Hi All,

Indeed an interesting discussion.Just to add..Martin Luther, the founder
advocate of Protestant belief , had been positive on infant baptism. Here is a
link in this regard that I had bookmarked earlier..

http://www.apuritansmind.com/Baptism/LutherMartinCatechismInfantBaptism.htm

Regards
Alex Jojo Joseph
St.Mary's JSO Cathedral, Queen's Road, Bangalore
St.George JSO Chapel, Kavumbhagom, Thiruvalla
Member ID # 0910


--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, Philip Oommen wrote:
>
> Dear Moderator/Paul Reji
>
> Please explain the need for baptism, meaning of baptism,
responsibilities of God father/mother and the baptised persons based
on Biblical teaching. After baptism what they should not do and what
they should do.( They are baptised into Jesus, from there on they
should follow teaching of Jesus, Apostles. Follow clergy who  follow
Jesus and Apostels'  teaching-Ref Rom. 6:1-10)
>
> Sincerely
> Philip Oommen
> SOCM Member ID 0939

Dear Brothers in Christ

Don't mistake me. Some of the messages in this forum provoke me to sight the
versw St.luke18:11, the prayer of the proud Pharise. We should be humble like
the tax collector.Good words can come only from good heart. The mouth speaks out
what is overflowing in the heart.Let our heart be like St.Joseph( Just,
Obedient,Spiritual,endurance, praying and Holy)

Wish you all a merry Christmas  and happy 2005

John Zachariah
St. George Simhasana Church, Piralassery
Member ID # 0968

Mr. Philipose Philip, NY; Managing Committee Member ( IO -Church ) has written
in msg # 9045

"If the Verdict is in favor of us, which I believe- will be, we could be
magnanimous like we did in 1958 and ask them to join together and be one church.
If they do not accept our invitation, let us decide to part ways by giving them
a reasonable compensation to build new Churches. They would have no more claim
on any of the existing Churches."

This is the concept of thier peace. Is this person Christian ?

1)  Lord says "Do not go to Court "
2)  Lord says "Love your  brother and neighbors "
3)  Lord says Obey the church
4)  Lord says  Do not eye on neighbours anything.
5)  Lord says do not make opposition in the church.

In Light of above what  Lord said, see what thier managing commitee member
doing.  "Fear of Lord is the begining of wisdom".  He did not have it.  Let us
pray that he and others who lead that church have it. first "fear of God", then
"wisdom".

Arent' they all afraid of  Lords judgement? What are they thinking when they
behave and act like this?  I am just surprised.

Parumala thirumeni preaches to stay loyal to the throne of Antioch.
He also warned who ever do not do so will go to fiery hell.
   - but IO-church memebers pray to him but do not listen to him. amazing.
   - Valiya thirumeni, says stay loyal to Throne of antioch. But IO-church steal
that church ( where he is entombed) and never listen to him and trying to
declare him as thier saint.

For me all this is just amazing.  All I can say , to all the readers are just
see this deception and run away from all this.

No, priest or bishop can save you. Only  Lord.  Do what he said. and definitely
never said anything as per church tradition or in Holy Scripture about 
autonomous churches.

Regards

Paul  Philipose
St. Ignatious  Syrian Orthodox Chruch
Dallas
Member ID # 0901

Dear all,

Can anybody believe that 120 odd ................... called the managing
commitee of IOC  decide anything on their own church??

Its all a drama to get out of the problems that they are facing now, mainly the
loss of face of the devalokam leadership.

Since the southern lobby is hell bent on 'division', it may have got something
to do with the post of "niyuktha niyuktha catholica"

(Many of the people with chenganoor athanasious want to create this post for
their dear bishop. but the person hell bent on throuting this move is mar
severios of kandanad east/west.-east or west, the no of churches can be counted
in one hand-.

Strugle between these two for the next post is hotting up and chenganoor
athanasious wants to get an upper hand by any means. He won in last bishops
election by getting all candidates from north defeated.)

The sad fact is, IOC managing commitee can never take a decision on any matters
of church. That body have been stripped of any real power.

The body which is powerfull in the IOC is the working commitee.Its a 10 member
body, of which 6 people are nominated by the malankara metran!!!!! just imagine.

In the present IOC working commitee there are people who are not members of the
IO managing commitee. Need anything be said more.

So in effect the single person all powerfull in that church is the malankara
metran "OR" the group or caucus which controls this malankara metran.

But this caucus will not make way for a peacefull solution. they want to
continue this court case for another century.

Because for them the church case is a gold mine.

Last managing commitee meeting of IO church, a question was raised by one member
on the amount of money spend on the case in past 2 years.

The answer by IO church secretary was "no idea".

When crores of money is spent on church case by IOC, money taken out of the
bhannaram in parumala, the IOC seretary doesnt have any idea on the amount
spent.

Need anything be explained.

Kolenchery church is closed even now. But inbetween there was an agreement
between the two churches with govt mediation. The church was opened also. But
again it got closed in two days.

Is there a reason??

The IOC members of kolencherry knows the real reason.

If the church is opened and the accounts of the church is checked a person who
was a bigtime contractor earlier(but is said to be in deep trouble now) will
end up paying almost 1.5 crores to the church!!!

This same person have also cornered the medical college at kolencherry supposed
to be the property of IOC. And even malankara metran will have to bow before
this contractor for a seat in this college.

Such is the situation in IOC.

They are in the real grip of some vested intrests. and ordinary IOC people can
never challenge these people.

Past some time noices are coming out of IOC heirarchy only because of a split in
this group.

The split between the so called 'Manorama group' and 'Muthoot Group'

Till the other day they were jointly siphoning off the money. Probably
differences arose while sharing.

Its funny to see even bishops and politicians taking sides in this struggle.

Baby Gleeson Zachariah
St George Jacobite Syrian Church
Arakunnam
Member ID # 0891

"Even without any other passion, self-esteem can ruin a man; and in the same
way, if we have formed the habit of judging, we can be utterly ruined by this
alone; for indeed, the Pharisee was condemned for this very thing."

St. John Climacus.
------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I have set the Lord always before me; Because He is at my right hand I shall
not be moved." Psalm 16:8

Verse 8: “Blessed are the clean in heart: for they shall behold God”
[ Also refer  Psalm 24;4; Hebrews 12;124; Rev 22:4]
The scriptures talk a lot about purity of heart.
1. God tests the heart (I Chronicle 29:17)
a. God knows the secrets of heart (Psalm 44:21)
b. God understand the heart (1 Chronicles 28:19)
c. God creates a new heart (Ezekiel 36:26)
d. He opens it, lightens it and strengthens it. (Acts 16:14, 2 Cory 4:6)
e. We should give out hearts to God. (Proverbs 23:26)
f. We should purify the hearts for God (James 4:8)
g. Pray to Lord to give you a pure heart (Psalm 51)
h. One should have a merciful heart (Ephesus 4:32)
2. Clean in heart are.
• They will seek God (2 Chronicles 11:16),
• steadfast in God (Psalm 57:7)
•  rejoice in God (1 Samuel 2:1).
• They are faithful to God (Ned 9:8), and
• trusts in God (Psalm 112:7),
• compassionate (Jeremiah 4:19) and
• should have submitted in full to God (Psalm 9:1, 119:19)
3. People with pure heart:
• God is pleased in them (1 Chronicles 29:19);
• God pleases in their prayers. (Proverbs 15:8)
• God will flourish them. (Proverbs 14:11).
• And upholds them (Psalm 41:12)
4. Their reward
• They inherit goodness. (Proverbs 28:10,Psalm 85:11).
• God dwells with them (Psalm 15:2, 140:13).
• They will see God (Matthew 5:8). They endure inheritance forever. (Psalm
37:18)

Our Lord sees heart as the origin of our actions. He pointed out heart as a
source of unrighteousness in the sermon at the Mount and also at the discussion
of eating with out washing the hands. Since origin of all actions is heart, if
it is sacred the action also will be sacred. Only one who thinks righteous
things will do righteous things. One who pure in heart will not pride about his
virtuous(good) acts. So we should inspect if our acts has a wish for  fame, or
any other wish for a reward.

