The last day of the year 2004

Gentlemen,

There are many people who cannot listen despite they can hear.  There are many
people who cannot see despite they have vision.  There are many people who
cannot decide despite they have information.  There are many people who cannot
feel happiness despite they know what happiness is. There are many people who
cannot reach their targets despite they know their destination and there are
many people who cannot feel peace despite they know they can feel peace at
heart. But there could be very few who cannot feel God despite knowing that HE
has always been there.  Well, I was one such person.  It was not because I did
not know that HE was there nor was I capable of not knowing HIM.  It was because
I did not want to know that HE was there and yet when I wanted to know HIM, HE
was there, waiting for me and then I realized that even when I didn’t want to
know HIM, HE still was there, waiting for me.

HE was subtle yet magnanimous, gentle yet strong, mild yet powerful, normal yet
divine, protective but not possessive, cool but not cold and caring but not
assertive. HE did not tell me anything nor did I ask anything; yet HE said
everything and I learned all I wanted to ask but did not ask.  HE did not ask me
to disown my wife and children and go to Himalayas nor did HE ask me to go and
offer prayers in Church, Mosque or Temple and yet I realized all those things
what I wanted to realize.  It was an experience and let me tell you,WHY DO I
NEED GOD.

Why do I need GOD
When I was ecstatic, you were there to share my ecstasy,
And in my sorrows, you stood by to console me.
When I was lost, you were there to show me the right way,
And in distress, you reminded me to trust my abilities.

When I was jealous, you were there to caution me,
And my pain, you simply took away from me,
You taught me that anger could kill,
And destroyed it before it destroyed me
When I forgot to love, you were there to love me,
And when I hated, you showed me that you still loved me

When I was tired, you filled me with energy
And when charged up, you gave me courage to conquer.
You taught me to be graceful in my victory
And protected my honour in defeat.
When I fell down, you were there to pull me up
And when I flew high, you reminded me of the ground lying beneath.

You are my philosopher and guide,
And my bosom friend who always comes back in need.
You run in my blood and live in my breath
And I need you to keep me going…ever and ever
And
I know that you would stay by me ever and ever.

All I knew was what I knew and nothing beyond than what I knew.  All I did not
know was that there was much to know beyond than what I did know and what I know
now beyond what I did know was that which made the difference---the difference
of knowing HIM and that indeed is the biggest difference which I have made so
far.

May the four quarters of the horizons be auspicious and peaceful.  Let there be
light, happiness and above all friendship.

Regards,
C Devidasan
Member ID 0975

The Lives of the Saints show forth those persons filled with Christ God, those
Christ-bearing persons, those holy persons in whom is preserved and through whom
is transmitted the holy tradition of that holy grace-filled life. It is
preserved and transmitted by means of holy evangelic living. For the lives of
the saints are holy evangelic truths which are translated in tour human life by
grace and `podvigs' (asceticism). There is no evangelic truth which cannot be
transformed into human life. They were all brought by Christ God for one
purpose: to become our life, our reality, our possession, our joy. And the
saints, all, without exception, live these Divine truths as the center of their
lives and the essence of their being. For this reason the `Lives' of the Saints
are a proof and a testimony: that our origin is in heaven; that we are not from
this world but from that one; that a man is a true man only in God; that on
earth ones lives by heaven; that `our conversation is in heaven' (Phil. 3:20);
that our task is to make ourselves heavenly, feeding ourselves with the
`heavenly bread' which came down to earth."

St. Justin Popovich.

---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"I will praise You with my whole heart; Before the gods I will sing praises to
You. I will worship toward Your holy temple." Psalm 138:1-2

By the Grace of God
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas
Patriarch of Antioch and All the East
Supreme of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church

(Emblem)

No. E329/04

December 28, 2004

Apostolic Benediction to our beloved spiritual children: the Reverend Vicars and
the Faithful of all our churches in the Gulf Region.

