Three elders went to visit Abba Stephan the priest and while they
remained there talking about what is beneficial to the soul he
remained silent. The elders said to him, "You are not answering us
father. It was for the benefit of your counsel that we came to you."
Then he said to them, "Forgive me, but I did not know what you were
talking about until just now. But I can tell you what is the matter
with me: I can see nothing else by night or by day, but our Lord
Jesus Christ hanging on the cross." And the elders went their way
greatly edified.

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

"Arise, O Lord! O God, lift up Your hand! Do not forget the humble."
Psalm 10:12

First of all - Congrats Anju!! I dont think there could be anything more
rewarding in your young athletic career.

(Reference:
http://headlines.sify.com/news/fullstory.php?id=13538634&headline=Anju~will~carr\
y~Indian~flag~at~Athens )

Secondly, All the very best for the Olympics! You will be pitching against the
likes of Marion Jones I guess - so heres tonnes of good wishes :-).

Finally, thanks to Bobby for all his efforts with Anju :-) ... and have a great
time - No matter what!

Regards,
Susan
St. Marys JSOC - Blr.

P.S: I dont think Anju is on the group, but I do remember somebody from her
church mentioning about her sometime long ago. It would be nice if this message
could be conveyed to her :-) .. Thanks there too!

------------------------------------------------------------------------
From the desk of the moderators

We will forward this message to Ms. Anju Boby George.

Dear brethren,

I would like to bring your attention to an article, especially point no. 2 and
3, written by Rev. Cyril Remban in the latest edition of Malankara Deepam which
is available at the following link:

http://www.malankaradeepam.org/mdeepam/latest1/osth.html

Forget ethics, show at least some decency!!!

Yours in Christ
Johnson Varghese
St. George Syrian Orthodox Church
Kuwait

In Digest No. 976 of SOCM forum, Thomas P wrote on the basis of the link
http://www.geocities.com/malankarav7/20040801MangalamCatholic.htm published by
Malankara Voice:

>Can you explain how they elect bishops in Malankara Catholic church? Do they
have a role in electing the Pope in Rome? Is it fair to always publish only news
against one group? What is the Christian approach to be followed in news
reporting?

>----------------------------------------------------------------------

Dear SOCM forum members,

Mr. Thomas P’s above letter seems to be self explanatory. Does that deserve an
answer at all.

Bible quoting: “First remove the log in your eyes before trying to remove the
speck in other’s eyes”

Mathew Varkey
Kottayam Cheriapally

Hello Thomas,

What’s wrong with exposing this burning issue. All these must have to be
certainly exposed so that such mistakes may be curtailed in the future atleast.

What we have seen in the bishop election of Malankara Orthodox Church was a very
unhealthy practice. Nowhere in the world could one find such a shameful
election; street canvassing, advertisements in major News papers by candidates
etc, etc.. Still, if you find anything wrong in the malankara voice postings
instead of a self examination, you may please recheck all the previous mails in
your MOC forum itself. There u can find several articles criticizing this MOC
bishop election. Among them were your emails also.

I have also read an article by Chor-episcopa V. Rev Kuriakose Thottupuram of MOC
in his internet herald. In atleast 3 different  issues of that magazine, he has
questioned the bad practices prevailing in the MOC election. He even suggested a
remedy by pointing out the Coptic election process.  Even you have supported his
article which I have read in MOC forum. But the worst thing happened in the June
parumala election of MOC which was admitted by your church leaders itself. All
these means that there was something fishy that happened in MOC election this
year. Now what morality do you have to question others when it is an
undisputable fact that MOC election process brought shame to the Indian
Christianity itself.

Koshy George, Baroda
Thumpamon Valiyapally


>    From: Thomas P
>Subject: Re: Catholic magazine against the bad practices in the MOC election
>
>--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Malankara Voice wrote:
> > Malankara Catholic magazine condemn the recent Malankara Orthodox
> > Metropolitan election. (Source: Mangalam).
> > http://www.geocities.com/malankarav7/20040801MangalamCatholic.htm
>
>Can you explain how they elect bishops in Malankara Catholic church? Do they
have a role in electing the Pope in Rome? Is it fair to always publish only news
against one group? What is the Christian approach to be followed in news
reporting?
>
>Regards,
>Thomas
>Thumpamon Valiyapalli and Cheriyapalli.

Who were they? how did they work

They were

**  Highly ORGANIZED (like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st century!)

**  Highly VOCAL  (like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st century!)

**  Highly CONFRONTATIONAL  (like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st
century!)

** Highly MOTIVATED  to maintain the existing POWER  structures and status quo
(like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st century!)

** Highly successful in gathering disciples in THEIR CIRCLES OF LEARNING
learning (like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st century!)

** Highly effective in transmitting their teachings/belief through their
disciples (like the Pharisees, rabbis, scribes of the 1st century!)

Even today it is the same. Whether it is Pentecostals or Protestants or IOC or
what ever !