They will see God. Though any one who has an eye can see, what they see differs.
For ordinary people millions of stars are just  a source of light. But for an
Astronomist  knows its name and location. If herb in a view of herbalist is a
medicine, for ordinary people it is an irrelevant plant. So we can only see
based on our ability. The only way to see God is purity of heart.  So one pure
in heart will see God everywhere, when others don’t see at all. They see God’s
guidance in their life.  In the middle of misery they see a Comforter. Beyond
all this ‘They will see His face’. (Rev 22:4; 1 John 3:2, 1 Cori 13:12)
=============================================================================
From the Desk of the Moderators

This is based on the interpretation of Kaniyamparmabil achan. We withheld the
name of the member who posts this message as per his request

Our Priests.- How shoud they  be?
=================================

Here is the guide lines by HH Ignatious Peter 111.

If the priests of a parish are jelous and  divided, then they and their parish
will be perish.  Because their lent, or  prayer or Holy Qurbana or charity is
will not be received by  LORD GOD. Thier enemies will win over them. They will
be ahamed.

The priest should not be lacking anything in his character. He should  be self
disciplined, organized, and should never lift his hands for beating, humble and
not quarrelsome and not greedy for money and one who guide God's church in
goodness.  He should guide his spiritual sons in all  purity and obedience. He
should be God fearing , straight forward and should win his as well as his
people's soul.  He is the leader of the people who Lord came this world to save.
Apostle Paul has said all this.

The priest should be peaceloving and loving.  Lord has appointed a priest a 
guard for His people.  So you have to all that a sinner will die in sins. And if
he turns away from sins to spiritual matters then his soul will be saved.

If a priest is  lazy or jelous  in spiritual matters, then he will be held
accountable by LORD and will be condemned.

A priest should teach with awarness and teach in Holy Spirit all people
including kings or  lords to turn them all to truth. For this they should praise
Lord, pray to God and adore God.

Note:  This is taken from  Apostolic Bull of HH Ignatious Peter 111 written in
later 19th century.  This was wirttin in old Malayalam and i had a hard time in
understanding it.  If any one understood this better OR if any one want to add
to this, please write.

regards

Paul Philipose
St. Ignatious Syrian Orthodox Chruch
Dallas
Member ID # 0901

Dear Chevalier P.J Philip

When you make an apology for your own error you can be magnanimous. You do not
have to stoop down. I agree.

James Kunjuveetil John
St.George Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, Vennikulam,Kokkapilly P.O
St.George Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church , Carteret, NJ, USA
Member ID # 0969

Responding to Rev. Dn. George Mathew:

I am heartened to see that the good deacon is focused on the lordship of Christ.
In terms of his band of supreme church leaders, however - the pudding is in the
practice.

It is clear that while the ancient Keralaites were initially EVANGELIZED by St.
Thomas, their present faith, doctrine, sacraments, liturgy, architectural and
artistic ethos, etc. etc. solely (except for certain indigenous cultural
particulars) derives from the ADMINISTRATION of St. Peter, specifically though
his Antiochian bishopric. The rest of the episcopal world (those churches that
have an ecclesiastical hierarchy based on apostolic succession) is administered
by the successors of St. Peter, directly or indirectly. In India, the Catholics,
the Marthomites, the CSI, even the Nestorians, all directly or indirectly have
Petrine succession. Then there is this one group ...! The deacon is not claiming
that he received ordination via St. Thomas through the converted Brahmins? I am
sure he is not.

Again, the answer is to accept the universal church as it is - Petrine. There is
no see of St. John, or St. Paul, or St. James, though these converted many and
were of equal rank. Likewise, there is no see of St. Thomas anywhere in the
world - except in the mind of certain usurpers.  The direct successor to St.
Peter has appointed a local head in India - Baselious Thomas I. No other can
ADMINISTER the Indian Church and claim to continue in Orthodoxy under the
lordship of Jesus Christ, though many can teach and preach. If this is
unacceptable, then become as the Marthomites - leave, take nothing with you, and
start from stratch. Don't claim to continue in "orthodox" faith. Theological
peace immediately ensues from accepting historic succession.

If the leaders of the usurpers in India really claim to be following Jesus, then
they should behave like John the Baptist witnessing the coming of a Greater
Person - "He must increase, and I must decrease." Surely something amicable
should have been forged if Antioch had been presented with similar deserved
humility.

If any group wishes to form an entity that deviates from Orthodox ecclesia India
allows them the right to proceed. The twisted and sometimes farcical actions of
the usurpers do not display Christ's lordship at all.

Remember Mark 9:42
"And if anyone causes one of these little ones who believe in me to sin, it
would be better for him to be thrown into the sea with a large millstone tied
around his neck."

Sadly, I fear some in the "leadership" of the church in India may find
themselves drowning.

Rev. Dn. Zacharia Varghese
St.Ignatious Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Carrollton (Dallas), Texas USA
Member ID # 0970

OORAMANA CHURCH ISSUE - SOME PLAIN FACTS

The Ooramana Church is a Jacobite Church since its inception.  There was a
priest at this church who had defected to Methran Kakshi with Mor Athanasius,
and was continuing in the Church on the basis of maintaining status quo. 95% of
parishioners were against him, but he continued. In the meantime Methran Kakhsi
(as usual, a handful of individuals) got permission to construct a chapel very
near to the old church and when they started functioning there, created troubles
in the main church with the help of the above-mentioned priest and the old
church was finally closed. This all happened some time back. The faithful of
that Church were in a dilemma then, as they didn't have a church to worship and
the Methran Kakshi group was trying to attract the people, which was their
ultimate aim. It was then about three weeks back, one of the faithful donated a
piece of land very adjacent to the main church and a small chapel was built
there and Mor Ivanios (Kandanad) consecrated it and started the Holy Qurbono.
(It was located parallel to the old church and was in a better position than
Methran Kakhsi chapel).

Holy Qurbono was continuing there for 3 Sundays. But last week the district
collector, allegedly under influence of Revenue Minister K M Mani who want to
avenge his son's defeat, asked us to stop Holy Qurbono and demolish the
structure constructed by Jacobites by Wednesday, as he cannot recognize it. The
parishioners approached H.B. the Catholicos as well as bishops and requested
their help. Bava Thirumeni immediately rushed to the chapel on Tuesday evening
and requested the authorities to treat them in par with Methran Kakhsi who had
already constructed a chapel and garnered govt. permission. But the govt.
authorities reacted negatively, so Bava Thirumeni along with the parishoners
decided to sit in the chapel until a solution is worked out. Later other bishops
also joined them. Finally on Wednesday, under instruction from C.M Oomman
Chandy, the government issued status quo order as on that day, thus allowing our
independent chapel to function there as before.