We are deeply grieved to know of the great disaster caused in India and other
nearby countries by the recent earthquakes in the Asia-Pacific region. In India
alone, thousands have died and many more are still missing. The damage to people
and property are very extensive.  Many have become homeless and helpless.  We
pray for them all.  May the Almighty God console the bereaved and protect the
helpless.  Christian charity demands that, in this hour of crisis, we should all
extend all possible help to those who are suffering.  We understand that our
Church in India is raising funds from individuals and institutions under the
supervision of our beloved Brother-in-Christ.  His Beatitude Catholicos Mor
Baselios Thomas I, to contribute to the Government, for and on behalf of our
Church as a whole, for relief measures.  We, therefore, entreat all of you – as
parishes and as individuals – to contribute according to your capability and
send the same at the earliest to His Beatitude our Catholicos in India.

We extend our Apostolic Blessings to you.  My the grace of God be with you.

Our father ………………………..

============================================================================
From the desk of the moderators

Malankara Jacobite Church Relief Fund A/C details

Tsunami Relief Fund
A/C # 705507
State Bank Of Travancore
Puthencurizu Branch

Patriarch Center telephones
00 91 484 273 2804
00 91 484 273 2603

Fr.Varghese Arackal will ordained as Core-Episcopa.

Rev.Fr.Varghese Arackal, Senior priest of Jacobite Church and the Vicar of
St.Mary’s Hermon Jacobite Syrian Church, Azhakam , will ordain as Core-Episcopa
on 24th of January 2005 by H B. Basselious Thomas 1. Catholicose has issued a
Bull in this regard. The ordination ceremony will be conducted at St.Mary’s
Hermon  church Azhakam, when the annual festival of the church is being
celebrated then.

Fr.Varghese Arackal aged 75 yrs. is the parish priest of Ankamaly-Akapparambu
churches. He was the founder Vicar of Kuwait church. He was served as Vicar in
Vappalassery, Mattoor, Ankamaly, Akapparambu, Mekadu, Nedumbassery, Paravoor
Vadakkekara, Peechanikadu and Mookkannoor churches. Since 1997 he is the Vicar
of Azhakam St.Mary’s Hermon Church. Also he served as the secretary to late H G
Geevarghese Mor Greegorios who was also known as the “iron man of Malankara”. He
was the President of the MJSSA Ankamaly District for a long time. He was the
chief organizer of “Ankamaly meghala suvisheshayogam”. He worked with late
Mangattampillil Alexander Core-Episcopa during the period of 1977 when the
church was suffered a lot.

Eldho P V
St.Mary’s Hermon Jacobite Syrian Church, Azhakam
Member ID #0932

BRIEF HISTORY OF THE ST. THOMAS RELICS

1. In AD 72, Apostle St. Thomas is believed to have been killed in Chennai and
his body was entombed at Mylapore.

2. In the 4th century the Holy Relics of St. Thomas was transferred from India
to Edessa and was established there at the St. Thomas Church. The July 3rd
commemoration of St.Thomas is based on this date of transfer.

3. Later when Edessa became a land of aggressors, the Syrian Christians of
Edessa fled to different parts of Mesopotamia. During this migration they took
their precious belongings which included the St. Thomas relic also. It is
believed to have been remained with the Syrian Orthodox Church even after a
major section of Syrian Christians in the Persian Empire separated from the
church in the late 5th century to form an independent Catholicate of the East
based in Seleucia.

4. It is said that during the Crusades a portion of the St. Thomas relic was
snatched away by the Romans. Out of fear, the Church fathers is believed to have
hid the Holy Relics in the walls of St. Thomas Church at Mosul which was then an
important centre of the Syrian Orthodox Church and its Maphrianate.

5.  In 1964 during the renovation of the Madbaho of this ancient St. Thomas
church at Mosul, the present Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I accidentally discovered
this precious relic from its walls. H.H. was then the Metropolitan of the Mosul
Archdiocese. (An old photo of the place where the relics is established in the
Mosul church can be seen in this link:
http://catholicose.org/PauloseII/Church_History_Universal.htm )

5. In 1965 then supreme pontiff of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Mor
Ignatius Yakub III presented a portion of this relic to the Malankara
Archdiocese. It was received by the Catholicose Mor Augen I, Metropolitans
Paulose Mor Philoxenos (later Catholicose Baselios Paulose II -
http://Catholicose.org ) and Daniel Mor Philoxenos and was brought to India.
This was established at Devalokam Cathedral which was the then headquarters of
the Syrian Orthodox Church in India.