Evaluate evey group based on the comments above. and you will see The Jacobites
are

NOT organized.       ( that is why faithfull suffer in Jacobite church)
NOT Vocal            ( definitely not vocal )
NOT CONFRONTATIONAL  ( we are not closing any ones church )
NOT Power motivated. ( we are not saying a See here or there)
NOT effective in transmitting .. ( we have no manorama or money like the
protestants)

Regards
Paul Philipose
St. Ignatious SOC, Dallas

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 21: 28-32

Dear and Respected Brethren,

A parable to teach the unavoidable and urgent need of real and
genuine repentance is the sum of the reading for today. It is the
parable of two sons of certain man, whom were asked by the father to
assist him in the vineyard, and in fact both the sons responded to
the father indifferently. It is needless to explain those as we all
are so familiar with the parable. We read this portion after
listening to the instances that lead the triumphant entry of our Lord
to the Jerusalem temple. We are much fascinated by the events that
took place in Jerusalem temple immediately after our Lord's arrival
there. We all will be delighted to talk about those instances one
after the other in a very victorious way. But could we imagine that
our Lord is coming to our minds, as he entered the Jerusalem temple?
The answer will be in fact a big `no,' as we haven't dreamed so.. We
all like Jesus and we will confess about Him in a very beautiful way
and style. But we must think how many of us are really interested to
co-operate with Him in all our dealings. We all need His blessings
and guidance. Are we willing to keep the doors of our hearts and
minds wide open for him every now and then? Some might be saying "why
not, we will open as soon as He is at our door step". But in fact he
is waiting at the doorstep always and every day he is knocking the
door. We are not listening and opening the doors for him.

Even after the triumphant entry of our Lord, the Pharisees and
Scribes were after our Lord in their routine style and manner. And He
was trying to teach them about the Kingdom of God in the way of
simple parables. Our Lord was so sure that the ones who opposed him
and his teachings were short of repentance. So our Lord makes them to
answer: "Who did the will of the father" and they answered
correctly  "the first one". We the Christians of the modern age are
also behaving exactly same as the Jews of those days. The Jews were
after Jesus. They were listening to Him and answering Him positively.
But they had no real fruit in them, as they ignored His teachings.
They did not give the due importance to the divine teachings and
messages. We could claim that we are going to Church regularly and we
are attending the activities of spiritual organizations, and we are
conducting Convention Speeches and listening them. But where is our
spirituality or whether we are concerned about the growth of
spirituality in us? Are we having the tendency to repent every
moment? We should not forget that our Lord's first message to the
world was "repent and believe the Gospel". Unless and until we would
repent, we could not enrich our spirituality. We should mould a mind
of repentance. It must be life long process. When we understand that
we are far from God we must repent. According to Orthodox Church
Fathers, repentance means getting back from selfishness. We should
not forget that the selfishness is the mother of all evils.

When our Lord had the answer from his listeners, He said "Verily I
say unto you. That the publicans and the harlots go into the kingdom
of God before you". We must listen to this verse with more attention.
We must have a desire not to hear such a saying from our Lord. If so
we must have a total change in our lifestyle. We will have to avoid a
lot of practices in our lives, which detach us from the closeness
with our God. We must attain freedom from the binding of so many
worldly attractions and influences. Otherwise we will also listen
such a caution from our Lord, as we read in Verse 31. In St. Luke
7:29 we read, "And all the people that heard him, and the publicans,
justified God, being baptized with the baptism of John".

Again our Lord is saying "For John came unto you in the way of
righteousness and you did not believe him, but the publicans and the
harlots believed him and you when you had seen it repented not
afterward and you might believe him" (Verse 32) Here our Lord is
mentioning about St. John the Baptist or the forerunner of our Lord.
The message given by St. John the Baptist was also the same as that
of our Lord's first message to the world. St. John also exhorted the
world to repent. We are also well versed with the usage `repent' and
repentance. Before concluding today's thoughts let us go through the
prayer of the feast of transfiguration, which many of us must have
listened in our Churches the other day. In the Promiyon of the feast
we listened, "Kindly transform our hearts from the evils to the real
goodness and from the darkness of evils to the brightness and pure
light of righteousness on this day of the feast of Transfiguration,
which is indeed the cause of all hope and glory. Lord make us shine
in the true faith, virtues and everything good. Lord remove the dirty
and filthy dress due to our evil desires from us. Kindly make our
dresses and all activities shine better than the sunlight. Bless us
to inherit your tents of brightness and glory". We must make use of
the opportunities to repent and to have a more righteous and virtuous
life.

May God bless us all.
Jose Kurian Puliyeril
St. George Orthodox Church
Abu Dhabi

Refer the posting of Mr. PV Eldo and Mr. John Mancha regarding the remission
and omission/ignorance of Syrian Orthodox tradition which are very much now in
existence in Malankara Churches .  It is a open fact that since the churches are
flooded with money ,  lavishly spending it for court cases, festivals,
fireworks, painting and decoration, politics ( the style of election campaign,
bishop selection, clergies openly supporting political parties) etc.  Where will
they get time to teach the correct  practices to the younger generations.  In
this context I post a question, which never answered. ( lost in material
discussion  -   Mor …N….  never given accounts for few dollars????????) . May
repeat my question once again

"What is the correct body posture  one should have  in attending /receiving
the Holy Qurbano?"

I have noticed  most people attend  Holy Qurbano with hands interlocked in
front? Some body interlock hands at back as if they are watching a game/drama.
Some people attended  in Indian Style “ folded hands”.