The old Church is remaining closed for some months now, which the parishioners
wanted to open but the minority Methran Kakshi group doesn't like.

A contradiction of what they recently propogate in public about peace!!!

SOCM News Bureau

To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this
life. It means we should bear all our daily trials that may bring us sorrow,
distress, or unhappiness, and bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and
until He comes to visit us. For it is said, 'I waited on the Lord and He came to
me.'"
St. Symeon the New Theologian.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------
{And the Lord said, "Who then is that faithful and wise steward, whom his master
will make ruler over his household, to give them their portion of food in due
season?} Luke 12:42

Verse 9: “Blessed are the cultivators of peace: for they shall be called
sons of God!” [ Also refer Matthew 5:45; Luke 6:45; Romans 8:14]

Biggest cultivation of peace is the  incarnation of God’s only begotten Son.
Man who had lost communion with God has been joined   to God with this.
He preached peace His whole life. Look at some instances which gets our
attention  1) First heavenly word to Virgin who conceived Him – ‘Peace’ 2)
During his birth – heavenly song “Peace be on earth’ 3) Resurrected Christ
visits the disciples – ‘Peace be to you”.

It is our Lord’s command that Man has to live ‘in harmony with others, be
sympathetic, love as brothers, and be compassionate and humble’ (1 Peter
3:8, Romans 12:16).  Let us hear his commandments “be reconciled to your
brother” ( Mat 5:23-25 also refer Mat 18:6-7;  Mark  9:42; Luke  17:1-2)


We should live  in “ peace with each other” (1 Tests 5:13) and in “ peace
with everyone” (Romans 12:18)

Christian should not only be a disciple of Christ, but should also  emulate
Him too. It is our duty to take out the separation between man and God and
avoid the rivalry between man and man. “Seek peace and pursue it”. (Psalm
34:14). The start of the enmity stems from distancing from God.

We live in a world where nations are ready to fight each other’s. The
popular wisdom ‘ gets ready for the war is the way to peace’( or war for
peace ) .  But only people who get peace from God (that is my peace) can
bring forth peace in the world.  The qualities of people who can bring
worldly peace are 1) One who attained   heavenly peace. 2) One with out
selfish motives. That means people who care for their words and actions.  3)
One who deals with love and humbleness.   So people who depend on laws than
the noble motives can only make peacemaking more difficult.

The peace makers  should first be in harmony with God. Second he should seek
and remove the causes of the   root of the conflict.  This could be most
difficult, but should be the first thing to do.

People who oppose God will fight each other.  People who demolish the wall
which stood in the midst,’ (of conflict) (Eph 2:14) and who bring the
presence of Christ in oneself and then confer    it to others are the true
peacemakers.

Reward of peace making
You will get the dignified  position as the sons of God.  This world, which
builds memorials for the winners of the war, may not remember them. But in
the view of God, they are His dear sons and inheritors. How beautiful are
the feet of those who bring good news. (Isaiah 52:7).
==============================================================================
From the Desk of the Moderators
This is based on the interpretation of Kaniyamparmabil achan. We withheld
the name of the member who posts this message as per his request

Dear  Dn. George Mathew.

We are ALMOST on same plane.  My church also teaches regards  St. Thomas cames
to India. So does Catholic Church and Marthoma church. Watch "The path of
apostle " in  Jeevan TV now airing at 12-30 PM central time. ( my comment about
it later ).

But my challenge was to prove that he established a throne or seat here. You
have to answer the following questions to urself.

1)Where was it established ?  How did it end up in Kottaym. Kottaym is NOT a
place where apostle established a church )( as per the list given by you).
2)What was the litergy like?
3)what was the priest vestments like?
4)What language was the litergy?
5)What happeed to to it.  Now EVERYTHING that we use it from  Syrian church.
7)Ask from someone , may be IO-church catholicos about the list of bishops in
this "throne".  Actauly Tamba church has one.  Look at that list. All bishops in
last list till 1912 is in Middle east. How come they are not in India or Kerala.
8)When  Vattaserri thirumeni wanted Catholicate establishement here why he had
to lie to get it.  Why he did not ask for renewal of throne of St. homas.  Why
he did not even write about throne of St. Thomas.  Instead he writes that "all
priesthood come fro throne of Antoch".  Why?
9) Why was this "throne of st Thomas " did not show up on the letter heads
before Ougen Bava.
10)Have you ever read the oath taken by  Ougen Bava when he was ordinated as
catholicate? if not read it.
11)have you ever read what parumala thirumeni has written ? if not ask for it.
It is in www.parumalathirumeni.com

I dont want to fight with you.  Becasue it does not matter.

Regarding  Christian faith there are 4 thinking.

Case 1:
Lord established a church and appointed St. Peter as its head. Any one outside
that church is outside the church  established by  Lord.

- this this true , then true church are  Syrian orthodox church Coptic church
and churches in communion with it. and Roman church

Case 2:
Every apostle established a throne "
-  in that case  all the above church including  Syrian orthodox church and your
IO- church will be saved. But this has a very remote chance.  All proof is that
this is not true.

Case 3:
Any  episcopal church is true church
- additional CSI, marthoma church etc

case  4:
Any one believe in  Christ will be saved. ( even without following what Lord
taught ).

Protestant churches and Pentecostal are here.

Good thing is any of this scenario is true it means Syrian church is included. 
But not your church. After dressing like a deacon with out  priesthood is realy
bad , especialy if Lord do not accept it.  Dont think Lord will not let you down
.  It has been done in the past by "Aaron's sons" and "Mariam " and "korah"etc. 
Read OT bible get familiarized with what incident.

Regarding the "path of apostle in Jeevan TV"

I did not watch all the episodes. 3-4 of them.  But they are focussing each
chruch a day.

In short the catholic priest and bishops said

" Before the Europeans came here, this was a syrain church "
" St. Thomas carved out a cross in the church " ( I forgot in which church was
this).
- but one has to understand , Cross was NOT a christian symbol at the time of
apostle."
" Apostle came to this are because of big group of  Brahmins"
  - there was no brahmins in South Inia at that time.
" Apostle came to this place, because there were so many well of busness men
here". ( today about Niranam church ).
-- why does Apostle  find out Brahmins and  well of people to convert?  That
itself if against teaching of Lord.  ( to look for status people ).

I can go on ...

but you are not going to belive.  I wrote so much for others to read . God bless
you and provide you with wisdom to understand. Not be with all liers and
cheaters and hypocrites:

Regards
Paul  Philipose
St. Ignatious Syrian Orthodox church
Dallas
Member ID # 0901

Note:  I know so many of you, insult HH Thomas 1 as uneducated.  But it will be
good to  note that Parumala Thirumeni did not have any formal education either. 
Just keep that in mind.