6. In 1994 the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I presented a small portion of the
Holy Relic to the Malankara Archdiocese on the request of the church here. This
was brought to India by two Metropolitans from Iraq Archdiocese and was
established at the MULANTHURUTHY MARTHOMAN CHURCH on JULY 3. It was a great
moment for the Church in India and was attended by thousands of Jacobite Syrian
Orthodox Christians from different parts of Malankara. This date (3 July) of
establishment of St. Thomas relic in the Mulanthuruthy church coincides with the
date of transfer of Holy relic from India to Edessa in the 4th century. The
Church commemorates the memory of the Apostle on this day.

The font containing the said relic of St. Thomas can be seen just in front of
the Madbaho of the Mulanthuruthy Marthoman church. ( See the 2nd photo in the
Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church webpage:
http://sor.cua.edu/ChMon/Cochin/MulanthuruthyMarthoman.html )

John Philip
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Kottayam
Member ID # 0898

it whould have been nice to give us an address to send help

Paul Philipose
St. Ignatious Syrian Orthodox Chruch
Dallas
Member ID # 0901
===========================================================================
From the desk of the moderators

Malankara Jacobite Church Relief Fund A/C details

Tsunami Relief Fund
A/C # 705507
State Bank Of Travancore
Puthencurizu Branch

Patriarch Center telephones
00 91 484 273 2804
00 91 484 273 2603

--- In SOCM-FORUM@yahoogroups.com, SOCM News Bureau wrote:
>
> The members of KEFA, the charitable wing of Jacobite Syrian
Christian Church, visited the tsunami disaster areas of Kollam and
Alappuzha Districts and opened a relief camp at Oachira, near
Karunagappalli.  As the first phase of providing assistance to the
victims of the disaster, they distributed rice and dress items to
the people.  In order to organize the second phase of their relief
operations, KEFA opened an office at St. Mary's Cathedral Church at
Manarcad. Telephone: 0091-481-2370031.
>
> SOCM NEWS BUREAU
>
> From the desk of  the Moderators
>
> We request all our readers to take part in the relief operations
of KEFA and extent whatever assistance you can provide to them.

By the grace of God, the first issue of 'Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian
Digest' http://www.socdigest.org is ready for its readers.

In the Syriac Aramaic language, Shroro means, "The Truth." Jesus Christ, the
Incarnate Word of God, is the Truth (Shroro) that we all aspire to emulate. He
alone is the great inspiration for this project.

This project was initiated by SOCM-FORUM and it was a collective and successful
effort of our faithful from different parts of the world. The mission of the
team behind "Shroro," is to praise HIM and to uphold the true faith of the
Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, handed over to us by our forefathers, as well
as to make a platform for all Syriac Orthodox Christians around the world to
disperse the news and events of the Church. Our vision is to take 'Shroro' to
new heights and be the premier magazine of its kind on internet. I hereby
acknowledge the efforts put forward by each and everyone in fulfilling this
task. I am very much thankful to the authors of the articles and to the web
designers and also to the editorial board for their wonderful efforts,
cooperation and assistance rendered to me for fulfilling the time-bound project.

I am fully aware that the e-magazine 'Shroro' is presently in its infancy and
its further development and success will be entirely dependent on your right
feed back and encouragement. Hence I request all of you to give us your valuable
comments about the e-magazine.

Once again praising the God Almightly, we, the team behind 'Shroro', humbly and
prayerfully submit our first issue to the public. Kindly receive it, and
remember us in your prayers.

On behalf of the Editorial Board,

Mike Wingert
Managing Editor
SHRORO - The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest
http://www.socdigest.org

Reading: From the gospel according to St. Luke 2: 40-52

Dear and Respected Brethren,

First of all may I wish a blessed, peaceful and prosperous New Year to one and
all. Let us welcome the New Year with hope and trust in God Almighty.