Churches in kerala,  so called  influential  people ( like trustee, committee
members, rich persons etc) either come  at the middle of the service or  if they
come early  they are confined with elaborate personal /political/church case 
discussions at the courtyard of the church/church offices.  The new trend in
India, the Urban flocks carrying mobile phones in churches, which is on in the
middle of service.. If you are late for the service , names  for Remberance in
Holy Qurbano  passed on thru  church telephones (Outsourcing  like  recent
incident like  British football captain outsourced his  prayer for  victory in
Euro 2004  thru RC priest at Trichur) . I head that  centuries old  timing of 
mid night services have also being altered at Kerala ( even though people are
more comfortable to reach the churches today  since most of them are having  own
conveyance – my childhood we used to walk  2 kms to church in the midnight)..  
Today the sad  plight of the church is that nobody    there to correct them.
Since this type of disrespect and departure of traditions  forced me write this
and I feel , we require correct directions  from the spiritual heads. Are we
heading towards /preaching spiritual  salvation  or material benefits ? HERE  WE
REQUIRE A SPRITUAL HEAD  LIKE METROPOLITAN, HB, HH  ETC.  NOT IN
STREET/COURT/POLICE STATIONS  AND ARAMANAS

My request to all members their posting/discussions should be more informative 
for upkeep the traditions/ values of Syrian Church than  to  explore the century
old  infights in the churches  , (which I do not think never ends  and  forced  
the flocks to disintegrate due to ignorance.)..

Needless to say,  articles  like  “ Importance of Matrimony/ life /character,
day today common problems, Good advises,moral stories, etc are the need of hour.
Hope the learned members will take care of this point.

Kuriakose George
St. James Orthodox church , MV –III , New Delhi
St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Marady, Muvattupuzha

Few thoughts on these questions

1. Why should we explain how Malankara Catholic Church elects their bishops?We
were interested in IOC election only because those who won the election will
definitely be the new recruits to the squad of closing down our churches.So we
should at least know the name & face.

2. We (at least I do) believe that the Pope or Patriarch who is an heir to the
Princely Throne is selected by God and the faithful are mere instruments in
elevating the particular person to the foremost rank of episcopacy. Same is the
case with Catholicose,Bishop & Cor-episcopa and should be same with all other
ranks of ecclesiastic dignity.We in India had been made to realize recently that
the conventional concept of democratic elections which we follow could only help
in the enthronement of those people who could never even think sensibly and for
the citizens..forget ruling us.Along with this naked truth,if we could receive
news paper ads and election manifestoes from bishop candidates, I would
definitely support JSOC deviating away from that democracy...Let Mr.Karackkel
have all that pride to himself and his church,as he claimed in Surya TV.

3. Now comes the question of being fair....

Who is fair even in thoughts?Forget reporting then....Is Manorama fair in
reporting church issues & cases?Ok forget it,atleast is that daily fair in 
matters related to human rights?

Why were we fed with ISRO scandal?Was that  only to oust leader and to place
Antony & Chandy?

Why are we fed with beautiful cooked up stories of 'paki-peace-talks'?Was it
meant to glamourize UPA govt?

Why are we fed with atleast one news column related with IOC every day?Is it
just a hint that they dominate the print?

Why are we seeing mails from different people in all other forums openly
attacking JSOC?Not even that,why we are still mentioned as Dinosyus Group in all
those mails..(but that definitely gives an identity..thanks for that)?The only
fair thing related to all these is that we are just ignoring all those.We wont
reply (most of the times dont even read) for all those fantasies..we are here
and we will be here is a reality.You have to live with it.

Is CNN 'fair' in feeding the US people with news outside the US continent?

So..being fair is an illusion.You have the right to express.Left to others who
read or hear or see to determine on what they conceive from the same.

4. Christian Approach is definitely good terminology..I can suggest more.
Universal Christian Brotherhood, Christian Civic Fellowship , Christian Light
for Society etc etc...I would like to add few more interesting usages here
Orthodox Christian Movement,Save Orthodox Forum,Christian Fasting Protest..etc
etc..

Hope I had made myself explicit and clear on all that I wanted to convey....
moderationists and peacekeepers please excuse.

Regards
Jojo
[Alex Jojo Joseph
St.Mary's JSO Cathedral, Queen's Road, Bangalore
St.George JSO Chapel, Kavumbhagom, Thiruvalla]

Dear Paul,

It is said about Mozart that he could memorize a complete symphony in one
listening and then reproduce the notes accurately from memory, that too at a
younger age. We know how researchers at Uni. of CA, Irvine later scientifically
proved the Mozart effect.

Also there are many Indian musicians who memorized hundreds of complicated
compositions in different raagas, note by note. If such highly complicated tasks
are possible, then remembering a conversation and recording it in the diary is
comparatively very easy. This is done by many people in daily life. I am sure
you also have done this, listening to a conversation and then reporting it
exaclty to another person. Though there are some people who spread rumors (as
part of their nature), that is not a scientific reason to disprove those who can
memorize and accurately report something from meory. There is difference between
the example you provided and this case.

Here the author is a Malpan, with good knowledge in several languages and good
memory skills. He was a teacher at Old Seminary with many disciples.  You will
not find many 'such characters in the society'!

Peace,
Thomas
Thumpamon Valiyapalli/Cheriyapalli.

Dear Brothers

Let us ignore his writings and forgive and pray for them.

If Mr. Joy read this form

1) I read church history as much as possible and some Holy Bible and from Holy
Bible what i see is not what you see what i see is

  1) never write a sentence about any one. This is more troublng because IOC have
agreed in thier Sunday Taksa and in thier constituation that SOC is a legitiamte
church. Therefore what he refered is the sons of God who received
brotherhood of Jesus Christ, our Lord. so if I were you I would not write that
way.

2) Matthew 16:19 specifically says "Keys of heaven " are given to Apostles St.
Peter. So dont call him "Gubber sing" and all. May be it if out of your
ignorance. but still

Regarding church history, there is NO EVIDENCE OR even tradtion what Malankara
church was independant.  On the contarary the Malankara church was a part of
SOC. even the postion Catholicos of east was created and exsted as a postion of
SOC.

