Non-receipt of SOCM daily digests for the last 4-5 days

Dear Members,

Barakmore / Shlomo


You all may have experienced non-receipt of SOCM daily digests for the last 4-5
days.  Many of our members have personally sent mails to inquire about it as
well.  Please note that the digests were not sent out by Yahoo groups, due to
some technical error from their side, and they sorted it out today only.  Hope
you already received the digest for today.

We regret for the inconvenience caused to you, which was beyond our control.

However, if any one would like to read the previous days messages, may please
access the forum's 'messages' section, for your reading.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/messages


Be with us and be part of it.

SOCM Forum Moderators

Dear Babu Jacob Nadayil Uncle,
Thank you very much for the information. I looked up St.Paul's Church
but could not find a number to reach Paitel Achen, as I wanted to
contact Achen and get his blessings before comming to service. If you
have Achen's number it would be a great help if you could email me it.
Thank you again.

Your Servant in Christ,
Robin J. Mani
2364

The June 2007 edition of "Shroro" is now online

Dear friends and brethren,

The June 2007 edition of "Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian
digest" http://www.socdigest.org is now online.

Your dedication to the faith has given birth to Shroro, and your love
and interest has made the tremendous growth in this magazine leading
to its immediate success.

We ask that you pray for us, so that we may better serve our
community's interests in coming years.

Thomas Daniel
For & on Behalf of
Shroro Editorial Board
http://www.socdigest.org

Todays Gospel

Grace, Mercy and Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you and your loved ones!

"Happy are those who obey the LORD, who live by his commands. Your work will
provide for your needs; you will be happy and prosperous." Psalms 128:1-2

Assuring you our prayers
Vachanam Team

"And when you hear that we look for a kingdom, you suppose, without making any
inquiry, that we speak of a human kingdom; whereas we speak of that which is
with God, as appears also from the confession of their faith made by those who
are charged with being Christians, though they know that death is the punishment
awarded to him who so confesses. For if we looked for a human kingdom, we should
also deny our Christ, that we might not be slain; and we should strive to escape
detection, that we might obtain what we respect. But since our thoughts are not
fixed on the present, we are not concerned when men cut us off; since also death
is a debt which must at all events be paid."

St. Justin, Martyr.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Beloved, do not avenge yourselves, but rather give place to wrath; for it is
written, Vengeance is Mine, I will repay, says the Lord."  Romans 12:19

"Man's nature adapts itself to the direction of reason, and it is susceptible of
whatever form it is inclined to by the movement of free will. Under the passion
of anger, it becomes angry; when overwhelmed by concupiscence, it is dissolved
in pleasure. And so whatever inclination there may be towards cowardice or fear
or any of the other passions, our human nature similarly receives the forms of
each of them. Contrariwise, if it takes unto itself the virtue of fortitude,
purity, peace, resistance to anger or grief, courage, imperturbability, and the
like, lulling itself into a state of tranquility it impresses the form of each
of these virtues upon the structure of the soul."

St. Gregory of Nyssa.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"So then neither he who plants is anything, nor he who waters, but God who gives
the increase."  1 Corinthians 3:7

Todays Gospel

Grace, Mercy and Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you and your loved ones!

"And eternal life means knowing you, the only true God, and knowing Jesus Christ
whom you sent." John 17:3

Assuring you our prayers
Vachanam Team

Dear Members,

Barakmore / Shlomo

You all may have experienced non-receipt of SOCM daily digests for
the last 4-5 days. Many of our members have personally sent mails to
inquire about it as well. Please note that the digests were not sent
out by Yahoo groups, due to some technical error from their side,
and they sorted it out today only. Hope you already received the
digest for today.

We regret for the inconvenience caused to you, which was beyond our
control.

However, if any one would like to read the previous days messages,
may please access the forum's 'messages' section, for your reading.
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/messages

Be with us and be part of it.

In Our Lord's Love
SOCM Forum Moderators
http://www.socmnet.org

Shlomo Dear Robin,

Respected Jose Daniel Achen's phone numbers are there in Malankara.com website. 
Here they are anyway..(e-mail address included) Phone: (215) 464-9112  Mobile:
(267) 432-1830   Email: Josedan@...

If you need any further assistance in any matters here is my e-mail
address:  bandkbj@... .  You can count on me.

Sincerely,

BJ Nadayil
#0983

Dear Chev.Advocate Philip John,

Thank you for updating about our St.George Church, Kathipparathadam.
I have observed a message in the other isle, the last portion of
which is given below with my added words about their obvious state of
mind(what I understood):

Quote -
In our latest Malayalam bulletin, we have given the information we
received to the contrary. But we shall comment on Chevalier P J
Philip's contentions on this matter only after viewing the judgement
in full. But suffice it to say that regardless of any such
observations by the honourable judges, we hope, pray and believe that
the honourable judge in the Kattappana civil suit too will see merit
in the contentions of the Orthodox Church that our church founded by
the apostle Saint Thomas is an episcopal church, and that no foreign
prelate( or even the foreigner LORD JESUS CHRIST) will have any
temporal rights over the same.

