KOODE KOOTTAM – Project by OCYM Delhi Diocese Distribution of Ration kits consisting of following essential items:- Rice-5kg,Atta-5kg,Dal-1kg,Bathing soap-3nos,Washing soap-2nos,Tea- 250gm Masala powders.Sugar-1kg,Cooking oil-1 packet, Salt packet 15 kits distributed in Dilshad Garden , DLF area to the needy.

IMPORTANT HELPLINE NO.S FOR COVID-19 1. Delhi Governments Dedicated Helpline Whatsapp 8287975020 Number For Complaints/ Requests In R/O Covid 19 2. National Helpline Number Toll free 1075. +91-11-23978046 3. Delhi Helpline 011-22307145 4. GTB Hospital Dr. Amit Verma 9654976108 5. All India Malayali Association’s Lockdown care 9868038775 Sri. Aji Medayil (Dilshad Colony) Private Labs for COVID-19 (Sample collection from home only) 1. Lal path labs 011-3988-5050 2. Dr. Dangs Lab +91-011-45004200, +91- 9999992020 3. Laboratory Services, Indraprastha Apollo Hospitals +91-11-29871090-1091 4. Max Lab, Max Super Specialty Hospital +91 8744 888 888

DATE LITURGICAL CALENDAR 01-05-20 Feast of St. James the Apostle and son of Sebadhi 03-05-20 2nd Sunday after New Sunday 107th Memory of Catholicos H.H Baselios Paulose I(Pampakuda Cheriyapally) 08-05-20 Feast of Apostle St. John the Evangelist 255th Memory of Marthoma V (Niranam Valiyapally) 10-05-20 3rd Sunday after New Sunday Feast of St. Simon the Zealot 15-05-20 Feast of St. Mary for seeds, Memory of Mar Issac 16-05-20 30th Memory of Yuhanon Mar Severios(Koratty Sion Seminary) 17-05-20 4th Sunday after New Sunday 19-05-20 195th Memoryof Mar Dionysius III (Punnathra) 20-05-20 Memory of Four Evangelists and Fathers of the three Universal Councils, Memory of St. Aaron - Greatest among Asceitics 21-05-20 Ascension of Our Lord 24-05-20 Sunday before Penticost (Sunday of the Monks) 26-05-20 6th Memory of HH Baselios Marthoma Didymos 1st Catholicos (Mount Tabore Dayara , Pathnapuram) 31-05-20 Pentecost Sunday

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(For Internal Circulation Only) Newsletter MAY - 2020

The Ascension (Swargarohanam) of Christ Jesus is celebrated forty days after the Resurrection. This marks the completion of Christ’s glorification and lordship over all creation. At the Incarnation, Christ brought His divine nature to human nature. In the mystery of the Ascension, Christ brings human nature to the divine Kingdom. He reigns with the Father and the Holy Spirit in His glorified body, revealing His glorified human nature- indeed, human flesh-to be worshipped by the whole angelic realm. In some of the icons of the Ascension, Christ’s white robes are tinted red to indicate the shedding of His blood for the redemption of the world and the ascent of that life-giving blood into heaven. Christ’s Ascension is His enthronement in the fullness of divine authority and glory. Icons of the Ascension represent Christ in such a way that one cannot tell whether He is going to heaven or coming His return. This captures the profound truth that we are living under His reign while awaiting His return. Thus, the icon shows Christ being taken up (Acts 1:11), coming again in like manner (Acts 1:11), and yet continually present (Mt. 28:20). Believers are not to stand idly gazing up into heaven, but rather are called to virtuous faith and action in this world until Christ’s return 5 WEBSITE :www.ststephens.in MOBILE NO. 8750001733