To  Syril Rabban

Same applies to  you. Your hardness of heart surprises me.

I am not hurt by what you wrote. Esentialy calling us "bastards". (You know,
what Lord said .. you will take my cross ..." ) . Actauly I was sad that no one
is persecuting me.  now I rejoice. and I Sincerely pray to Lord Jesus Christ for
you

My prayers are with both of you
regards

paul
St. Ignatious SOC, Dallas

A brother asked an old man at Kellia, "Why am I always sitting in
judgment on my brothers?" The old man replied, "Because you do not
yet know yourself. Someone who really knows himself does not see the
shortcomings of his brothers."

From the Desert Fathers.

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

"When a man's ways please the Lord, He makes even his enemies to be
at peace with him." Proverbs 16:7

The BBC Radio program "Voices of the Dark" featured Syriac & the Syriac Orthodox
Church on Aug 4, 2004. You can listen to the archive
(until Aug 11) at; http://www.bbc.co.uk/radio4/history/

Thomas Joseph, Ph.D.
Web Master, Syriac Orthodox Resources [ http://sor.cua.edu/ ]
Tech. Editor, Hugoye: Journal of Syriac Studies [
http://syrcom.cua.edu/Hugoye/ ]

Dear all,

Few IOC members these days struggles a lot to mislead their innocent faithful
through their imaginative stories.  Though many of our forum members knew that
there lectures are baseless, there may be at least a few who blindly believe
these fake stories. Repeating a lie thousand times may confuse and convince a
few, but not all and not always.

Lately when a person in IOC forum asked about the morality of one of their
bishops entering the jurisdiction of another in their American diocese (the
letter was aimed at the fight between Makarios, Nicholovos and Mar Barnabas
supporters of IOC in America), one Mr. Thomas p’s reply was something very
different. While explaining, he diverted from the core issue and in his usual
style targeted Holy Patriarch Yakub III, former delegate Mar Aphrem Thimothios
Aboodi and others. Now Mr. Thomas could be thinking that he had successfully
fooled others. But how far is he successful?

Contrary to the arguments raised by him, what happened in 1970’s was quite
different. As we all know, it has became a compulsion to reorganize our Church
at that time because of the heinous and unchristian attempts of a few based at
Devalokam who wanted to snatch everything from the faithful and their parishes.
For the achievement of their desires, the former vattsseril faction found that
all the right thinking persons in Malankara has to be silenced first. For that
the first thing they tried to do was to make the Malankara Syrian Jacobites
leaderless.

Since it was only Aboodi Metropolitan who was a non-native, it was easy to
target him. The powerful lobby led by Manorama group cancelled the visa of the
Metropolitan with the help of key persons in the State and central governments.

But what IOC failed to realize at that time was that they were repeating the
same mistakes the English people had done a century back. Both these English and
devalaokam groups managed to threw out the delegates from India thinking that
they could demoralize the Syrian Christians, but the later history in both the
cases describes to us the rising up of the downtrodden against the immoral
activities of rich and influential.

As everyone knew, it was under the bad influence of his supporters, the aged
Catholicos Mar Augen I had issued instructions not to receive Mor Thimotheos
Aphrem Aboodi in any Church in India. (Within a short period he was dethroned by
his successor, who in turn also had the same fate one and half decade later).

This unreasonable circular was totally ignored by a greater number of churches,
especially in Kottayam and north. They in turn arranged special reception to the
Aboodi Metropolitan and also kindly requested the devalokam leadership from
withdrawing that circular. Though Manorama faction appeared to be temporarily
successful in this period through the sending back of the Metropolitan, every
political mileage they managed to garner in the beginning got negated as there
was only a section to support them.

People who came to Majanikkara to bid farewell to Aboodi Thirumeni in 1974 still
remember the words of the great Metropolitan who said; “Aboodi is going; but I
assure you – if one Aboodi goes, five Aboodies will be here to safeguard the
Holy faith”. That was really a prophecy !!. No delegate came back, but the
faithful came forward fearlessly.

It was a GREAT MOVEMENT by the Syrian Jacobites which is similar to the period
of Coonen Curiz Sathyam when the "parankikal" tried to wipe out the Jacobite
faith from this part of the world.

Thousands and thousands of faithful accompanied their beloved Metropolitan and
tearfully bid farewell to him at the Cochin Airport. The 20th century fanatics
of vattasseril faction, like some of their ancestors, could boast that they
could persecute and send back delegates from Antioch.  But it took no time to
convince them that faithful millions and many of the churches would leave them
as masters of some churches in the southern part of Kerala.

T M Chacko,
Manarcad,Kottayam

Dear Johnson,

Whether it is the Cyril Ramban or some other fanatics of methran Kakshi, all are
interested in only one thing; assault the Holy Patriarchs, Syrian bishops and
also those who remain in the Holy Church, at any cost. If they could not create
some thing genuine to assault our bishops, then they will become more violent
and rewrite the same matters that were written earlier. (‘Old wine in new
bottle’). It is this that we are now seeing in the IOC forum.

Somehow these happens to be their daily routine also. It has now reached such a
stage that without saying something bad of the Jacobites daily; those in
Malankara orthodox won’t get any recognition in their faction and also cannot
live for a single day. But these people forget that it is they, themselves, are
being degraded by these loose talks. Reading their articles once will make us
know about their real standard. No wonder that Roman Catholics termed the
Malankara deepam of moc (whose editor was a forerunner for bishophood) as a
‘Manja Patram’.