- unquote

Peace.

Pathhikan
#0476

Dear Chev. Philip John,

Thanks for the info. However, break away faction bishop Milithios has a
different opinion. This is what this bishop wrote in a break away faction forum:

"I am happy to inform that the appeal by the Jacobite Syrian Christian
Association Church challenging the judgment of Kerala High Court single bench
regarding the Kathipparathadam, Idukki Church has been rejected by the division
bench of the High Court. They argued that they were not heard properly by the
court before there was an order. They also asked the court that the single bench
verdict should not be used in other cases. The court rejected both applications
and asked them to file fresh suit in the lower court if they have any complaint
that they were not heard. The court refused to allow the plea that the verdict
should not be used in other cases"

Is this bishop misleading the people? Can you please explain?

Regards,

Saju Paulose
New York
ID#2341

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Chev. Adv. Philip John wrote:
>
> DEAR FRIENDS,
>
> The Writ Appeal filed by the Parishioners of the St. George Church,
Kathipparathadam, was disposed off by a Division Bench of Kerala High
Court today. The Division Bench comprised of Justice K.S
Radhakrishnan and Justice Antony Dominic said that the Civil Suit
between the rival parties which is now pending in the Subordinate
Judge's Court, Kattappana, shall be disposed off untrammeled by the
findings and observations contained in the judgement of a Single
Judge dated 28.2.2007. It was made clear that the findings of the
Single Judge are only for the purpose of disposing off the Writ
Petition.
>
> The result is that this judgement of Kathipparathadam CHURCH BY THE
SINGLE JUDGE CANNOT BE RELIED UPON AS A PRECEDENT AND BINDING
AUTHORITY IN ANY OF THE PENDING CIVIL SUITS.
>
> PRAISE THE LORD,
>
> PHILIP P J
> ============================================================
>
> From the desk of moderators
>
> Referred judgment of Kathipparathadam Church of The Single Judge
dated 28.2.2007 is available at following URL:
> http://www.socmnet.org/Resource_Judjments_IND_KER_5.htm

ALL INDIA CHRISTIAN COUNCIL

PRESS STATEMENT NEW DELHI, 14 JUNE 2007

CHRISTIAN COUNCIL HAILS `HISTORIC' ST STEPHENS QUOTA FOR DALIT
CHRISTIANS; WELCOME NEW CATHOLIC EDUCATION POLICY FOR MARGINALISED

All India Christian Council president Dr Joseph D'souza and Secretary
General Dr John Dayal have welcomed as 'historic' the move by the St
Stephen's College to give preferential admissions to brilliant
students from the Dalit Christian community in the prestigious
institution of higher learning.

St Stephen's College, they noted, has become the first Church-
constituted Institution to take this long-due affirmative action
which will go far in undoing prejudices against Christians from the
erstwhile depressed classes and scheduled castes in north and south
India.

Dr D'souza and Dr Dayal have also welcomed the Education Policy
announced by the Catholic Bishops Conference of India which reaffirms
the commitment of the Church to the education of the marginalised.

"These revolutionary measures will go a long way in the empowerment
of 60 per cent of the Indian Christian community who had fallen out
of the development net of the church and were also ignored by the
State," the Christian Council leaders said.

These steps are also in keeping with the recent recommendations of
the Justice Rangnath Misra National Commission for Religious and
Linguistic Minorities which recently said Dalit Christians [and Dalit
Muslims] must be given scheduled caste status and privileges given to
Hindu, Sikh and Buddhist Dalits. "Religion cannot come in the way of
empowerment and development of a people subjugated for three
millennia," the Council said.

Dalit Christians and Muslims are in the Supreme Court through a PIL
seeking Scheduled caste status denied them by a government order that
communalised affirmative action and reserves it for favoured religion.

The Council called upon both the State and the Church to ensure
quality education through well equipped schools and modern curricula
in districts, towns and Dioceses where Dalit Christians were in
reasonable numbers. This will also be in keeping with the spirit of
the recommendations made for the Muslim community by the Prime
Minster's Special committee on Minorities headed by Justice Rajendra
Sachchar which gave its report some months ago.

Associates of the All India Christian Council already run scores of
high quality English-medium schools in several states in India and
are planning more schools.

"The move by St Stephen's college Officer on Special Duty Rev Valson
Thampu will help remove the impression that the Church runs only
elite schools and colleges for the rich and powerful without concern
for the poor," the Council said.

