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Voice of the East 1 Voice of the East 2 Voice of the East VOICE OF THE EAST Patron : His Grace Dr. Mar Aprem (A socio-Religious bi-monthly) Metropolitan’s Palace, Trichur - 680 001, Kerala, India (Private Circulation only) Phone : 91487 - 2420978 November - December 2012 Personal : 91487 - 2442166 Email : [email protected] Contents 1. Editorial (Peace and Harmony) 11. Six New Cardinals 2. Patriarchal epistle 12. Orthodoxia 2012-2013 3. Church Ecclesiastical Calendar Indian Archdiocese News – 2013 13. Mar Yohannan Yoseph Visits International news Muscat, Oman 14. Mar Aprem Metropolitan Visits 4. Bishop Mar Awa Royel Visits Mission Parish in Goa China 15. Dr. Surekha Kurian Poovathingal 5. Opening and Dedication of New Visits USA Monastery of Mar Isaac of 16. Election of Mahatma Gandhi’s Nineveh in U.S.A. Great-Grandson 6. Dr. J J Van Ginkel Presents Church 17. Birthday and 44th Anniversary History Lecture in Sydney Celebration Ecumenical News Colour photos in pages 7,8, 7. Pope accepts resignation of 9,10 and cover pages 1,2,3,4. 85-year old Chaldean Patriarch 8. Archbishop of Canterbury Steps Down 9. Coptic Patriarch Elected in Cairo 10. Demise of Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch 3 Voice of the East Voice of the East Vol. 59 November - December 2012 Nos. 11 & 12 Editorial Peace and Harmony We are all looking for peace and yet we are surrounded by barriers to this elusive state. We prefer to hear the angelic message of peace and harmony and yet terror and chaos surround us. We look for peace in the nations; the people of Palestine and Israel do not know whether they can live without war. The people of Syria and Egypt do not know what the coming days will hold. And the people of Iran too are faced with threats. We look for peace in the Church; are we fulfilling the command of our Lord to care and share? While the Church is busy building churches, parsonages and shopping complexes, the needy surround us. Let us make a combined effort to help the poor in our churches. Our focus should be on the poor, the forgotten and the destitute, not on beautiful cathedrals and huge concrete structures. Our Mar Timotheus Parish in Nellikkunnu, Thrissur for example has effectively implemented a ‘Care & Share Programme’ collecting used newspapers, selling them and using the profits to fund dialysis treatment for patients with kidney disease. Free medical programmes conducted in several of our parishes in India also provide relief for many patients and also increase awareness amongst church members. At the same time, our members co-operate with blood and eye donation programmes. The need is great and we should engage in more charitable activities for the glory of God. As we bid farewell to 2012 let us do whatever possible to restore peace and harmony in our families, our churches, our communities and our world. Let us practice healthy living. Let our environment be eco-friendly. Let us look to the suffering and oppressed with Christian compassion and resolve to improve their lives. Let us abandon anger and enmity that we may truly be called the people of God. Perhaps in the years that come we may finally see what so many have long been looking for; true and lasting peace. May the Feast of the Nativity of our Lord and Saviour Jesus Christ be blessed upon all readers of this humble periodical, their families and their friends. Mar Aprem 4 Voice of the East Patriarchal epistle For the Holy feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ For the year 2012 Our beloved brothers, noble prelates, our spiritual sons elected priests and pure deacons: sons and daughters of the Holy Church and Assyrian national group and all our Christian brothers and sisters. Our Prayers and blessings receive Today we, all the Christians are celebrating in joy and happiness the holy Feast of the Nativity of the king of Kings our Lord Jesus Christ. The Son, Jesus Christ is born. By His Nativity the true light has shone and enlightened the path of Salvation. Let us recall, there were shepherds living out in the fields nearby Bethlehem, keeping watch over their flocks at night. An angel of the Lord appeared to them, and the glory of the Lord shone around them, and they were terrified. But the angel said to them, “Do not be afraid. I bring you good news that will cause great joy for all the people. Today in the town of David a Savior has been born to you; he is the Messiah, the Lord. This will be a sign to you: You will find a baby wrapped in cloths and lying in a manger. And suddenly there was with the angel a multitude of the heavenly host praising God and saying: “Glory to God in the highest, And on earth peace, goodwill toward men!” (Luke 2: 8-14) The Nativity of Jesus Christ brought peace on earth, goodwill toward men. This is a great mystery, God the word is revealed in the flesh anointed by the Holy Spirit and born from the Blessed Virgin Mary. The Apostle Paul says: “For there is one God and one Mediator between God and men, the Man Christ Jesus.” (1Timothy 2:5) We pray the same glory of God that shone upon the Shepherds on the day of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ may enlighten the hearts and minds of all the Christians so that we all might be able to celebrate the feast of Nativity in joy and happiness. On this joyful occasion we are saying to all of you, Sons and daughters of the Holy Church and our Assyrian national group and to all fellow Christians: 5 Voice of the East The feast of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ be blessed to you all. We pray, all of you, Sons and daughters of the Holy Church and our Assyrian national group and all fellow Christians that you will celebrate the feast of Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ in joy, happiness and good health. As members, united to one mystical body of Christ is required of all to in peace and tranquility with one another because you have been called to experience such a peace in the Holy Church. We have learned how precious the gift of the merciful God is, by the water and the Holy Spirit, He clothed us with the garment of the Holy Baptism, under the species of the bread, He nourished us with His precious body and by His life-giving blood, He sanctified us and He associated us with celestial beings. Let us in love, honor and faithfulness be obedient to the commandments of our Lord Jesus Christ the Son of God. In order for us to become sons and daughters of our heavenly father there must be peace among us. Our Lord Jesus says: “A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another; as I have loved you, that you also love one another. By this all will know that you are My disciples, if you have love for one another.” (John 13:34-35) We are pronouncing to all the sons and daughters of the Holy Church, both the clergy and the laity, we are all responsible to fulfill our obligation towards the progress of our Holy Church faithfully and in truthful obedience. Our Lord teaches us to be peace makers. He also says: “Let your light so shine before men, that they may see your good works and glorify your Father in heaven.” (Matthew 5:16) The light of a Christian is his good deeds. We Christians possess such a kind of light only from the Lord and the source of the true light is Jesus Christ. Our Lord Jesus Christ says: “I am the light of the world. He who follows Me shall not walk in darkness, but have the light of life.” (John 8:12) Let us believe in the life-giving words of God spoken by our Lord Jesus Christ and recorded in the Holy gospel. Jesus says to the Israelites: “But because I tell the truth, you do not believe Me.” (John 8:45) Again Jesus says: “ For I have not spoken on My own authority; but the Father who sent Me gave Me a command, what I should say and what I should speak. And I know that His command is everlasting life.” (John 12:49-50) We will hear and learn the life-giving words of our Lord Jesus Christ that are preached to us in the Holy Church. Our Lord has established the Holy Church on earth and sanctified it by the Holy Spirit in order to sanctify the faithful worshipers and hear their prayers. The Church on earth is a part of the Church in heaven. The Holy Spirit stays in and with the Church forever. The Holy Spirit also sanctifies the faithful Christians by the Mystery of the Divine grace so that they reach 6 Voice of the East eternal life in the Kingdom of heaven. The Holy Church possesses consecrated buildings where the sons and daughters of the Holy Church offer worship and glory to God. These consecrated buildings are called the house of God. God is present among the community of the Christian believers who pray unto him in a humble spirit to hear their prayers, accept their petitions and to forgive their sins. We beseech our beloved sons and daughters of the Holy Church all parishes to bring your children to Sunday school, Youth Associations and church choir.
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