> > > Malankara Catholic magazine condemn the recent Malankara Orthodox
> > > Metropolitan election. (Source: Mangalam).
http://www.geocities.com/malankarav7/20040801MangalamCatholic.htm

Jacob George
Arthat St.Mary’s Church
Kunnamkulam

Mr. Johnson

What you expect from these guys? They are the church having a Saint
don't know who ordained him. And now spiritually & administratively
lead by a Holy Catholicose who abuse (using a third-rate words) the
Jacobite faithful and their fathers publicly.

In Christ
Aji Thomas David
Kadissa Church Kayamkulam

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Johnson Varghese wrote:
> Dear brethren,
>
> I would like to bring your attention to an article, especially
point no. 2 and 3, written by Rev. Cyril Remban in the latest edition
of Malankara Deepam which is available at the following link:
>
> http://www.malankaradeepam.org/mdeepam/latest1/osth.html
>
> Forget ethics, show at least some decency!!!
>
> Yours in Christ
> Johnson Varghese
> St. George Syrian Orthodox Church
> Kuwait

Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam,
Maliath taibootho,
moran a'amekh,
mbarakhto at bneshey,
wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh yeshue,
O qadeeshto Mariam,
yoldath aloho,
saloy hlofain hatoyeh,
hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.
Amin.

Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.
Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,
nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.
Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!
Thampurante amme!
Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum
dheivam thampuranodu
nee apekshichu kollename.
Amen.

Hail O Virgin Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death
Amen

Dear all members,

Please find great Syrian music through the link given below:
http://www.syriacmusic.com/

Quoting from the site :

St. Ephraim the Patriarchal Choir

Syriac music has a history spanning thousands of years and has been the
essential element for the development of the folk music which is still alive
hitherto in the Middle East. St. Ephraim the Patriarchal Choir established in
1980 by H.H. Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas at St. George’s Cathedral in Damascus.
Father Severius Malke Mourad, (currently Mor Severius Malke the bishop of
Jerusalem) was selected to be the first leader of the choir. Nowadays the choir
is directed by father Jean Kawak who works together with the musician Chadi
Emile Sarwé to continue the choir’s improvement.

History of The Syriac Music Church

Music of the Syriac Orthodox Church is enriched and has a sterling history
running from the beginning of our times derived from the ancient Sumerian and
Acadian musical period.

Please use the link and enjoy our traditional Syriac Music
With love and prayer
Prakash George
St.Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church
Thiruvanchoor, Kottayam

Matrimonial Digest / 0020-04

Dear members

We Moderators do not take or assume any responsibility for the particulars given
by the advertiser. Concerned parties are encouraged to verify the particulars.

As per the request of some advertisers we withheld the contact details and will
forward any reply to the advertiser for further personal contact.

Please read the successful stories of the matrimonial advertisement in the SOCM
forum at http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/message/4384

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 011/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Suitable alliance invited from Jacobite parents for a Jacobite girl ( 24
years/161 cm),fair,smart and God-fearing,B-tech with MBA,working in a leading
firm in Techno-Park,Trivandrum.

Please respond to thomasvt@... or moderator_socm@... with code #
MP-011/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 010/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Proposals invited from the parents of suitable boys with good family background,
for a Good looking & God fearing Staff Nurse (27 yrs,153 cm, hailing from an
ancient Jacobite family of Kottayam) working in UK. Coming on leave in
September. Respond with full details.

Please respond to or bkmbkurian@... OR moderator_socm@... with
code # MP-010/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 009/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jacobite Parents from Perumany, 7 km from Perumbavoor (Angamali Diocese)
invites proposals for their son working in Dammam, Saudi Arabia as Project Co-
ordinator. Proposals to be from Middle Class family. The girl should be God
fearing and fair.

Please respond to aliyasissac@... or moderator_socm@... with
code # MP-009/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 008/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jacobite parents from Ernakulam Dt.invites proposals to their daughter. She is
23 years old, 5' 3". The girl is very fair, brilliant and good looking. She is a
member of the church choir and a Sunday School teacher. She had completed her
MA(economics) with first class and now doing her B.Ed course in a very reputed
college in Ernakulam Dt.

Proposals to be made from graduate youths working here or Abroad (having family
visa). The boy should be handsome and God fearing.

Please respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-008/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 007/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Uncle working in abroad seeks proposal for niece. She belongs to Jacobite family
from Angamali. 23 yrs old, very fair, good looking, and working in Riyadh, Saudi
Arabia as Nurse in King Khalid University Hospital. She is smart, caring and
very God fearing.

We invite proposals from interested parents of God fearing Jacobite Christian
boys, well qualified and having stable job. If interested, please contact with
full details.

Please respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-007/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 006/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jacobite Parents from Kottayam Diocese invites proposals for their second son
PDC/30/168 working in MRF kottayam. Father doing business in Kottayam. Mother
Gazzetted officer in govt.One elder brother married(Working) and younger sister
studying.Graduates in any discipline or diploma holders in Nursing
(GNM)prefered.

Please respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-006/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 004/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jacobite parents from Ernakulam Dt.invites proposals to their son. The boy is 30
yrs.old 5' 8". He is very handsome, brilliant(MA Rank Holder), God fearing Altar
Boy), presently working with a leading news daily at Ernakulam Dt. Proposals to
be from Middle Class family. The girl should be God fearing and fair. Nurses
working abroad are prefered.