Reading: From the Gospel according to St. Matthew 1: 18-25

Dear and Respected Brethren,

When only about two weeks are left for the celebration of the feast of
incarnation of our Lord, we get the privilege to study meditate on the blessed
life of a man of justice, whom the Holy Church honors as the father of all
unknown saints. In verse 19 we find that St. Joseph was a just man. The Holy
Bible introduces 4 Josephs, one in the Old Testament and the rest in the New
Testament. The first Joseph of the Holy Bible was also just and God elevated him
from the position of a prisoner to the Prime Minister of the country. The first
Joseph of the New Testament (The second one is the Joseph of Arimathya and the
third is the one who was elected in the place of Jude Iscariot) was also just
and pious. So God elevated him to name God. He only called the incarnate God
‘Jesus’, which literally means “Savior”. The name ’Jesus’ is the transliteration
of the Hebrew word ‘Joshua’, meaning ‘Jehovah is salvation’ i.e., ‘Jehovah is
the Savior’. It was very familiar to all Jews. We must note that the Jews were
afraid to call God by any name. The things being so, St. Joseph came forward
bravely to call the infant ‘Jesus’. It is believed that it was his obedience to
the command of an angel a days prior to the incarnation of the Son of God. We
have to believe that St. Joseph had a right and staunch faith about the infant.
He was sure who was the child and as he was blessed enough to grasp the great
master plan of God Almighty. That is why the Holy Church honors him as the
father of all Even though it is not recorded in the Holy Bible, we could believe
the traditional faiths gained from the apocryphal books and other evidences that
how much he had suffered for the safety and protection of the Son of God and His
blessed mother.

In verse 20 we read, “But while he thought on these things, behold, the angel of
the Lord appeared unto him in a dream, saying, Joseph son of David, fear not to
take unto thee Mary your wife: for that which is conceived in her is of the Holy
Spirit”.  It is to be believed that St. Joseph had taken the message of God in
its face value, without doubt and without thinking much in the human style. When
God reveals something or the other to us, we also must obey them, rather than
analyzing them in the worldly manner and set up. God Almighty is sending either
or the messages to us daily. We ignore many of them and we are not bothered
about such experiences. We must make up our minds to listen to God in the
silence. Through the Psalmist our God reminds us to be still and know He is God.
When Angel Gabriel passed the Annunciation to St, Mary, he had informed about
the arrival of Holy Spirit upon St. Mary. (St. Luke 1:35) The angel appeared to
St. Joseph was revealing the truth of God’s master plan to save the mankind. He
accepted the facts as they were. So he was also greatly blessed. In verse 21 we
find the instruction of the angel to St. Joseph to name the baby of St. Mary and
he obeyed it as and when the incarnation of the Savior took place.

St. Joseph is considered and honored as the guardian of all celibate priests. We
must introduce St. Joseph as a role model to our male youngsters especially who
would accept the vocation of priesthood. When St. Joseph accepted the decision
of the priests to give Virgin Mary in marriage to St. Joseph, he was willingly
submitting him to obey the orders of the priests. By then he had children in his
marriage and all of them were elder than Virgin Mary. The tradition says that
St. Joseph was reluctant to take the Virgin to his house only for this reason.
He was really afraid how he could take care of her when and where he had to go
for work for earning the livelihood of the family. The priests had pacified him
saying that it was God’s decision. By profession St. Joseph was a carpenter. To
honor him our Holy Church uses the flag in the shape of the angle used by the
carpenters. All the children of St  Joseph were true followers of our Lord. St.
James the first Bishop of Jerusalem was one among them.

May the intercession of St. Joseph be a for t of protection for all of us.

May God bless us.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.

Wayanad: the cross and the crisis
By P. Sainath

The St. Mary's Church at Mullankolly. The strongly Christian belt has reeled
under the impact of the agrarian crisis. The church's own income and collections
have been hard hit. — Photo: P. Sainath

WAYANAD (Kerala): There is no neighbourhood in Mullankolly that does not have
its own church. Or churches. This single panchayat of Wayanad district has some
27 of them. Together with Pulpally next door, that number crosses 35.

With its cash crops of pepper, coffee, cardamom, tea and spices, this district
has been one of the biggest foreign exchange earners of Kerala. And the
churches, says K.M. Thomas, a farmer with four acres here, are "a symbol of
prosperity. Locals took pride in building them."

The `locals' were mainly from the central and other parts of Kerala. Vast
streams of settlers came mostly after World War II to this beautiful little
Adivasi region on the north-eastern tip of the State. The strength and support
of the Church made Wayanad a godsend for the settlers. (Indeed, one place in
Mullankolly is called "Parudeesa" — Paradise). And so churches — built in thanks
— dot the landscape in great profusion.

Churches in trouble

But the churches themselves — of most denominations — are now in trouble.
Together, they have lost crores of rupees in a very short time. The Malankara
Catholic Church alone may have seen a loss of Rs.70 lakhs in just the past year.
Many places of worship have seen their Sunday collections fall to 10 per cent of
normal. Monthly contributions are also down quite badly. A few churches work out
of unfinished buildings. There is no money to complete their construction.

Many well-off parishes that once donated lakhs of rupees to their diocese
centres now depend on the latter for life-support. Some priests have not got
their meagre salaries for months. Weddings are far fewer than they were just
five years ago. Which means that the two per cent charge on dowries that some
churches extract also adds up to much less these days.

Feasts and other activities occur less often. Students at some church-run
schools — by far the best in Wayanad — struggle to pay even the nominal fees
there. At least one church-run hospital with 20 beds in Mullankolly has shut its
doors. Farmlands owned by most religious orders lie fallow and the income from
these has crashed.

It all has to do with two words: "kaarshika prathisanthi." Or agrarian crisis. A
phrase now firmly locked into the local lexicon. For many, regardless of faith
or profession, this is Paradise Lost.

The crisis sweeping Wayanad did receive much attention in April-May. At that
time it was also sharpened by drought. And by Quick Wilt, a disease that
withered the pepper vines. Long after that phase has passed, the damage deepens.
The crisis itself, which goes far beyond those disasters, is entrenched. It now
reflects in every sphere of life.

"With farming in trouble, everything will be affected," says Fr. George
Vettikatil. He is Procurator at the Catholic Bishop's House in Sultan Bathery.
And has a keen sense of how deep the process is biting. "Our links are to small
farmers and daily wage labourers. So the impact of all this is greater on our
members. That has to reflect in how the church is doing. If they starve, it
affects us."

Mullankolly with 33,000 people and Pulpally with about 35,000, are where the
Church is strongest. This is pepper territory. The huge fall in prices has
savaged the district. And more so this region. Pepper prices have fallen from
Rs. 27,000 a quintal in 1997 to about Rs. 5,400 a quintal now. In just two
months of July and August this year, prices dropped by Rs. 900 a quintal. Grown
on some 70,000 hectares, pepper keeps tens of thousands of farmers going here.

Lethal mix

Price rigging, the dumping of imports and crop failure have proved a lethal mix.
"Foreign and domestic corporate and trade cartels are behind the price crash,"
says P. A. Muhammad, Convener of the South Indian Farmers Co-ordination
Committee (SIFCO). "Those in coffee, pepper and tea in this district" he points
out, "have suffered a loss of at least Rs. 1,003 crores a year since 2001. On
pepper alone, cultivators have lost Rs. 1500 crores since that year."