In verse 40 we read, “the child grew and waxed strong in Spirit filled with
wisdom and the grace of God was with him.” This must be our desire and wish
about our younger ones and their growth. We must give priority for the growth in
spirit rather than the physical growth in wealth and facilities. Let us submit
our infants before God Almighty and beseech for the mercy and blessing of God.
Verse 41 says every year St. Joseph used to take the child and his mother to the
Jerusalem temple. It was in accordance with the religious custom and teaching
according to their fathers of the past. (Please refer Exodus 23:14-17 and
Deuteronomy 16:1) In verse 42 we read about their visit to Jerusalem temple when
Lord Jesus was 12 years old. And Verse 43 vouches for the return of St. Joseph
and St. Mary with the feeling that young Jesus was with them. But when they had
covered a day’s way only they confirmed that Lord was not with them or with
their own people. So they both returned to the temple and found out the child.
This is what is happening in the lives of many of us. In our spiritual journeys
we often estimate that Lord is with us and later only we find that our
understanding was wrong. When we would make sure of His absence with us we must
go back to the point where we missed Him from our midst. That is the only way
possible for the success. We must go back and gain Him to our fold. He is
willing to accompany us wherever we might go. But we must be willing to take His
companionship. In verse 48 we read that they were amazed when they got him back.
“His mother said why have you thus dealt with us, we have sought these sorrows.
In verse 49 we read as Lord Jesus asking “how is that you sought me. Were you
not knowing that I must be about my Father’s business.”

To avoid such a question from our Lord in our practical lives, we must go back
to Him with real repentance. We must have real and genuine repentance for losing
His companionship. When we find our Lord, whom we might have missed, let us pray
along with the Psalmist  “I delight to do thy will, O my God, thy law is within
my heart.” (Psalms 40:8) Kindly read Malachi 3: 1-2 and St. John 2:16.

In verse 51 we read, “And he went down with them and came to Nazareth and was
subject unto them. But his mother  kept all these sayings in her heart” Such
experiences could be found in Genesis 37:11 and Daniel 7:28.  In verse 52 we
read, “And Jesus increased in wisdom,  and stature and favour with God and man.”
In the Holy Bible we could find so many who were grown up with these qualities.
In I Samuel 26, we read about the infancy of Prophet Samuel. So also read
Proverbs 3:4., Acts 2:47 and Romans 14:18. May God  bless us all to grow in
wisdom, stature and in favor of men.

Jose Kurian Puliyeril.
St. George Orthodox Church
Abu Dhabi
Member ID # 0905

Verse : 18: “I say to you , until heaven and earth passes away, One iota or
one letter shall not pass from the law, until all shall be fulfilled.”

The Law referred is not the scribes law, we just described.  The Holy Church
teaches that the old Law ( of Moses ) was the image of the new Law ( by Lord
) and New one is the completion of the Old Testament.   We say fulfillment,
it means, giving the essence of the Law to the world.

Our Lord summarized the essence of 10 Laws into two.  What we understand
from His words is like this. 1)  Devotion (passion, to God and His Name and
to His day). 2)  Devotion to ones parents.  Respect to life, to persons, to
objects, to the truth.  We should be indebted to ourselves by keeping away
from the adulterous thoughts. Righteousness means fulfillment of our duty to
God and human.
==============================================================================
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.

Fr. Jacob Varghese, a candidate of IOC Bishop election held recently, left IOC
and joined the Jacobite Church.  He is from the diocese of Chengannur and vicar
of Mangalam St. George Orthodox Church, and is hailing from Thengumtharayil
family at Ranni.

H. B. Baselious Thomas I welcomed Fr. Jacob to the mother Church on the final
day of the Puthencruz convention.  A declaration of allegiance to the Patriarch
of Antioch & All the East as the Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox
Church, and Catholicos H.B. Baselious Thomas I as Head of Indian Church and to
the 2002 byelaws were submitted by Fr. Jacob to the Catholicos

Fr. Jacob explained his bitter experience in IOC, for which he decided to leave
them and to join the mother Church.  He was accompanied to Puthencruz by twenty
people from his parish.

A master’s degree holder in Theology from USA, Fr. Jacob converted his house as
a monastery and is serving in the nearby St. Gregorius Church as well. He was
received to the Jacobite Church as per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod;
the Synod Secretary Mor Joseph Gregorius Metropolitan informed.