Please respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-004/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 003/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Jacobite parents from Kottayam invite proposals for their daughter, divorcee
with one girl child,)39 yrs.5'3", Home Science Graduate, medium complexion, very
Home loving and God fearing, from JACOBITE Widowers/ Divorcees of 40 to 45 age
group, well settled in life in India or abroad, with clean habits, positive
attitude towards life and home loving.

Please respond to moderator_socm@... with code # MP-003/04

Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam,
Maliath taibootho,
moran a'amekh,
mbarakhto at bneshey,
wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh yeshue,
O qadeeshto Mariam,
yoldath aloho,
saloy hlofain hatoyeh,
hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.
Amin.

Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.
Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,
nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.
Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!
Thampurante amme!
Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum
dheivam thampuranodu
nee apekshichu kollename.
Amen.

Hail O Virgin Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death
Amen

GREETINGS TO ALL,

" Deny yourself and say to your ego with all its demands, "I do not know you,
nor do I want to know you." And God will acknowledge you and concern Himself
about you, and so will your fellow men."

Saju C.Varghese
St.Peter's Cathedral, New Delhi
St.Thomas Church, N.Parur

Dear  Brothers

We are remebering the dormition of most blessed lady in this week. That is why
we are obaserving 15 day Lent. The church has reduced the number of days from 15
to 5 for those people who find difficult to observe 15 days.

No one needed be told about the power of  saints in intercession. And St. Mary
as a saint is beyond parallel. Have we thought how blessed she is ?  Our Lord
cured lots of people. Even persons who touched his dress were cured. If we could
see Lord Christ now how happy we will be, because we could fall on the feet and
ask for curing so many sickness we have , miseries we have.  How many people go
to Jesusalem just to see that path Lord walked.

Now we have this lady who was blessed not to touch Lord, but to carry Him for 9
months , kiss him all the time , feed him , be with him for 30 years. ( I have
always wondered whom did Lord looked like? He should have looked like His mother
)

We all know the suffering of the Lord. But there is a suffering of St.Mary too.
She was virgin with vows who lived in the temple. But she became pregnant. The
she is about to deliver the Almighty God. But she had to deliver the Most
Powerful with no help in  a cattle shed. She might have hugged the infant to
protect from cold , rain  or even flys? Then the king trys to kill  the baby's
and how she ran to egypt in secrecy to save the baby. Just imagine how she was
running away from the soldiers, hiding , with heavey heart  and finaly living in
starnge place. How was her life as young 14 year old mother trying to protect
baby from a King  and his soldiers ? No man can imgine this. And only few
mothers can think of it. Because if you take any mother now, there is no mother
who went through what she has gone through.  After all this , she brings up her
only child and then she has to see the mose of saddeing sight for a mother.

she has to see her own son in the cross, persecuted and insulted by every one.
The song during Good friday service .."sleeba ..." is hearbreaking.

In the cross,  Lord, thought about His mother and entrusts her to His most
beloved disciple St. John.  saying "Behold your mother".(John 19:27)Church
believe that at this time, she became mother of all the faithfuls, including me
and you.

She lived only  6 more years after our Lords crusification . She lived with St.
John the Ephsesus. ( from my math she might have died at age of 54)

In the scriptures she made only one request to Lord and it was granted. Millions
of faithfuls all over the world will testify that she has made much more 
requests to the Lord and they all were granted. She is a forte for us and model
for us in her humilty, faith , dedication, and love.

Now it is our time for us to show our affection, love and respect to the mother
of all whom the Lord loved most ( I am sure ).

Bothers join the church in hororing our mother of God, from  at least 10th to
15th.

Note:

Many people think that her memory is from  Sept 1 to Sept 8. Some others have
told me that they take Lent on  Sept 1-8. But this (Now) is the canonical Lent
for hororing this Queen.

Paul Philipose
St. Iganatious SOC, Dallas

Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam,
Maliath taibootho,
moran a'amekh,
mbarakhto at bneshey,
wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh yeshue,
O qadeeshto Mariam,
yoldath aloho,
saloy hlofain hatoyeh,
hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.
Amin.

Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.
Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,
nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.
Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!
Thampurante amme!
Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum
dheivam thampuranodu
nee apekshichu kollename.
Amen.

Hail O Virgin Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death
Amen

"When the foolish thought of counting up any of your good works enters into your
head, immediately correct your fault and rather count up your sins, your
continual and innumerable offenses against the All-merciful and Righteous
Master, and you will find that their number is as the sand of the sea, while
your virtues in comparison with them are as nothing."

St. John of Kronstadt.
---------------------------------------------------------------

"Give ear to my prayer, O God, And do not hide Yourself from my supplication."
Psalm 55:1