The Church is the central social organisation of this belt. (In Mullankolly
alone, over 60 per cent of people are Christians.) Thousands of small farmers
are its members. So the chaos on the ground affects it strongly. Besides, the
Church itself is a cultivator. Almost every place of worship owns some land on
which it grows pepper and coffee. And employs labour. The Malankara Catholic
Church has some 45 parishes, each of which own between three and five acres. It
also has what the Coffee Board terms `a model coffee plantation' at
Nambiarkunnu. And a 90-acre coffee and pepper plantation at Kattikulam.

"Last year," says Fr. Vettikatil, " we got just Rs. 50,000 from those 90 acres."
In better times, that should have been Rs. 20 lakhs. Besides, each of the 45
parishes used to give between Rs. 1 lakh and Rs. 2 lakh every year to the
diocese centre. Their farm base wrecked, most now depend on the centre.

The effects are across the board. "Our members, so many of them small farmers,
have been badly hit," says Fr. A.K. Varghese in Padichira. "Most cannot pay
their dues and are in arrears." A retired professor of English, he is the Vicar
of the St. George Orthodox Church in Kolavalli. Fr. Varghese himself has not
seen his salary for some months now.

In Mullankolly, Fr. Jose Mundakal of the St. Mary's Church confirms the picture.
This church has about 1,000 families affiliated with or attending it. Sunday
collections the week we visited, he says, "were below Rs. 500." That's 10 times
less than what they touched in the good days.

"Almost 100 per cent of our members are farmers," says Fr. Mundakal. "They have
suffered a lot. Five years ago, the Feast of Our Lady, the main one at this
church, was sponsored by just one person. Today, that's impossible. No one can
afford it."

Many suicides

The crisis, of which the price fall has been one major part, has sparked off
many suicides. "Small and marginal farmers have been devastated," says N.
Surendran. A small farmer himself, he is also district secretary of the Indian
Farmers Movement (INFAM). "Yes, drought and disease hurt us. And this
high-pesticide chemical farming model must also go. But it is these free trade
policies that have driven prices down."

Meanwhile, says Fr. Vettikatil, "the small farmers are in a debt trap. Their
lands, and ours too, are lying fallow. One, prices have crashed. Two, we cannot
invest. Neither can they. Their distress is ours. We are all badly affected
now."

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/12/stories/2004121201381600.htm

"It is no great thing not to judge, and to be sympathetic to someone who is in
trouble and falls down before you, but it is a great thing not to judge or to
strike back when someone, on account of his own passions, speaks against you.
Likewise, it is a great thing not to disagree when someone else is honored more
than you are."
St. Dorotheos of Gaza.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"This is My commandment, that you love one another as I have loved you. Greater
love has no one than this, than to lay down one's life for his friends." John
15:12-13

Verse 5:10: “People who are persecuted because of righteousness “
[ also refer : 2 Tim 3:12;  1 Pet 3;14 ; 1 Peter 4:14 ]
We have discussed about righteousness before. Here we discuss about people
who suffer for Christ.
1. Christ was  prosecuted  ( Psalm 69:26, Isaiah 50:6, John 5:16)
2. People who live a godly life in Jesus Christ will suffer (2 Timothy 3:12)
3. The followers of  Christ  will have to suffer. ( Acts 22:4)
4. But God will save you from all this. ( 2 Timothy 3:11, Daniel 3:25, 28; 2
Cori 1:10)
5. Any persecution cannot separate one from Christ. (Romans 8:35)
6. Those who suffer for the Lord or because of His name.
i. Should commit themselves to their faithful Creator and continue to do
well. (1 Peter 4:19)
ii. Rejoice and glorify God. (Matthew 5:11, 1 Peter 4:13, 16)
iii. Pray for the prosecutors (Matthew 5; 44)
iv.  Blessed are the people who are suffer for the God (Mat 5:10, Luke 6:22)

A Christian persecutor Emperor  Julion ( AD 350)  said “The one wish for all
Christians is to discard everything and suffer till death.”

The ones, persecuted in Light of Scriptures.
• Apostle St. Peter (Acts 4:3), apostles (5:18)
• Early church (Acts 8:1), St. Paul and Barnabas (Acts 13:50)
• Silas (Acts 16:23)

Early Church suffered from the fanatic Jews and gentiles and many were
martyred. Then the non-Christian kings and rulers persecuted the church
innumerable times.  This persecution even continues today in many parts of
the world.

Many times our Lord warned about the impending sufferings for His followers.
   Remember the statements ( by our Lord ) that one has to ‘carry the cross’
and will ‘suffer in my name’ etc.

The early Christian church members suffered innumerable persecution at work,
at family and in the society. They were subjected to cruelties unthinkable
now. During the execution of St. Polycarp bishop of Smyrna at the age of 81
he prayed;  “O Almighty Lord God, Father of thy beloved and blessed Son
Jesus Christ, by whom we have received the knowledge of thee, God of angels,
powers, and every creature, and of all the race of the just that live in thy
presence! I bless thee for having been pleased in thy goodness to bring me
to this hour. …. Wherefore, for all things I praise, bless, and glorify
thee, through the eternal high priest Jesus Christ, thy beloved Son, with
whom, to Thee and the Holy Ghost is glory now and forever. Amen."

His contemporary St. Ignatius when lead to the cage of hungry lions prayed:
".  Allow me to be eaten by the beasts, which are my way of reaching to God.
   I am God's wheat, and I am to be ground by the teeth of wild beast, so
that I may become the pure bread of Christ.”

Reward for the persecuted for the Lord
Reward: Kingdom of God.
[Missed verses
]
11) You have to remember 3 things (regarding suffering)
1) You have to faultless.
2) There should not be any truth in the allegations about you.
3) Above all you should suffer for Christ.
==============================================================================
From the Desk of the Moderators
This is based on the interpretation of Kaniyamparmabil achan. We withheld
the name of the member who posts this message as per his request

Dear All,

The weekly 'Devotional Address' written by the learned Joseachayan is blessed
and very informative.  While thanking him for the same, I have a small querry
about the symbol of our church flag mentioned in today's message.  Here
Joseachayan says: "By profession St. Joseph was a carpenter. To honor him our
Holy Church uses the flag in the shape of the angle used by the carpenters." 
Until now, it was my understanding that the so called shape of the flag is for
the remembrance of the 'headless body of John the Baptist', which I read in a
book.  Can anyone in this Forum clarify which one is correct??

Regards
Thomas Abraham
St. Peter's J.S.O. Church - Bahrain
Member ID # 0879

IRAQ'S CHRISTIANS RELY ON EXPATRIATE VOTES

Divided Christians hope expatriate votes will help win parliamentary seats to
win back their lost identity.


By Salwan Binni - BAGHDAD

With more Iraqi Christians living abroad than in their home country, their
divided leadership here is hoping expatriate votes will help win parliamentary
seats and reaffirm the minority's historical identity.

"We've been here for hundreds of years. We should be regarded as first-class and
not third-class citizens as we were being treated under Saddam's regime," said
Fouad Boudagh, head of the National Caldani (Chaldean) Council.

Iraqi Christians, who make up just three percent of Iraq's 26 million people,
are estimated to number more than one million expatriates.

About 200,000 Iraqi Christians live in the US city of Detroit alone, Emanuel
Shaba Yokhana of the Assyrian Patriotic party said.