SOCM News Bureau - Puthencurizu

Dear friends,

Some belonging to Methran Kakshi are again trying to tactfully hide and twist
some of the facts regarding Saint Thomas relic. Yesterday one fellow wrote in a
Methran Kakshi forum that in India the St. Thomas relic is there only in
Devalokam and Mylapore. If it is not the bad ego, about which I have mentioned
earlier, whatelse prevents him from telling that the relic is there in the
Mulamthuruthy Marthoman church as well. Will the sky fall if this is revealed?I
certainly doubt that these Methran Kakshi fellows really thinks so !

Now please look into the below web site about the Saint Thomas relic of
Devalokam. http://thomarel.tripod.com/

Please look into the photo there and read it carefully; here you can find the
basic problem with the Methran Kakshi fellows.

The photo here shows a brass plate, which says that the relics were found in the
walls of ‘ST.THOMAS ORTHODOX CHURCH’, Mosul ,Iraq.  We all know that the said
church is a SYRAIN ORTHODOX CHURCH.  Then why did the IOC omit the word 'SYRIAN'
before Orthodox.?  Are they fearing something or are they cheating their
innocent faithful.

We all know that there are many Orthodox Churches in the world. Without
mentioing the exact name, how can one identify the particular Church. It is here
we see the crooked mind of IOC leaders. They can't even accept that they got the
relic from the Syrian Orthodox Church, but they can keep it without any problem
! This is why i am saying they are cheating their innocent faithful again and
again. It is this ego which prevents unity in the Malankara Church. Nothing else
!

Again it says, the relic was given as a gift to Malankara Orhodox Church and
received and brought to Malankara by Catholicose Ougen. SO WHO GAVE IT?  Was it
stolen from the walls of the above said church at Iraq?  If so, then IOC is
doing well showing their true colours all through the history.  If not then, who
gave it?  WHY CAN’T IOC BOLDLY SAY AND ENGRAVE IT ON THE PLATE THAT IT WAS GIVEN
BY LATE LAMENTED H.H. PATRIARCH YAKOUB III.

We all know that it is not a good habit to forget those who gives gifts to you.
All these things speaks for itself. IOC is strenously trying to manipulate
history and related things. This is a good live example for the above said act.

Almost all relics in the Malankara are brought from the Antioch and neighbouring
places. IOC needs only the relics, not the people who gave it.

So dear IOC faithful, beware of the tactics of your shepherds. Try to find the
truth. Follow the truth and that truth shall liberate you. (Thanks to
http://thomarel.tripod.com/ )

T M Chacko
St. Mary's Jacobite Church
Manarcad, Kottayam
Member ID # 0903

New Delhi,

The first day of the New Year 2005

My dear Moderates,

Any day when it is born is a new day; so is the New Year’s first day.  But when
the first day breaks on the eastern horizon on the New Year’s Day, the Sun’s
dazzling rays carry along with it a sense of new born hope which the other days
some how lack to muster.

We all have some dreams and desires which we carry like the peacock’s feathers
between the pages of our life.  We all have in our minds, rainbows that have got
a million colours and not just seven colours.  We all have in our mind “an
entire Spring” waiting to bloom for those whose happiness and well being is very
precious to us.

As the Sun, Moon and Stars are watching from the great heavens to see what we
are doing as the New Year unfolds her wings, let me dedicate the following few
lines which I scribbled sometime back to all those who are starting their
journey to their respective destinations in the year 2005.

Lots of Love and Best Wishes,
Yours C Devidasan,
Member ID 975

Think about it for a while
When going gets tough
Slow down for a while, don’t stop.
When difficulties make you weak
Take rest for a while, don’t give up.

When slogging makes you tired
Lye down for a while, don’t sleep.
When all odds are against you,
Pray to the God for a while, don’t forget Him.

When the huge waves of uncertainty engulf you,
Think of those who crossed it for a while, don’t loose heart
When pressures press you down to the earth,
Think of your dreams for a while, don’t forget them
…for life offers a million dreams
and a billion ways to achieve them!
Think about it for a while…..