Dear and Respected Brethren,

Let us meditate on St. Mary Mother of God and the blessed and meaningful 15 days
fasting (Lent)For each and every faithful, the presence of St. Mary, other of
God, amongst us is a great blessing and an excellent source of intercession.
St.Mary is the virgin lady who humbled herself for the cent percent disposal of
God Almighty in her very young age itself and hence she could become a part and
parcel of the great salvation scheme of God. That is why we do venerate St. Mary
as first among all the saints. The fact that she gave birth to Lord Jesus is
less important than her co-operation with God’s master plan of salvation of the
entire mankind as well as the entire universe. The Holy Scripture give us a
clear account of so many noble ladies from the time of Eve till the incarnation
of our Lord, who had expected that God would incarnate from the womb of any one
of those ladies of Israel. St. Mary was selected by God Almighty to execute His
master plan. So St. Mary has a very highly exalted position in the presence of
God Almighty. When we would look into the biography of St. Mary, we could say
that there wouldn’t be anybody else in this world who has suffered tortures so
much physically and mentally like St. Mary. When she was a young girl itself she
bore our Lord in her womb and gave birth. When it was revealed that she was
carrying, how much persecutions and tortures of different modes had pained the
blessed mother. She did not get a house to give birth to her son and finally she
had to take refuge in a manger. How many times she had to meet people who faced
her with bad names and accusations. Just try to imagine the innocent mind of a
teenaged girl. But she suffered everything patiently with great will power
granted by God Almighty. So the Church Fathers honour her with the salutation
“Oh mother of God who had been attacked by the swords of tortures and
sufferings”. Only at the occasion of the marriage at Kana, we find recognition
for the mother of our Lord Jesus. She was also invited with Lord Jesus and his
Apostles. This is the first occasion where St. Mary’s intercession to her son is
noticed. We know what had happened there later. St. Mary told the servants of
the house to do what her son would ask them to do. From this incident we have to
learn a big lesson that we have to invite St. Mary, other saints, and the entire
heavenly group with God Almighty, to our midst always. St. Mary noticed the
shortage in the house of the marriage at Kana and brought the matter before her
son, who could solve the problems of any kind. Likewise she does the
intercession for our shortcomings always if we provide proper place for her in
our lives.

The official teaching of the Holy Church about St. Mary is as follows.

1)The word of God by the annunciation of Angel Gabriel took the body in the womb
of St. Mary. (St. Luke 1:35)

2)The two natures, Godly and human were united together firm, as one and it
could not be separated. (Colossians 2:9, Hebrews 2:9, Titus 2:13, Titus 3:16)

3)As she gave birth to Emmanuel, who is full man and full God, she is to be
called ‘mother of God’ (Isaiah 7:14)

4)The blessed virgin offered her womb as the throne of Son of God, and she
remained forever as virgin. ( St. John 19:26-27., Ezekiel 44: 1-3)

5)As per the word of the Angel, we must venerate the holy mother and must seek
her intercession. (St. Luke 1:28, 1: 48)

In our morning prayers we pray “Holy virgin, mother of God, please beseech for
us to have peace among us and mercy upon us. Let the wars come to an end, and
let our Rulers stay in peace, and let our Church be glorified. And allow the
members of our Holy Church to celebrate feasts by having unseen great powers, by
your earnest appeals to God Almighty.”  We find Lord Jesus entrusting His own
mother to the H. Church when he was on the cross facing the death. He entrusted
St. Mary with St. John, the youngest Apostle whom he loved more, and said
“behold thy mother” (St. John 19:27) St. John accepted the mother of God as per
his master’s instruction and the tradition says that St. Mary spent rest of her
time on earth under the care and protection of St. John. The Church Fathers are
of the opinion that St. John had acted for and on behalf of the Holy Church.
When St. Mary was about to join her heavenly abode, Lord Jesus appeared there
with the angels, Archangels, saints as well as the heavenly group and they all
together took St. Mary to heaven. At the time of Ascension of St. Mary all the
Apostles who were scattered all over the world were brought together to her. St.
Thomas who was much far away had traveled in the air and in the mid air he met
the divine procession of the Ascension of St. Mary. It is believed that St.
Thomas was presented with a small portion of the towel of the mother, as a
visible symbol of his meeting with the divine royal procession.

In our H. Church due reverence and honour is granted to St. Mary in our worships
and prayers. In the Sacrament of Holy Qurbana, the crown of all sacraments, we
remember and honour the presence of St Mary all along the divine service. In
addition to the prayers and intercessions, we use certain utensils as the
symbolic presence of St. Mary. One among them is the Table of Gospel
.(Evengelion Table) As St. Mary bore the word of God in her womb and gave birth
to Lord Jesus, the table of Gospel carries the word of God. So the table of
Gospel stands for St. Mary and the place for the table is very close to the
altar. (In some churches at least, it is kept else where without proper care and
attention. This is a wrong procedure. It is to be rectified. And nothing other
than the book of Gospel and the candle stands should be kept on it) The second
one is the Sosafa, which covers the holy mysteries, which in due course is
transformed as the flesh and blood of our Lord. Until the elevation and
celebration of the Sosafa, it covers the platen and chalice from the final act
of the Thooyobo. When the Sosafa is celebrated, it is kept near the chalice and
platen. Before the hymn “Anpudayone nin vaathil” or the Hearken the Deacon who
takes the censor takes the permission from all the present in the sanctury in
the order of their ranks/seniority and then takes the permission from the
congregation by holding his open hands towards them, in the meaning of
requesting their prayer. At this time he is representing St. John the Apostle
who accepted Lord’s mother as per Lord’s command from the cross. “Behold thy
mother”. Lord entrusted his mother to the Church as Church’s mother. Then the
Deacon washes his hands and goes back to the altar and folds the sosafa. Then he
keeps it close to the platen and chalice, to show our mother’s eternal presence
with God and among the heavenly group.