"They can help us win at least 15 seats in the next Iraqi National Assembly," he
said.

Iraqis are to elect a transitional 275-member national assembly on January 30,
the country's first free elections in half a century.

The new assembly will almost certainly be dominated by parties from the Shiite
majority, but Christians, represented by eight political parties, are also
hoping to get a small slice of the action.

The new assembly will write a permanent constitution, which if adopted in a
referendum will form the basis for another poll to be held by December 15 next
year.

Iraq's Christians, who feel marginalized by the majority Arab Muslims, are
hoping to influence the new constitution and reestablish the historical
identities of the Assyrian, Chaldeans and Syriac Christians.

Their desire stems from the fact that these groups lived in what is now Iraq
before Arabs arrived from the Arabian peninsula.

"Our heritage as Iraqi Christians is fading. Over time, we have become
accustomed to an Arabic style of thinking,” says Ashur Yackub of the Bethnahrain
Patriotic Union.

The country's provisional constitution, signed in March, guarantees freedom for
all religions, but it has not assuaged the anxieties of the small Christian
community - based mostly in Baghdad and Mosul - amid the torrent of violence and
identity politics sweeping Iraq.

Churches in Iraq have been targeted in bomb and gun attacks since Saddam
Hussein's ouster in April last year.

Christian leaders say they do not think the elections will result in an Islamic
state similar to the one in neighbouring Iran, and they all agree on the
importance of a secular Iraqi state where freedom of faith is guaranteed.

Eight parties are representing Christians, but they are siding with different
coalitions in the electoral race.

Some leaders said the division was due to attempts by big parties to swallow up
newly-formed smaller ones.

"We agreed first to introduce a one unified list, but the Assyrian Democratic
Movement messed everything up," said Yashu Majeed Hadaya, head of the Syriac
Independent Gathering.

The attacks on Christian tragets have led the parties to adopt a low profile.

Most parties use small houses around Baghdad for their headquarters, with no
external signs revealing the identity of the occupants.

While some imams in mosques urge voters to register and vote in favor of certain
sides, Christian churches are not used for electoral purposes.

"At first we thought of using churches to tell people who we are and urge them
to register" says Farid Toma Hirmiz of the Caldani Democratic Union. "Because of
the security situation, many Christians are no longer church-goers. We will not
be able to use churches in our campaign."

(News from Middle East Online)

Posted By:
John Philip K
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Kottayam
Member ID # 0898

Dear Paul Reji & Moderators

Appreciate your wonderful writing. Let me add a few things. Priests should
follow Bible teaching and teach and make disciples according Mathew 28:19(
convert people without fear of  anti gospel enemies). Heal sick people (lepers,
cancer people etc) and raise dead (in 2000 years I didn't hear one priest raise
a dead, but there are right info that  other God's servants have raised more
than 20 people during the last 80 years. Deliver people from devil etc (Re:
Mathew 10:8). They should use God given authority to do miracles.

Most important job of a preist is to teach God's words to people, since with out
knowledge people are perished. If non-orthodox people can teach Bible and do
faith miralces, why can't our priests do them? If they pray to God, won't God
give them the miracle working power according to Bible? Church should encourage
priests to do these things in public and show God's power to the people.

May God bless all our orthodox people with wisdom from above.

Sincerely
Philip Oommen
M/o St.Kuriakose Orthodox Church, Puramattom
SOCM ID 939

1.  87th Dukrono of Malankara Metropolitan Paulose Mor Koorilose Thirumeni on
     14th December.
     http://www.geocities.com/malankaravoice8/20041214MorKoorilose.htm

2.  The 7th Meeting of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the
     Middle East (Photos enclosed).
     http://www.geocities.com/malankaravoice8/2004Oct_OOMeeting.htm

Matrimonial Digest / 0038-04

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 # 019/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jacobite parents from angamally diocese seeking alliance for their
daughter 30 yrs, height 5.6''. postgraduate teacher in a public
school near
angamally. Born and brought up outside kerala. The proposals are
invited from middle class families. The boy should be God fearing
educated & employed.

Please contact on mcsm53@... giving the details with code
# MP-019/04.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 018/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

PARENTS OF 23 YEAR OLD JACOBITE  B.D.S, GOD FEARING GIRL, [DOB
13.11.1980, height 160 cm], HAILING FROM ERNAKULAM DIST INVITES
PROPOSALS FROM PARENTS OF JACOBITE/ORTHODOX BOYS, PREFERABLY MDS,
MTech.

INTERESTED PLEASE RESPOND TO bobyraji@... or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-018/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 017/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Suitable alliance is invited for a jacobite deacon,age 31, 5ft 5inch
B.A.,B.Ed.,B.D., M.Th., at present doing research work in university
of Toronto, canada)teaching in the seminary. family background:
father, senior corepiscopa in the church.mother house wife. one
elder sister, lecturer, got married and one younger brother advocate.

for more information, mail to me kjpunnachalil@... or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-017/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 016/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Suitable alliance invited for a God fearing Jacobite boy, B.E.
(Electrical & Electronics), 26, presently employed in Bangalore as
Electrical Engineer in a Consultancy firm.  The boy hails from a
well-known family at Kumarakom, Kottayam. His father is a retired
KSEB Sub Engineer, mother is Govt. UP school headmistress and got
one younger sister, who is married.  The girl should be God fearing,
caring, having good manners and preferably employed (In India or
abroad). Interested parties may please contact the boy's uncle at
monthiruvanchoor@... or moderator_socm@... with code
# MP-016/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 015/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Suitable alliance invited from Jacobite parents for a Jacobite girl
23 years /157 cm, God-fearing (Education :M.Sc in Electronics).

Please respond to pvvarughese@... or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-015/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 014/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Retired PWD Contractor's family (Jacobite, Middle Class, Ernakulam
District)invites suitable proposal from middle class Jacobite
parents of God fearing girls under 28, 5'1', 48 Kg, employed or
qualified to be employed (prefer teachers or lecturers) in or around
Ernakulam Dist.   She has to look after home affairs as the brother
and sister of the boy to be working overseas.

Their son (32, 5'3"  55 Kg) is a Vet. surgeon in Kerala Government
Service, posted within few kilometers from home, fair, clean habits,
soft spoken, thin built and God fearing.

His  has an elder brother and younger sister, both married.

Genuine enquiries may be posted to varkod@... or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-014/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; Code # 013/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

Jacobite parents from Ernakulam Dt.invites proposals to her
daughter, who is presently working at Bangalore. Educated and
employed Jacobite youths working at Bangalore are preferred. The
proposals to be made from middle class family. The boy should be God
fearing. The girl is 25 yrs of old, 5.3". She had Completed
B.Sc.maths and have GNIIT, (3 yr computer diploma)course Certificate)
Please respond to eldhoshimmy@...> or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-013/04

+++++++++++++++++++++++++
Matrimonial; code # 012/04
+++++++++++++++++++++++++

Proposals invited from parents of god fearing BSc nurses for a
handsome Jacobite boy, hailing from Kolencherry, 29/168 Graduate,
only son, working as Marketing Executive for a reputed Co. in
Kuwait, active in church matters and having family visa status. He
has two sisters and both of them are well settled. The girl will
have good job prospects in Kuwait.