Dr D'souza and Dr Dayal also challenged statements that the
affirmative action for Dalit Christians will in any way dilute
academic standards for which the historic Institution is noted. St
Stephens' doors are now open to the brilliant students of the Dalit
community who otherwise find such institutions beyond their reach for
various reasons. It will sharpen the competition among the children
of the elite who had so far found it easy to get admission."

It may be recalled that yesterday Rev. Valson Thampu had announced
that 40 per cent of the seats in St Stephen's College will be
reserved for Christian students as against the earlier 32 per cent
and 25 per cent of these will be kept aside for Dalit Christians. Ten
per cent of the total 400 seats will now be effectively reserved for
Dalit Christians as per the new reservation formula that will be
implemented from the coming academic session. The college, that has
around 400 seats, will also have 15 per cent reservation for the
students of Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, disabled and children
of defence personnel killed in war, while five per cent seats will be
meant for the sportspersons.

Released to the media for Publication

St. Stephens announces 40 pc quota for Christians New Delhi, June. 13
(PTI): [The Hindu] The prestigious St. Stephens College here today
announced a new reservation formula for Christians, introducing a
separate quota for Dalit Christians and enhancing the overall share
of seats earmarked for the community to 40 per cent. Now, 40 per cent
of the seats in the college will be reserved for Christian students
as against the earlier 32 per cent and 25 per cent of these will be
kept aside for Dalit Christians, Principal of the college Rev. Valson
Thampu told reporters today. Ten per cent of the total 400 seats will
now be effectively reserved for Dalit Christians as per the new
reservation formula that will be implemented from the coming academic
session. "The quest for social justice prompted the college to have
the reservation system in place. Besides, the bulk of the Christians
in North India belong to the Dalit community and they can now take
advantage of the facility," Thampu said. The college, that has around
400 seats, will also have 15 per cent reservation for the students of
Scheduled Castes, Scheduled Tribes, disabled and children of defence
personnel killed in war, while five per cent seats will be meant for
the sportspersons. About 40 per cent of the seats will be filled up
on the basis of merit from the general category.
________________________________________

NEW DELHI: [Agencies] Despite strong opposition from faculty
members, St Stephen's College will reserve 10% seats for Dalit
Christians this year. The cut-off for students from the category will
be 60% - the lowest in the college, and usually applicable only to
Sanskrit - for all courses. There will also be some financial
assistance extended to them. The 40% quota for Christians - which
will include the 10% seats reserved for Dalit Christians - will now
be filled up ''at all costs'' and for that the college is ready to
give students from the community more than the usual 15% relaxation
in cut-off. However, to allay fears of faculty members that the elite
institution's academic standards may be compromised, the college
proposes to start a regular ''merit audit''. ''We will explore all
avenues to make the stint of Dalit Christian students in the college
burden-free. But we are yet to decide whether that should be in the
form of scholarships or fee waivers. All financial assistance will be
need-based,'' said the college's officiating principal, Valson
Thampu. As per the admission policy cleared by the Supreme Council of
the college on Tuesday, 40% seats are to be reserved for Christian
students - and mandatorily filled - out of which 25% will be reserved
for Dalits of the same category, that is, 10% of the total seats.
Forty per cent will be reserved for non-minority groups and 15% for
underprivileged non-minority students, including SCs, STs, OBCs,
wards of war victims and physically challenged students. The
remaining 5% will be reserved for admission through the sports quota.
This year, for the first time, the college will admit at least 40
Dalit Christians out of a total of 400 students to be admitted to
courses at the undergraduate level. Christian students who qualify on
merit will also be counted in the 40% quota. In 1992, when the
college got minority status, it was directed by the apex court to
reserve at least 50% seats for Christians. However, it has so far
been able to admit only 30-32% students from the category, with 70%
seats open to general category students who are admitted solely on
the basis of merit. The latest proposal will cut general category
seats by 30%, leaving only 196 seats up for grabs.' It is now
mandatory for us to fill the 40% seats meant for Christian students.
If the quota doesn't get filled by providing the usual relaxation in
the cut-off by 15%, we will lower the cut-off further,'' said Thampu.
The 15% relaxation given to SC/ST students till last year will
continue this year. All candidates though will need to appear for
interviews regardless of their caste status, Thampu added.

Todays Gospel

Grace, Mercy and Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you and your loved ones!

"May our LORD Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and in his
grace gave us unfailing courage and a firm hope, encourage you and strengthen
you always to do and say what is good." 2 Thessalonians 2:16-17

Assuring you our prayers
Vachanam Team

Dear Saji,

I would like to remind you regarding the unity and peace made in 1958. All knew
how the other group cheated the patriarchies group. So same can be expected if
we try to do this again.