The Holy Church teaches that St. Mary was also born as an ordinary human being
and when the H. Spirit anointed her, she became holy. So the date of birth of
St. Mary is not at all significant and important than the date of Ascension. 8
days lent was introduced in the H. Church in the late 15th century due to the
arrival of Catholicism into India. Whereas 15 days lent is a step to attain
purity and holiness to worship God in the real sense and to seek the unending
intercession of St. Mary by attending her Ascension. St. Paul strictly taught to
look for the end of the saints. (Refer I Corinthians) That is why the H. Church
does not canonize 8 days lent. 15 days lent is a canonized lent along with the
other 4 Lents, 3 days, 13 days, 25 days and 50 days. There is nothing wrong in
honoring St. Mary at any time by observing Lents/fasting, but it should not be
under any cause ignoring and disregarding the canonized lent of l5 days to
venerate St. Mary..

May the intercession of St. Mary be fort of protection for one and all.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril
St. George Orthodox Church
Abu Dhabi

Best Wishes Anju Boby George

Please pray for her.

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Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam,
Maliath taibootho,
moran a'amekh,
mbarakhto at bneshey,
wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh yeshue,
O qadeeshto Mariam,
yoldath aloho,
saloy hlofain hatoyeh,
hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.
Amin.

Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.
Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,
nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.
Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!
Thampurante amme!
Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum
dheivam thampuranodu
nee apekshichu kollename.
Amen.

Hail O Virgin Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death
Amen

"Had Moses not received the rod of power from God, he would not have become a
god to Pharaoh (Exodus 7:1) and a scourge both to him and to Egypt.
Correspondingly the intellect, if it fails to grasp the power of prayer, will
not be able to shatter sin and the hostile forces ranged against it."

St. Gregory of Sinai.
---------------------------------------------------------------
"The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom." Psalm 111:10

On August 15th the Holy Church will be celeberating the 'Dormition of the
Theotokos'. In Greek Theo = GOD : tokos = BEARER So Theotokos means GOD BEARER.
In malayalam we call this feast “Dhaiva Mathavinte Vaangippu perunal”

I am attaching an icon that depicts the Dormition of the Theotokos(Moderators
–To view the described picture, please visit our homepage
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/SOCM-FORUM/). In the icon we can see the Apostles
praying next to the body of the Holy Mother. In the back ground we can , our
Lord Jesus Christ accompanied by heavenly angels receiving His beloved mother
into His hands.

The article below gives more details about "Vaanigippu Perunal'
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
When the time drew nigh that our Savior was well pleased to take His Mother to
Himself, He declared unto her through an Angel that three days hence, He would
translate her from this temporal life to eternity and bliss. On hearing this,
she went up with haste to the Mount of Olives, where she prayed continuously.
Giving thanks to God, she returned to her house and prepared whatever was
necessary for her burial.

While these things were taking place, clouds caught up the Apostles from the
ends of the earth, where each one happened to be preaching, and brought them at
once to the house of the Mother of God, who informed them of the cause of their
sudden gathering. Apostle Thomas who was preaching in India at that time was
also carried on a cloud. But he was late. As a mother, she consoled the apostle
in their affliction as was meet, and then raised her hands to Heaven and prayed
for the peace of the world. She blessed the Apostles, and,reclining upon her bed
with seemliness, gave up her all holy spirit into the hands of her Son and God.

With reverence and many lights, and chanting burial hymns, the Apostles took up
that God receiving body and brought it to the sepulchre, while the Angels from
Heaven chanted with them, and sent forth her who is higher than the Cherubim.
When they had reached the place called Gethsemane, they buried there with honor
the all immaculate body of the Theotokos, which was the source of Life.

While all the other apostles were present during the burial of the Theotokos,
Apostle Thomas was not there as he was late. He was being carried to the holy
city in a cloud. As he was approaching the city, he saw the Virgin rising up to
heaven accompanied by angels. Supposing that he was seeing her soul, he cried
out in anguish, both because he realized the world was deprived of her living
intercession and because he had been unable to spend her last days with her and
receive her blessing. Looking down from on high with compassion, the Blessed
Virgin removed her girdle (soonoro) and dropped it down from a great height. It
landed directly in the outstretched hands of the holy apostle who, after he had
seen her disappear from sight, just as had Our Lord, hastened into the city to
inform the Apostles of all this.

After reaching Jerusalem, Apostle Thomas told the rest of the Apostles what he
saw. Hearing this, they opened the tomb and saw that the body of the Theotokos
was not there. On the third day after the burial, when they were eating
together, and raised up the artos (bread) in Jesus' Name, as was their custom,
the Theotokos appeared in the air, saying "Rejoice" to them.

From this they all believed concerning the bodily translation of the Theotokos
into the Heavens.

Yours in Christ!
Mathew G M
St.John's Church Ayyampilli

Oh.. Morth Mariam Yoldath Aloho (Mother Of God) Pray For Us

Shlom lekh bthoolto Mariam,
Maliath taibootho,
moran a'amekh,
mbarakhto at bneshey,
wambarakhoo feero dabkharsekh yeshue,
O qadeeshto Mariam,
yoldath aloho,
saloy hlofain hatoyeh,
hosho wabsho'ath mawtan.
Amin.

Krupa niranja mariyame! Ninakku samadhanam.
Nammude karthavu ninnodu kudea,
nee sthreekalil vaazhthzappettavalakunna.
Shudhamulla kanyka marthamariyame!
Thampurante amme!
Paapikalya njangalude marana samayathum
dheivam thampuranodu
nee apekshichu kollename.
Amen.

Hail O Virgin Mary
full of grace
the Lord is with thee:
blessed art thou among women
and blessed is the fruit of thy
womb, Jesus.
Holy Mary
Mother of God,
pray for us sinners
now and at the hour of our death
Amen