By the grace of God, the first issue of 'Shroro - The Syriac Orthodox Christian
Digest' http://www.socdigest.org is ready for its readers.

In the Syriac Aramaic language, Shroro means, "The Truth." Jesus Christ, the
Incarnate Word of God, is the Truth (Shroro) that we all aspire to emulate. He
alone is the great inspiration for this project.

This project was initiated by SOCM-FORUM and it was a collective and successful
effort of our faithful from different parts of the world. The mission of the
team behind "Shroro," is to praise HIM and to uphold the true faith of the
Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, handed over to us by our forefathers, as well
as to make a platform for all Syriac Orthodox Christians around the world to
disperse the news and events of the Church. Our vision is to take 'Shroro' to
new heights and be the premier magazine of its kind on internet. I hereby
acknowledge the efforts put forward by each and everyone in fulfilling this
task. I am very much thankful to the authors of the articles and to the web
designers and also to the editorial board for their wonderful efforts,
cooperation and assistance rendered to me for fulfilling the time-bound project.

I am fully aware that the e-magazine 'Shroro' is presently in its infancy and
its further development and success will be entirely dependent on your right
feed back and encouragement. Hence I request all of you to give us your valuable
comments about the e-magazine.

Once again praising the God Almightly, we, the team behind 'Shroro', humbly and
prayerfully submit our first issue to the public. Kindly receive it, and
remember us in your prayers.

On behalf of the Editorial Board,

Mike Wingert
Managing Editor
SHRORO - The Syriac Orthodox Christian Digest
http://www.socdigest.org

THE SEVENTH MEETING OF THE HEADS OF THE ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES
IN THE MIDDLE EAST

Saint Mark Centre, Nasr City
Cairo, Egypt

21ST October, 2004



COMMON DECLARATION

In the Name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark,
H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East and
H.H. Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Great House of Cilicia of the Armenian
Orthodox Church, and the members of the Standing Committee H.E. Metropoolitan
Bishoy, H.G. Bishop Moussa, H.E. Metropolitan Theophilus George Saliba, H.E.
Metropolitan Elia Bahy, H.E. Archbishop Sebouh Sarkissian, and H.G. Bishop Nareg
Alemezian, who are with us, give thanks to God for bringing us together once
again in the context of this meeting of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches in the Middle East, 20-21 October 2004 at St. Mark Centre, Nasr City,
Cairo, Egypt.

Throughout history, we lived a concrete unity in faith, theology and doctrines.
We experienced our oneness through the first three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea
325, Constantinople 381, and Ephesus 431. We continue to live our unity of faith
through church life, and in inter-church and ecumenical relations.

In this seventh meeting we had long discussions on many topics and issues and
hereby we present our summary of our deliberations.

I. Inter-Church Relations and Bilateral Dialogues

A.     Oriental Orthodox Churches-Eastern Orthodox Churches

1-     We are saddened by the tragic passing of His Beatitude Petros VII the
Greek Orthodox Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa who was a sincere friend
to our family of churches and a distinct church leader committed to work for
orthodox unity.

2-     We extend our congratulations to H.B. Theodoros II Greek Orthodox
Patriarch of Alexandria and all Africa for his election and upcoming
enthronement and wish him a fruitful ministry.

3-     We have been informed about the discussions that occurred between
Metropolitan Bishoy (co-chairman of theological dialogue) and the monks of the
Monastery of St. Gregory in Mount Athos, Greece, concerning the Agreed
Statements between the two families of Orthodoxy (1989 and 1990). In the context
of his discussions Metropolitan Bishoy presented four papers. His Eminence
received an extensive written response exposing their views, concerns and
objections, and expressing the progress they noticed in some areas of
Christology.

4-     The second meeting between our Churches and the Russian Orthodox Church
will be hosted by Pope Shenouda III from 13-17 December 2004, at Saint Mark
Centre, Nasr City, Cairo. One of the main topics in this meeting is the
Christology of the Syrian Orthodox Church, as expressed in the teachings of
their highly venerated Saint, Patriarch Severus of Antioch.