Interested please respond to:yeljoseph@... or
moderator_socm@... with code # MP-012/04

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 # 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 # 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,
mediumcomplexion, 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

moronoyo Fast of Nativity

The institution of this fast was towards the beginning of the fourth century
A.D. This can be gathered from reading the poems of St. Ephrem the Syrian +373)
and the hymns he composed in the fourth century. Christmas Fast is practised in
preparation for commemorating and welcoming the day of the Birth of Lord Jesus
in the flesh and in memory of the grief brought by sin, which we experienced
before the Lord’s Birth, the darkness of ignorance, Satan’s enslavement of us
and the infliction of the created world in expectation of salvation accomplished
through the birth of the Savior Who redeemed us by His incarnation. We practise
this fast to become pure in our souls and body and be worthy of welcoming the
commemoration of the Redeemer’s Birth, the Word of God incarnate, the way Moses
fasted before the written word of God, that is the Law of the Old Testament was
handed over to him.

Christmas fast used to last for forty days. The Church, however, shortened the
period to twenty-five days.  In 1946 and pursuant to a decision taken by the
Holy Synod held in Homs, the late Patriarch Ephrem I Barsoum of blessed memory
reduced it to ten (10) days starting on December 15 and ending on Christmas Day,
December 25 (except in the Holy Land where it is celebrated on January 6th).

The learned Bar Hebraeus (+1286) states:
“Fasting has three degrees: General, special and exclusive.” One may practise
general fasting by either refraining completely from eating or drinking during
daytime, in the evening eating cereals and beans, or by refraining from eating
meat and animal products during the day. This type of fasting has its own laws
and regulations for so many people might refrain from eating without the
intention of practising fasting. As such, they would not be considered as
fasting. Special fasting is that type practised by recluses. Exclusive fasting
is that practised by the perfect, who couple their abstinence from  food and the
indulgence of senses with purification of soul and refraining from evil
thoughts. The only condition requested for such a type of fasting is the
eradication of every mundane thought which might exist deep down in one’s heart.
Although this grade of fasting is very difficult to attain, yet it can be
achieved so easily through training as the saying goes:

With the least granted, we might be content.  We are the masters of our desires.

The Apostle Paul says:

“This I say then, walk in the Spirit, and ye shall not fulfill the lust of the
flesh. For the flesh lusteth against the Spirit, and the Spirit against the
flesh: and these are contrary the one to the other: so that ye cannot do the
things that ye would.” (Gal.5: 16 & 17). He also states: “For if ye live after
the flesh, ye shall die: but if ye through the Spirit do mortify the deeds of
the body, ye shall live.” (Rom. 8: 13).

We the moderators wish you all a blessed fasting and merry “yaldo” feast.

In Our Lord's Love
SOCM-Forum Moderators

"If, in the case of one human being who has done wrong to another, God in His
grace has commanded that we should be forgiving to the offender seventy times
seven, how much more will God forgive the person who offers up supplication for
his sins?"

St. John the Solitary.

----------------------------------------------------------------------------
This is the "stone which was rejected by you builders, which has become the
chief cornerstone.'Nor is there salvation in any other, for there is no other
name under heaven given among men by which we must be saved." Acts 4:11-12

Dear Moderator(s),

Every one in our CATHOLIC APOSTOLIC SINGLE HOLY Church disciples wishes and
prays for the peace to be happened in our Holy Church. No one ever felt it only
as a Utopian concept. That might be the reason the initiatives are raising
again.  We are in the way of lending days of our Savior Birth. This holy period
of "Yeldho" is commemorating “PEACE TO EARTH” which came from heaven. It is for
rebinding of peace between men. If we imbibe the gist of Christmas it’s noting
but the PEACE which the angles sang. Let us all sung the song of peace which
Angles sung 2000 years back for our Holy Church. The song is between each man,
human and the creator, proclaiming peace.

I urge all our church members that, Let our lending be for harmony in our
Church, Let talks be inspired by Holy Sprit”.  If all the works are motivated by
HIS leading then definitely it will work out.

NB: I do not believe this forum is a right place to discuss what is happening in
IOC and their management committee decisions and internal matters. Please try to
avoid these sorts of messages.

In HIS Love,
Thomas Mann George,
Martha Mariam Church Kandand.
St Mary’s Jacobite Church Bangalore.
Member ID # 0972

His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and all the
East, presided over the funeral services and burial of the late Mor Meletius
Barnaba which was held on Monday November 22nd 2004 at 3:00 pm. at the
Archdiocese Cathedral of the Virgin Mary (Um-AlZunnar) in Homs, Syria.
To view the picture of funeral service please visit our Photo gallery in MSN
http://groups.msn.com/SOCM-FORUM/news.msnw?action=ShowPhoto&PhotoID=120

Mor Meletius Barnaba's life

The late Archbishop Born at Azekh (Idil in modern Turkey) on October 1922, and
named Georges after St. George. His father Rev. Fr. Yussef (Joseph) Georges and
his mother leah Ari.

Obtained his elementary studies at Azekh then joined St. Thomas Syriac parish
school at Mosul, Iraq.

In 1948 He was ordained as a deacon at the rank of Reader by the late Archbishop
Athanasius Touma Qassir of Mosul.

On May 1939 joined St. Ephrem Theological Seminary at Zahle, Lebanon, and was
given the name of Barnaba, and there promoted to the rank of Subdeacon.

When the Theological Seminary moved to Mosul in 1945, the late Patriarch Ephrem
Barsoum (1933-1957) appointed him teacher in St. Ephrem Seminary in Mosul and
later principle for two years. He obtained the Diploma of the Seminary On June
30th, 1947.

In 1945 he became monk at St Matai Monastery by Archbishop Athanasius Touma
Qassir of Mosul and Archbishop Timotheos Yacoub of the monastery.

On August 1947 the Patriarch Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum appointed him as a second
secretary of the Patriarchate.

In 1950 he obtained priesthood by H. H. Mor Ignatius Ephrem Barsoum the
Patriarch of Antioch at St. Mary's Cathedral (Um Al-Zunnar), Homs, Syria.

In 1951 he was appointed by H. H. the Patriarch first Secretary, and Patriarchal
Vicar of Homs, Syria.

In 1955 he was designated Patriarchal Vicar of Cairo, Egypt. After a year and
two months H. H. the Patriarch called him back to be the Patriarchal Vicar of
Homs for the second time.

On April 07th, 1957 he was elected and consecrated by H. H. Mor Ignatius Ephrem
I, Archbishop Patriarchal Vicar of Homs, Syria at St. Mary Cathedral and given a
name Mor Meletius Barnaba. Upon moving the Patriarchate from Homs to Damascus in
1959 been appointed officially by the Holy synod as Archbishop of Homs and Hama.

In 1963 he founded the Syriac Orthodox Orphanage at the archbishopric premises.

On March 18th, 1983 His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I. Iwas granted him the
decoration of St. Ignatius Theophoros.

He retired in 1997 after a car accident, and since then, he had been living at
his former Archdiocesan headquarters where he was well cared for by the current
Archbishop Mor Silvanus Petros and the faithful staff of the Archbishopric until
he passed away on Thursday November 18th, 2004.