Also now there is a vast difference in belief what we are having and they are
having, especially with regards to our Supreme Head His Holiness and our
'declared saints'. So better we should work towards a solution to make both
factions as different churches.

Please note almost all Jacobites are having relations to almost all church
members like Orthodox faction, Marthoma, Malankara Catholics and CSI.

So please not to try again for the mistake what we committed in 1958.

Elias Abraham
# 3283

A Bible Devotion
---------

Greetings!

All Things Are Possible

MARK 9:23

23 Jesus said to him, "If you can believe, all things are possible to him who
believes."

From our early years we are educated in what is impossible.

But progress continues to be made by people who attempt the impossible and
achieve it.

Some have said that mankind's only real obstacle is between our two ears.

We ARE limited by what we believe, according to Jesus.

So, how can we change what we believe? Only by getting new evidence, which is
available from the Word of God.

MATTHEW 17:20
20 So Jesus said to them, "Because of your unbelief; for assuredly, I say to
you, if you have faith as a mustard seed, you will say to this mountain, 'Move
from here to there,' and it will move; and nothing will be impossible for you.

A conventional approach will not achieve the "impossible." It will require
acting different than the crowd, who probably won't understand you or support
you. Speaking to things and telling them to move, as Jesus taught, is certainly
not conventional.

Acting different than everyone else can be scary. It's like getting out of the
boat to walk on water. But do you want conventional results?

As you read the Bible and see the instructions God gave us, you will usually
find them unconventional. But the person who acts on God's Word will be blessed.

Saju C.Varghese
#895
New Delhi

DEAR ALL,

SUB; JUDGEMENT OF FIRST ADDITIONAL DISTRICT COURT, ERNAKULAM IN CHUVANNAMANNU
CHURCH CASE

1. A suit instituted by a priest appointed by His Grace Yuhanon Militios
metropolitan of Trichur Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church was decreed in
part by judgment dated 20.06.2007,

2. The first prayer in the suit was for a declaration that the plaintiff [
priest mentioned above ] alone is entitled to function as Vicar of the
Chuvannamannu Church. It was held that this prayer has become infructuous since
the very metropolitan who appointed him has now posted him as vicar of 
Kallachira St Mary's Orthodox Church. This relief accordingly was not allowed,

3. The second prayer was for a declaration that the defendants [inclusive of
Basselios Thomas-I, Catholicos and Geevarghese Mar Athanasius metropolitan are
not entitled to enter the plaint church, cemetery or Kurisupally or in anyway
intermeddle with the administration of the plaint church under the 1934,
constitution and the third prayer is for an injunction restraining the
defendants and their supporters from entering the plaint church.

4. The following reliefs are granted in the suit, viz;

"It is declared that the defendants are not entitled to intermeddle with the
administration of the plaint church under the 1934, constitution.

Defendants are hereby restrained by a permanent prohibitory injunction from
interfering with the management or administration of the plaint church under the
1934, constitution."

5. The above reliefs are granted on the basis of the finding that the
Chuvannamannu church continue to be associated to the Malankara Association of
the Orthodox Church.Although it was pleaded that this church is associated to
the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association, this issue was not argued and no
attempt was made to establish the same.In such a scenario, the courts can only
grant the relief in favour of the 1934, Constitution.

6. I have no doubt in my mind that the conduct of this and other litigation
respecting parish churches, without even trying to defend
the legal validity of the decisions taken by the respective parish
churches to associate themselves to the Jacobite Association is suicidal.

7. However, the same court has passed orders on 23.6.2007 staying execution of
the decree for one month to allow the defendants to prefer Appeal in the High
Court of Kerala.

Lawyers who appeared in this case are MR B.G. Bhaskar and Mr Biju Abraham for
the priest appointed by Militios Metropolita and MR K J Kuriachan, advocate for
the defendants which unfortunately includes our Catholicos

ADVOCATE P J PHILIP
# 103

Date: Tue, 26 Jun 2007
From: "Azer Bestavros"
Subject: [Copt-Net] 9th St Shenouda Coptic Conference, UCLA, 13-14 July

The Ninth St. Shenouda Conference of Coptic Studies, Royce Hall,
UCLA,Friday-Saturday, 13-14 July 2007

18 Scholars from 12 universities will present their research results in all
things Coptic: monasticism, history, sociopolitical development, language, early
Christian literature, Gnosticism, art, music, ecumenism, library resources, and
education.

Program, schedule, abstracts, and directions are at www.stshenouda.com
<http://www.stshenouda.com/> .

More about the Conference in next issue of Orthodox News, both Arabic and
English editions.

