ST THOMAS INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH NEWSLETTER 1009 UNRUH AVE PHILADELPHIA, PA 19111 July 2012 Volume XVI Issue 7 Contact Info: [email protected] Vicar’s Message Phone: 215.342.1500 Fax: 215.342.2700 one would try to convince Thomas stands out. No St. Thomas’ me for the sake of some other apostle took that Uniqueness political gain that St. adventure. The greatest Thomas is not as im- missionary apostle Paul portant in comparison did not face this much mission that St. Thomas had We have imbibed the tra- with another apostle, I adversity. In addition, his left for us is to witness the dition of celebrating the would avoid an argument mission was fulfilled the Lord in a world where the memory of St. Thomas in with that person because way the Lord desired, Lord is not known well. July from the Edessan my conviction cannot be a “not to be served but to Those of us who live Ameri- Church. No matter what matter to argue with serve and give his life as can this is relevant. America the tradition is, it is im- someone else. Who would ransom”. His death be- is known to the rest of the portant for me that I hon- argue against the adver- came a model to all Chris- world as a Christian country or this great saint, apostle sary who denies some- tians. Not just willing to but majority of the Ameri- and my own father. body’s father? Only if forsake one’s family, cans do not know Christ inti- someone is not sure about wealth, power, etc. but the mately or empirically. Ameri- The Indian Church owes it. In the case of St. very life itself make St. ca is a secular country and a everything to St. Thomas. Thomas, I can say St. Thomas the perfect mod- good majority of people are Three factors make St. Thomas is my father with- el. This is what is needed Christians but is Christ wit- Thomas unique to us. out any doubt. I should now. The Indian Church nessed in here? I doubt. To know well who my father will succeed spiritually bear witness to Christ is not a 1. St. Thomas is the is. To argue to establish only if that Church will be joke. By simply having the Founder of my Church: It my father’s fatherhood is ready to forsake every- word “Christian” with the is a matter of deep senti- foolishness. thing including its life for name of any Church will not ments to me that my own Christ. There is no other make them Christians; they Father, the founder of my 2. St. Thomas’ Model is model necessary. should bear witness to Christ. own Church, the one who Unique: The very fact of Is that possible? started the branch of the leaving the Middle-east to 3. St. Thomas’ Mission is Body of Christ in Indian come to a place where his My Mission: To take up I hope and pray that the soil is my own pride and language was not known the mission that St. uniqueness of our patron love. No one need to tell well, to travel that dis- Thomas left behind is to Saint will challenge us today me the importance of my tance, to gather courage to be taken by us. Nowadays to live as true Christians. father! I am so deeply preach Christ in an alien we just give some money connected to my father world where Christ is un- to some mission work or Lovingly, that he is default a matter heard of, and so on, St. the mission board of the Fr. M. K. Kuriakose, Vicar of memory to me. If any- Church and sit quiet. The JULY 2012 1 NEWSLETTER July Birthdays Meenu Ann Mathews 01-Jul Achamma Thomas 11-Jul Cynthia Vattasseril 25-Jul Rachel Nebu 01-Jul Felix Ronnie 12-Jul Rejani Chacko 25-Jul Joy Jacob 02-Jul Sonu Susan Thomson 12-Jul Reeja Saji 26-Jul Isabella George 02-Jul Thomas Koshy 13-Jul Jancy Chacko 26-Jul Priyanka Jacob 03-Jul Regi Mathai 14-Jul Smitha Thomas 27-Jul Diboo A Daniel 04-Jul Messina Ann Abraham14-Jul Annie Varghese 28-Jul Sosa Philip 06-Jul Prasad George 15-Jul Mariamma Joseph 28-Jul Hannah Marie Jacob 07-Jul Rev. Fr M K Kuriakose15-Jul Chinnu Reba Mathews29-Jul Joel George Varghese 07-Jul Jacob George 15-Jul Alex Pothen 29-Jul Geevarghese K John 07-Jul Emil John Sam 16-Jul Thankachan K Mathai 29-Jul Jancy Joy 08-Jul George Joseph 17-Jul Thomas Vaidian 30-Jul Mathew P Cherian 08-Jul Sherin Mary Koshy 17-Jul Alwin Panicker 30-Jul Jiji Mathew 08-Jul Anupama Jacob 18-Jul Sobin Benny 30-Jul Manoj Thomas 09-Jul Beena Thomas 19-Jul Teena Sara Biju 30-Jul Beena R John 09-Jul Joseph M C. 20-Jul Thomaskutty Varghese30-Jul Abigail M Alexander 10-Jul Kuncheriah P V. 22-Jul Thomas George 31-Jul Sabu Abraham 10-Jul Charly Mathai 22-Jul