In HIS Love
Thomas Daniel(Reji)
St. George Jacobite Syrian Church
Cheppaud, Alleppy Dist, Kerala, India
http://groups.msn.com/StGeorgeSyrianOrthodoxChurchCheppaud
Member ID # 001

Dear Thomas Abraham,

To my understanding what you said is the mostly explained interpretation of the
"Church Flag" used for procession on feast days. It also represents all the
Martyrs who were beheaded. That is the reason why the flags are always having a
portion cut from it. St. John the Baptist is remembered also specially by the
VETTUKODA held in front to the sides of the main wooden cross in the front.
VETTUKODA in its name also means it is cut at top and it is held in front to
denote the forerunner of our Lord.

I too never heard the interpretation of the 'Carprenter's ruler held by
St.Joseph'. That seems a new way of interpreting. I am also interested to know
the authority of this interpretation. The interpretation I gave is also a
traditional one heard from senior priests, not from any books,if i remember
correctly.

Please mention if anyone of you have read this in any of the books.

Lovingly,Moolelachen.
Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil
moolelachen@...
Director, Mor Adai Study Centre
http://moradaistudycenter.cjb.net
Vicar, St.George J.S.O.Church, Chicago
Member ID 0175

Dear Paul Reji

Thanks for the link. It got excellent material.

Regards

Rajesh George
St George Jacobite Syrian Church
Kalamboor
Piravom
Member ID # 0974

So near to God, so far from Heaven

By P. Sainath

WAYANAD (Kerala): The rapid decline of the economy in this once rich cash-crop
district reverberates across the spectrum. For the first time since perhaps the
late 1950s, even Bishops of the church have joined people's protests. Some have
flagged off marches taken out by the distressed farmers of Wayanad.

"People cannot even ensure their basic existence," says Father Baby Elias of the
Mar Basil Church in Cheeyambam. Fr. Elias, a Jacobite, is also with the Indian
Farmers Movement. INFAM is a body that has strongly raised farmers' issues.

Media reports reckon that some 120 farmers have taken their own lives in Wayanad
since January 9 this year. The Government admits to no more than 50 distress
suicides in that time. On the surface, the figure of 120 may seem small beside,
say, the suicides in Anantapur in Andhra Pradesh. That district saw an average
of 600 each year during a five-year period.

Yet, at one level, Wayanad's suicides are almost as intense. Anantapur has
nearly 37 lakh people. Wayanad has some seven lakh. On that base, its 120
suicides add up to nearly the same as Anantapur's. (The data in both cases are
flawed, but give us some sense of the trend.)

Farmers of Christian background might be more affected. Yet, the suicides of
Wayanad have cut across faith and community. In the households we surveyed,
those taking their lives included Hindus, Christians, Muslims, Adivasis and
Dalits.

The numbers apart, the pain and intensity are real. A.C. Varkey, chairman of the
Farmers Relief Forum is appalled by the trend. The FRF has launched some
militant actions on farmers issues and plans more. "We educate people and ask
them not to commit suicide," says an angry Varkey. "I say that if we must do
that, let us do it en masse at the government headquarters. Make it an act of
political struggle, not one of individual despair."

As in Anantapur, most see the suicides as just a symptom of a much wider crisis.
One that has hit all sectors.

By March this year "every acre of land in the Mullankolly-Pulpally region
carried a debt of Rs. 2 lakh to Rs. 3 lakh," says M. Prakash of the Brahmagiri
Development Society. "The price crash had made repayment of loans impossible,"
he points out. "The five-fold drop in the price of pepper was a huge blow. Quick
Wilt disease enhanced its impact." Growing debt, says Prakash, forced many to
fell countless trees on their lands to sell the timber. In this ecologically
fragile zone, "that only doubled the damage."

In the strongly Christian belt of Mullankolly-Pulpally that boasts over 35
churches, that chaos spills across the board. "We are very concerned," says a
worried Bishop Geevarghese Mar Divannasios at the Catholic Bishop's House in
Sultan Bathery. "The drought, the price crash, the disease, all have hurt
people. As have changes in lifestyle. Of course we are anxious. Their suffering
has to affect us."

It has. Church income has fallen sharply as the laity have gone into debt. But
the larger reality is also more complex. While the church does reflect the pain
of its farmer base, it is also, in some cases, a source of at least a few of the
dues that worry them.

"Waive all church dues," is the first slogan of a group of the faithful seeking
relief. Benny Kurumbalakatu, state president of the Kerala Catholic Almaya
Federation is clear about this. "People gave generously to the church when they
were doing well. The church must aid them when they are doing badly. When crisis
hits their lives, religious authority must work to help them. That's regardless
of the religion of those who are suffering."

"If church members fall behind in their dues, they suffer," says Benny.
"Baptisms, weddings, funerals, all rituals are put on hold until the members pay
their arrears. When couples are at the altar, the priest raises the issue of the
dues. I was present at one such marriage. This is unconscionable and should not
happen." The couple at that wedding were unable to produce their Rs.1,500
arrears and Benny put up the money for them.

Since the agrarian crisis hits everyone regardless of faith, his group asks for
waivers that cover people of all religions.

"For instance, children in church-run schools are of diverse faiths. If their
parents are unable to pay the fees, they must get concessions regardless of
their religion. These waivers should apply to all those of farming backgrounds."

Benny shot off a letter to his Bishop this August on this count. His group's
other demands include: those from farm backgrounds must get free treatment at
hospitals linked to churches; job reservation for children of such backgrounds —
of all religions — in church-related institutions. And all church groups must
coordinate their resources to give financial aid to those in distress.

There are churches of many hues and denominations in Wayanad. And some deny any
pressure in recovery of dues from their members. "We do not have such a dues
system. So there is no compulsion in our set-up," Fr. Jose Mundakal of the St.
Mary's Church in Mullankolly clarifies.

Some others, however, do have such systems. And the pressure to change them is
growing. "Yes, there is a tradition and norm that dues must be cleared," says
Fr. A. K. Varghese of St. George's Orthodox Church. "You must know this is a
discipline of the parishioners themselves, set in better times. Not a law from
our side. Now no one can pay and we have relaxed these norms. For instance, two
burials were sanctioned after 20 per cent of the dues were paid."

Some dues systems are graded on a class basis — or `A, B, C, D' based on the
earnings of the members. The amount for each group could vary with the church.
But such practices are under stress.

In Fr. Baby Elias' church too, things are happening. "From last year, our
general body meeting decided that the rule on delaying rituals for dues should
not be enforced. Not in such a crisis."

"Our parishioners are good people," says Fr. Varghese. "But the times are such
that all struggle to pay."

This belt may have over 35 churches. And the devout may have one within a few
minutes walk.

But for too many right now, it's a case of so near to God, so far from Heaven.

Source: http://www.hindu.com/2004/12/14/stories/2004121406931200.htm

"To have faith in Christ means more than simply despising the delights of this
life. It means we should bear all our daily trials that may bring us sorrow,
distress, or unhappiness, and bear them patiently for as long as God wishes and
until He comes to visit us. For it is said, 'I waited on the Lord and He came to
me.'"

St. Symeon the New Theologian.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"All things are lawful for me, but not all things are helpful; all things are
lawful for me, but not all things edify. ." 1 Corinthians 10:23