A Tribute to Fr. Antonious Henein

The conference will hold a special session (at 1pm Friday) in tribute to Fr.
Antonious Henein (1944-2006) who contributed extensively to the promotion of
Coptic studies. Dr. Elhamy Khalil, Professor James Robinson, and Professor
Marvin Meyer will speak in the session.

The conference is open to the public. Lunch and coffee breaks will be
served. Contributions are welcome.

Come along and bring others. I strongly recommend this Coptology conference
which is getting wider recognition every year.

All Blessings,
Saad Michael Saad

FLASH NEWS    FLASH NEWS

Dear All,

The vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral - Manarcad, V.Rev. Mathews P. Elias
Corepiscopa, Pazhayidathuvayalil, expired today (Friday, 29th June 07)
evening, after lying ill for sometime.

The body of the Corepiscopa Achen will be buried tomorrow afternoon at
St. Mary's Cathedral cemetry.  More details will follow later.

SOCM Forum moderators and members express our sincere condelence to
the Manarcad Church members and to the bereaving family of Corepiscopa
achen.  May his soul rest in peace.

SOCM News Bureau - Kottayam

Dear all:

It is with great sadness we report that Very. Rev. Mathew P Elias,
Pazhayidathuvayalil, Vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcad has been
taken to the Heavenly abode on Friday, June 29th.  Achen has served
the Holy Church for more than fifty years and has been the vicar of
St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcad for almost two decades now.  Let us all
pray to the Heavenly father that his soul will be kept in peace.
"Chaarthum neethiye ninnaachaaryanmaarum...."

Slomo,

Bobby Kuriakose
St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcad.

Beloved in Christ,

Peace and Love.

I will be away next week and will not be able to send the Spiritual Words.

Please remember me in your prayers.

God Bless.
mark.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"It is by grace that all the angels and all created nature see and perceive;
they do not embrace the reality, but they perceive as light would like to make
itself known or appear suddenly to the blind or even to creatures who see;
without light, indeed, the eye does not see but it is from light it receives
vision, because it is by it that it was created. Name me an incorporeal or
corporeal being, you will find that it is God who made everything; let one speak
to you of any being, whatsoever, those in heaven, those on earth, or those in
the abysses, for them also, for all, there is but one life, one glory, one
desire and one kingdom, one unique source of riches, joy, crown, victory, peace
or whatsoever other brilliancy: the knowledge of the Beginning and Cause from
which everything has come, from which everything has taken birth. That is what
sustains heavenly and earthly things, that is what puts all spiritual beings in
order, that is what keeps all visible beings in submission. That
is what guaranteed the stability of the angels when they grew in knowledge and
redoubled their fear, seeing Satan falling and his companions carried off by
presumption. That is the only thing that all those who fell, slaves of their
pride, forgot; while all who remembered it, raised up by fear and love, clung to
their Lord. Thus, the recognition of His lordship produced also growth in their
love because they saw better and more clearly the vivid brilliancy of the
Trinity and that in return the latter expelled far from them all other thought
and made unchangeable those who originally had received a changeable nature and
who now live in the divine heights."

St. Symeon the New Theologian.

--------------------------------------------------------------

"Oh, the depth of the riches both of the wisdom and knowledge of God! How
unsearchable are His judgments and His ways past finding out!"  Romans 11:33

Dear all,

I just happened to read an article in the Mangalam daily internet
edition about a Court Verdict on St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church
Kurinji(Kochi).  As per the verdict, the Special Court have ruled
against the Orthodox faction's claim that the church has to be
governed under their 1934 Constitution.  The main points of the
honorable Court's verdict as per the article in the newspaper are

1) Emphasis was given on the 1995 Supreme Court ruling regarding the
authority of each individual church's local general body in
performing administrative tasks of the churches.

2) Each individual church could be governed by its own individual
constitution, if there is one.

3) Emphasis was given on the rights that each Indian citizen enjoys
as granted by the Constitution of the Republic of India, Article 19
(1) C, Sections 25, 26 to build and govern Churches to protect their
individual faith and tradition.

4) Constitution passed by the general body of St. Peter's & St.
Paul's Church, Kurinji in 1963 supersedes the so-called 1934
constitution of the methran kakshi.

I hope some one like Adv. Philip could shed more light on this very
significant court verdict.  I also hope that God answer the prayers
of Milithios Methrachen and open all the closed churches and reward
Mannuthy Aramana, Muvattupuzha Aramana, and many more Churches and
institutions to the true owners.  Enough of this deceit and cooked
up lies from the 'MAN' trio.