5-     In the first meeting of the Joint Commission for Relations between the
Russian Orthodox Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Middle East,
in Moscow (September 2001) many obstacles were removed, and several questions
raised were answered.

6-     In the meeting between Pope Shenouda III and H.H. Bartholomaios I the
Ecumenical Patriarch (September 2001) it was clarified that this is the mandate
of the joint commission with the Russian Church, and that any theological
agreement with them if needed should be conducted in consultation with the
Plenary Commission of the dialogue between the two Families.

7-     H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy and the new co-chairman H.E. Metropolitan
Emmanuel of France will continue their efforts of reassuring the process of
theological dialogue of the dialogue between the two Families.

B.    Official Theological Dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and
the Anglican Communion

a.       The Church of Eritrea was officially invited to this dialogue which was
postponed because of the ordination of Gene Robinson, the openly homosexual
bishop (2 November 2003).

b.      To follow up our Theological dialogue with the Anglican Communion, which
was suspended by us because of the ordination of an Anglican homosexual bishop
in the USA, we discussed the matter in light of the Lambeth Commission Report.
This report was shared with us on behalf of the Archbishop of Canterbury by Rt.
Rev. Bishop Mouneer H. Anis.

We have noted that this issue remains a major concern for the Anglican
Communion. Once again we affirm our position that all practice and behavior
related to marriage and sexual orientation must be in accord with the biblical
and moral teachings of our Churches.


We hope that in the near future the Anglican Communion will solve this matter
which will enable us to resume our theological dialogue with the Anglican
Communion.

C. Official Theological Dialogue Between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and the
Catholic Church

1. The International Joint Commission for Theological Dialogue between the
Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches had its first meeting, hosted
by H.H. Pope Shenouda III at Saint Mark Centre, Nasr City, Cairo, from 27 to 30
January 2004.

2. During the opening session of that meeting, the Co-Chairman of the
Commission, H.E. Metropolitan Bishoy read a message from Catholicos Aram I,
concerning the use of the title "Catholicos" and "Catholicosate" by the new
Armenian Catholic Patriarch and his headquarters. This usage is deemed
unacceptable by the Catholicosate of the Great House of Cilicia.

The response of the Catholic Co-Chairman of the Commission, H.E. Cardinal Walter
Kasper was that he exerted and is still exerting efforts to stop and that the
Vatican considers the titles of "Patriarch" and these practices on the part of
the Armenian Catholic Patriarch may jeopardize the participation of our three
churches in the Official Dialogue with the Catholic Church by our three Oriental
Orthodox Churches in the Middle East. This issue will be carried by our
representatives to the meeting at the Vatican in November 2004 which will
coincide with the celebrations of the 40th anniversary of the Pontifical Council
for Promoting Christian Unity.

Meanwhile, Catholicos Aram I will inform in writing the Heads of all Oriental
Orthodox Churches and explain to them the situation. Catholicos Aram I, will
also write to H.E. Cardinal Walter Kasper that a delegation of the Oriental
Orthodox Churches in the Middle East will discuss this matter with him at the
Vatican in November 2004 in a special meeting notifying him if this problem is
not solved our Churches will not participate in the official theological
dialogue with the Catholic Church.

3.  Concerning our long standing all kinds of unofficial dialogue in
Pro-Oriente, we decided in view of the initiation of the official dialogue with
the Roman Catholic Church to stop our unofficial dialogue with Pro-Oriente. The
authorities of Pro-Oriente should be informed through the Standing Committee of
this decision.

4. Presenting his paper on the Official Dialogue between the Coptic Orthodox
Church and the Catholic Church, H. E. Metropolitan Bishoy gave an important
remark that the Assyrian Church of the East is publishing on its official
website (www.cired.org), what they called erroneously "St. Nestorius' Counter
Anathemas against Cyril," with the first anathema stating "If anyone says that
the Emmanuel is true God…; and if anyone calls Mary the Mother of God the Word
…, let him be anathema." We wondered how this could fit with the Christological
Agreement between the Catholic Church and the Assyrian Church of the East signed
in November 1994. This concern was shared with the Roman
Catholics.