Suja Elizabeth George 31-Jul Mathew N K. 10-Jul Binju Elias 22-Jul Saramma Thomas 10-Jul Sujith Mathew Thomas23-Jul We wish you all a Sylvia S Renji 10-Jul Angela Smitha Panicker24-Jul Happy Birthday! Annamma Chacko 10-Jul Remya Brown 25-Jul Leah Mariam Thomas 11-Jul Reshma Brown 25-Jul July Wedding Anniversaries Mr & Mrs Mohan Samuel 01-Jul Mr & Mrs Dinu Cherian 15-Jul Mr & Mrs Manoj Mathew 01-Jul Mr & Mrs Alex Pothen 16-Jul Mr & Mrs Renjy Vattasseril 03-Jul Mr & Mrs Oommen Geevarghese16-Jul Fr & Mrs Geevarghese John 04-Jul Mr & Mrs Binu K. Mathew 17-Jul Mr & Mrs Isac P. George 04-Jul Mr & Mrs Jacob P Sam 20-Jul Mr & Mrs Thomas Vaidian 04-Jul Mr & Mrs Nebu Daniel 20-Jul Mr & Mrs Cherian Varghese 05-Jul Mr & Mrs Lajy Raju 21-Jul Mr & Mrs Kochukoshy P Oommen06-Jul Mr & Mrs Samkutty John 21-Jul Mr & Mrs Thomas George 06-Jul Mr & Mrs Sajan Varughese 22-Jul Mr & Mrs John Varghese 07-Jul Mr & Mrs Shaji Thomas 23-Jul Mr & Mrs Varghese Mathew 08-Jul Mr & Mrs Nitish Cheriyan 25-Jul Mr & Mrs Shibu Kuncheriah 08-Jul Mr & Mrs Anish Mathew 28-Jul Mr & Mrs Oommen V Kappil09-Jul Mr & Mrs Varughese M M. 28-Jul Mr & Mrs Raju T Chandy 10-Jul Mr & Mrs Joby George 29-Jul Mr & Mrs John P Mathai 12-Jul Mr & Mrs Benny Mathew 31-Jul Mr & Mrs Reynold Educula 12-Jul Mr & Mrs Chacko P Chacko 31-Jul Mr & Mrs Sathees Easo 13-Jul We wish you all a Happy Anniversary! JULY 2012 2 NEWSLETTER Welcome to Parish News His Grace Dr. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos First Temple Entry: (Metropolitan, Niranam Diocese) Jaison George , parents Mr. Joby George and Mrs. Raji George and grand parents Mr. George Eapen and Mrs. Rossamma George. Congratulations to the family! Guest Priests: Fr. Maximus (06/03/2012) Rev. Fr. Johnson C. John (06/23/2012) Wedding Announcement: Brief Biography Anooj Thomas, son of Mr. and Mrs. N. V. Thomas, His Grace was born in 1954 to Mr KV Yohannan and Sheeba Thankachan, daughter of Mr. and Mrs. and Mrs Aleyamma Yohannan, Mannil Puthen Purayil, P. D. Thankachan, on Sunday, June 3 at St. Mary’s Kottoor, Thiruvalla, and was named Varghese John. His early Church, Niranam, India. education was at local schools in Kottoor, and college educa- tion at SB College, Chenganachery. After completing BSc from University of Kerala, H. G. joined Orthodox Theologi- Wednesday Prayer Line cal Seminary, Kottayam, and completed his GST, and BD from Serampore University. MTh was acquired from United Prayer-Line dial-in # 213-342-3000. Access Code: Theological College, Bangalore, and PhD from San Francis- 4044200. Please email Mr. Mathew Samuel, co Theological Seminary. [email protected], to add your email ad- Metropolitan Late Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios dress for Prayer Line updates. ordained him as a deacon on 19 April 1982, and HH Baselios Marthoma Mathews II ordained him as a priest on 5 June Playback Dial-in Number:1-213-342-3003 1982. On 28 January 1998, H.H. Baselios Marthoma Playback Access Code: 842946 Mathews II professed him as a Ramban at Parumala Semi- nary. Ramban Yuhanon was the Secretary of the Karunagiri Speaker: Rev.Fr. Shibu Mathai (6/20/12) MGD Ashram and Balabhavan. He also held the post of Playback Access Code: 993677 Principal, St Paul’s Mission Training Center, Mavelikkara, visiting faculty of St Thomas Orthodox Theological Semi- Speaker Mr. Tom Varghese (6/13/12) nary, Nagpur, coordinator of Malankara Orthodox Mission Board, St Thomas Karunya Guidance Center, Ulloor, Trivan- Divyabodhanam drum, Karunya Vishranthi Bhavan Kattela, Trivandrum, Mar- Next class is on a Saturday (date: TBA at church) from riage Assistance Foundation (MAF), Sick Aid Foundation 10AM to 1PM. Please contact course coordinator Mrs. (SAF), Member of Malankara Association Managing Com- mittee, Council Member of Parumala Seminary, Member of Elsa Koshy for further details. Catholic-Orthodox Dialogue Commission and many other posts of distinction. Besides being a scholar, exceptionally good organizer, preacher at conventions, he has participated and given leadership to many meetings and conferences. Yuhanon Ramaban was elevated to the post of Met- ropolitan on 5 March 2005 by HH Baselios Mathews II at Parumala Seminary. He took the mantle of Niranam Diocese from illustrious His Grace Late. Dr. Gheevarghese Mar Ost- hathios Metropolitan. His Grace has widely travelled in the Gulf, the US and in the European countries. He is working tirelessly to transform the Church into a missionary Church.