Slomo,

Bobby Kuriakose
St. Mary's Cathedral, Manarcad
# 2333

Dear Friends

1. The suit instituted by two individuals from the parish of St
Peter's and St Paul's Jacobite church, for a declaration that the
election of its managing committee should be exclusively in
accordance with the provisions of the 1934, constitution was
dismissed on 27.6.2007 by the first additional district court,
Ernakulam,

2. This was a church that was managed from 1963 in accordance with
the decisions of the pothuyogam of the said church allowing a family
to have twenty eight members in the committee exclusively and the
rest of the twenty eight members elected from among the other
parishioners. The suit was filed to stop this process of management.

Relief was also asked for to stop this process and to direct the
priest of the church to hold pothuyogam and elect committee members
strictly in accordance with 1934, constitution

The court found that the pothuyogam decision is valid and it has
been accepted by everyone inclusive of the authorities of both
factions of the Malankara church. The suit was decided on the basis
of the situation on the date of the suit which was 31.5.2001.

The suit was accordingly dismissed ,which only mean that all the
reliefs asked for by the orthodox church in Kurinji suit has been
rejected.

Adv Philip P J
# 204

Dear Member

Thanks for reminding me about the last time peace agreement of 1958.
However my comment on the said topic is purely unnecessary as I was
born after that and I had only that information which is passed from
ear to ear. Anyway, let me clear that confusion in a different
language. What will we say if a student failed in 10th standard
examination? Do not attend examination anymore in his life? It is
purely wastage of time and effort with a second time effort? I am
comparing it with a similar situation. We might have failed because
of one or other reason. Why don't we try once again for a better
future? I am talking about a win-win situation not a win-lose
situation. Everyone should give space to each other's feelings. It is not
suppressing one's feeling and enjoying supremacy over the other. We should be
able to respect other's feelings as well. And above all there should not be any
ego or prejudice on that.

Let me comment on your words "now there is a vast difference in
belief what we are having and they are having…" It is possible to
give a new color to everyone's belief periodically to safeguard own
interest. Otherwise there is no need of periodical change in the said belief,
rather it would be constant even after thousands of years as far as they are
biblical in concept. Your belief is going to live as long as bible is there and
nobody can put a full stop on your belief.

There are people in both sides who are totally against unity. Also
there are people in both sides who are totally for unity. And I am
only one among from those who are for unity. My unity for peace
concept is totally different from the view which you maintained in
your note about the relation to other churches. I want all our closed churches
to be opened and our bishops (Jacobite and Orthodox), priests and devotees
should be able to enter any church without police protection to offer prayer.

With prayers

Sajy Thannikottu
Kathmandu
# # 2912

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Capt. Elias Abraham wrote:
>
> Dear Saji,
>
> I would like to remind you regarding the unity and peace made in
1958. All knew how the other group cheated the patriarchies group. So
same can be expected if we try to do this again.
>
> Also now there is a vast difference in belief what we are having
and they are having, especially with regards to our Supreme Head His
Holiness and our 'declared saints'. So better we should work towards
a solution to make both factions as different churches.
>

Have seen a posting by Elias Abraham on June 28, 2007.

Our Holy prayers, our Holy Qurbana are the blessed of the blessed.  I agree with
Elias it is very important to protect our sacred prayers.  All should understand
that we are not evangalical.

Zacharia Mathews Chalakuzhy
Montreal
# 3302

Dear All,

The Captain Elias's words make sense,Methrankashi have always cheated us in the
name of unity and will do the same.Now we are well progressing so they
pressurise us  for unity to trap us.We can think of unity if they are ready to
accept their own Guru,the Patriarch ,as Christ himself said ' a student is not
above his teacher'.In spiritual world a prophet has to keep his commitments and
oaths till death,you judge a prophet by his oaths and commitment.If methrankashi
are willing to show their christian commitment by withdrawing all cases against
their own brothers and their own father the " Patriarch' we can atleast think of
unity.But in politics ,winner is the man who violates all treaties.


Their bishops are more political this is obstruction for any unity.

We have good unity among people now as Captain said,there are hundreds of
families having blood relation between Jacobites and
Orthodox,Marthomites,CSI,Catholic ..etc some are husband and wife,some are
cousins etc,they live peaceful christian life,so we are that way well united in
christian brotherhood with all. Only the rebel bishops are not united with our
bishops,for that let those bishops pay price before God.

Priestly union is difficult as Methrankashi bishops are more political and
wordly than lay people ,i think in middle east also people are well united in
christian brotherhood with intermarriages between Syriac,Armenian,Greek,Maronite
and coptic communities, though priest of these individual church remain
separated loyal to their own hierarchy.Ecumenical understanding is enough rather
than a full priestly church to church complete unification.As Plato says' No law
or ordinance is mightier than understanding'

Whether you remain 'united or not' following christian faith and values is most
important.Our Jacobites church has done a very good move from begining by not
banning intermarriages between mother church and different daughter church.Or in
other words jacobite-Orthodox fighting is only cause of mere chair ,but mere 
ordinary lay Jacobite - Orthodox people are more or less well united by blood
ties in many families if not all.

Example of such a family(people to people) unity is P C Abraham Padijarekara,
kottayam former Trustee of Methrankashi is married from a well known Jacobite
family of Nedumbassery.This means families have unity enough and there is enough
unity among people also,division exist only because of church politics of
few,hunger for power and wealth of Methrankashis,that blot in character of them
we cannot solve,they themself have to pay the price in the day of judgement
.Hence theory that there is no unity among people and doubts that only if we are
united we can progress and God will bless are all hardly tenable,in my opinion.

Bibu Philip Matthew
Vayaliparambil  Pynadath
# 0074

DEAR FRIENDS,

The following is the full Text of the judgement by DIVISION BENCH of Kerala High
Court in Kathipparathadam case.

=========================================================
IN THE HIGH COURT OF KERALA AT ERNAKULAM
PRESENT
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN,
&
THE HONOURABLE MR. JUSTICE ANTONY DOMINIC

W A NO 1484 OF 2007
--------------------------
AGAINST THE JUDGEMENT/ORDER IN WPC.28865/2006 DATED 28/02/2007
-------------------

APPELLANTS
----------------
1. KURIAN KURIAN, S/O KURIAN,
    KALLUVETTAMKUZHIYIL, KEERITHODE PO,
    IDUKKI DISTRICT,
2. REJI PAUL,
    POTTANKULANGARAYIL, CHURULI, CHELACHUVADU,
    IDIKKI DISTRICT,
3. MATHEW ULAHANNAN, VETTUCHIRAYIL HOUSE,
    DO, DO,
4. KURIAKOSE EDAPPATTU, S/O PAULOSE,
    KEERITHODE, IDUKKI, DISTRICT,
5  ELDHOSE
    ULAHANNAN, VETTUCHIRAYIL HOUSE, CHELACHUVADU, IDUKKI,
6. PAULOSE
    NEDUNGATTUKUDIYIL, SON OF KURIAN, PAZHAYARIKANDAM, IDUKKI,
7. VARGHESE
    KANJIRAKKAT, SON OF KURIAN, CHELACHUVADU, IDUKKI,
8. ELIAS
    MUNDAPLAKKAL, SON OF KURIAKOSE, DO, DO,
9. JOY
    THOTTIYIL, SON OF VARGHESE, PAZHAYARIKANDAM, Idukki,

BY ADV. SRI. S. VENKATASUBRAMONIA IYER [SR], SRI. P.J.PHILIP

RESPONDENT
===========
1. ST GEORGE ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH, KATHIPPARATHDADAM,
    CHELACHUVADU PO, IDUKKI-685606,
    REPRESENTED BY ITS TRUSTEE @ S/O SCARIA, AGED 48,
    RESIDING AT CHIRAKKACHALIL HOUSE, KEERITHODU, IDUKKI,
2. FR K.K.VARGHESE, VICAR, ST GEORGE ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH,
    KATHIPPARATHDADAM CHELACHUVADU PO, IDUKKI-685606.
3. STATE OF KERALA, REPRESENTED BY ITS SECRETARY,
    [REVENUE DEPARTMENT],
    GOVT. SECRETARIAT, TRIVANDRUM,
4. THE DISTRICT COLLECTOR, PYNAVU, IDUKKI,
5. P K GOPINATHAN, ADDITIONAL DISTRICT MAGISTRATE, PYNAVU, IDUKKI,
6. P E VIJAYAKUMAR, REVENUE DIVISIONAL OFFICER, PYNAVU, IDUKKI,
7. THE SUB DIVISIONAL MAGISTRATE, PYNAVU, IDUKKI,
    BY GOVENMENT PLEADER SRI. SANDESH RAJA, SRI. S. SREEKUMAR

THIS WRIT APPEAL HAVING COME UP FOR ADMISSION ON 26/06/2007, THE COURT ON THE
SAME DAY DELIVERED THE FOLLOWING:

K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN,&ANTONY DOMINIC, JJ.
======================================
W.A. NO  1484  OF  2007
=============================
Dated this the 26th day of june, 2007

J  U  D  G  M  E  N  T

Radhakrishnan,J
-----------------------

We have perused the judgment rendered by the learned Single judge. We make it
clear that whatever observations and findings rendered by the learned Single
Judge will have no bearing on the issues involved in the civil suit and findings
recorded are only for the disposal of the writ petition.

With the above observation, the writ appeal is disposed of.
[SD]
K.S.RADHAKRISHNAN, JUDGE.
[SD]
ANTONY DOMINIS, JUDGE

Posted by:
ADV. PHILIP P J [PARAMBIL THARAKAN]

Todays Gospel

Grace, Mercy and Peace of our Lord Jesus be with you and your loved ones!

"If you want to be happy, be kind to the poor; it is a sin to despise
anyone." Proverb 14:21

Assuring you our prayers
Vachanam Team

This is pretty strange how it worked out this way

Q: What is the shortest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalm 117

Q: What is the longest chapter in the Bible?

A: Psalm 119

Q: Which chapter is in the centre of the Bible?

A: Psalm 118

Facts:  There are 594 chapters before Psalms 118.
	 There are 594 chapters after Psalms 118.
	 Add these numbers up and you get 1188.

Q: What is the centre verse in the Bible?

A: Psalm 118:8

Does this verse say something significant about God's perfect will
for our lives?

The next time someone says they would like to find God's perfect will for their
lives and that they want to be in the centre of His will, just send them to the
centre of His Word!

Psalms 118:8 (NKJV)"It is better to trust in the LORD than to put
confidence in man."

Glory to Thy Name

Gigi P Thomas
Member ID # 1046

We express our condolences in the sad demise of our spiritual father.  May his
soul rest in peace.

Zacharia Mathews Chalakuzhy
Montreal, Canada
# 3302

Devotional thoughts for 5th Sunday after Pentecost. 01 Jul 07
Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Luke 9:10-17

Dear and Respected Brethren,

In today's reading we start with the report given by the blessed
Apostles soon after their return from the first trial work in the
mission field. In a very pleasant manner, they sit around their
master and explained him what they saw and experienced. We could
find a similar explanation given by St. Mark in his Gospel chapter
6: Vs 30-43.

When our Lord took his beloved Apostles to a desert place privately,
a good number of people reached them soon. Among the crowd, a good
number wanted to hear him and learn more about the kingdom of God
and many others were longing for their own or their close ones' cure
from illness. Our Lord knew that the crowd would be following them.
See St. John 6:1, 5. Our Lord satisfied them all granting what they
looked for.

The incident described in the following lines is well known to each
and everyone of us. In the evening of a day, (might be after two or
three days' continuous mission) the Apostles approached our Lord
with a normal and ordinary request. "Send the multitude away, that
they may go into the towns and country round about, lodge and get
victuals: for we are here in the desert place." Can any one tell
that our Lord was not cautious about the needs high lighted by the
Apostles? The answer is very simple. He knew what is going to happen
and what is to be happened. Our Lord answered "You give them to
eat". When our Lord asked them so, did he not know that they had
nothing with them? He wanted to search among the surrounding. When
God Almighty has kept us in a position, he has arranged the
resources we might need in the nearby locations. It is the duty of
the creation to search for God's reserves. Now a days many of our
parishes are giving much importance for the charity. It is a novel
idea and many are doing the same in a most appreciable manner and
way. When we would chart out a program for the social progress or
so, we must find the resources also from our midst, instead of
crying for funds. When and where we could arrange from our midst,
there is no meaning in making complaints to God Almighty for not
having enough funds/resources.

In the dry and arid deserts there are some bushes which might grow
the maximum height of 10-12 inches. In a few bushes we could find
that there is water in the stems of such plants. See what sort of
arrangement is made by Lord God for the camels and other such desert
animals. Now also our God is asking us to feed the poor, needy and
downtrodden around us. Instead of taking something from our pockets,
we could blame the Church, the clergy and the Church leadership.
Recently when Chikunguinea appeared in central Travancorean
districts, many wrote in the web Medias accusing the clergy and the
Church. I am not advocating that the Church or the clergy have no
responsibility in such emergencies. When we hear about a need of
common nature or so, let us think what we could. We must listen well
and identify what is the message of our Lord to us.

The blessed Apostles said "we have no more but five loaves and two
fishes; except we should go and buy meat for all this people". When
they said so, they were not sure that our Lord could do a miracle
with the five loaves to feed more than five thousand men and nearly
the same number of women and children. Yet they were willing to
submit what they had. When God is asking you and me, we must submit
what we have and we must wait to see what would happen to the thing
in His hand.

Our Lord asked the Apostles to make them sit in fifties. This
teaches that everything needs a proper system and discipline. In our
Churches, our faithful often make a big rush when they move to the
front to partake the Holy Communion or for the Kai Muthu before the
final dispersal. Are we not educated enough to keep up the
discipline? We should not forget that all our actions inside the
Church are in the notice of our Lord.

See the 17th verse. "And they did eat, and were all filled: and
there was taken up of fragments that remained to them twelve
baskets." The number of the baskets teaches that the each basket was
meant for each Apostle. They were supposed to continue the feeding
mission in their own Churches.

May God bless us all.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.