5. The first part of ecclesiology on the agenda which deals with the church as
communion was chosen as the topic of the next meeting of the Commission in Rome,
25-30 January 2005. Points 1-6 and 8 will be taken for discussion according to
the agenda prepared by the Preparatory Committee.

6. Representatives from our Churches, other Churches and ecumenical associations
are invited by the Vatican to celebrate the 40th anniversary of the
establishment of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity in the
Vatican. This event will take place near the city of Rome, 11-13 November 2004. 
We will send our representatives to take part in this celebration.

D.      Official Theological Dialogue between the Oriental Orthodox Churches and
the World Alliance of Reformed Churches (W.A.R.C).

The Executive Committee of W.A.R.C. is considering the possibility of embarking
on the second phase of this dialogue. We have decided to publish the final
report of the first phase of the dialogue to replace the incorrect and
incomplete reports, published by W.A.R.C. under the title of "First Draft" while
the meeting was in progress.

II. ORIENTAL ORTHODOX CHURCHES

A.     Consultative Committee

1.  Representatives of our Oriental Orthodox Churches have agreed to meet on 24
January 2005, in Rome, as a consultative committee of our Family of Churches.  
This will take place one day before the second meeting of the International
Joint Commission with the Catholic Church. This consultative committee will meet
on every occasion of theological dialogues or ecumenical meetings to coordinate
all the operation and standpoints of our Family.

2. The Family of the Oriental Orthodox Churches is composed of seven delegations
(Coptic, Syrian, Armenians of Holy Etchmiadzin, Armenians of the Great House of
Cilicia, Ethiopian, Indian and Eritrean). In all bilateral dialogues and
ecumenical gatherings when we participate as one Family this structure should be
kept. Therefore, we recommend that all the diocesan bishops follow the
recommendations in all ecumenical gatherings.

B.  Orthodox Church of Eritrea

1. A new Patriarch, H.H. Abune Antonios I, was elected in the Orthodox Tewahedo
Church of Eritrea on 5 March 2004 and enthroned as the third Patriarch of this
Church, on Sunday, 25 April 2004. Pope Shenouda III presided at the consecration
and enthronement in Asmara, together with the Holy Synod of the Eritrean
Orthodox Church and a Coptic Orthodox Delegation that accompanied him. Our
congratulations are expressed to H.H. Aboune Antonios I and to the clergy and
laity of this Church.

2. Responding to the need of the Church of Eritrea to consecrate Holy Myron
(Chrism) in Asmara, Pope Shenouda III together with a Coptic delegation traveled
to Asmara from 17-24 September, 2004, where he consecrated the Holy Myron
together with H.H. Abune Antonios I and the Holy Synod of the Eritrean Orthodox
Tewahedo Church. Pope Shenouda III, with the concelebration of H.H. Abune
Antonios I, also presided at the consecration of the newly built church in the
headquarters at the Eritrean Patriarchate in Asmara.

3.  The laying of the foundation stone of St. Mark Theological College was
celebrated by Pope Shenouda III and H.H. Abune Antonios I in the presence of the
President of Eritrea, His Excellency Isaias Afwarki.

C. Upcoming Celebrations

1. The Silver Jubilee of the Enthronement of Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I will be
celebrated on 14 September 2005, in Damascus, Syria.

In the start of his silver Jubilee year Patriarch Mar Zakka I visited India and
received by his clergy and people (2milion members of Church), Catholicos Mar
Basilious Thomas together with his 17 metropolitans and bishops, met with the
official meeting with the president and prime minister of India. The prime
minister of Keralla (in India) was in permanent company along the visit of the
Antiochene Pontiff.

2. The 10th anniversary of the Consecration of H.H. Catholicos Aram I and the
75th Anniversary of the founding of the Theological Seminary of the
Catholicosate of Cilicia will be celebrated 20-27 June 2005, in Antelias,
Lebanon.

D. Activities of sects in countries where the faithful of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches live

It is clearly noticed that under the western pressure, many countries where
Oriental Orthodox Churches exist dangerous sects, such as Jehovah's Witnesses,
Mormons, Adventists etc, are now being allowed or may be allowed in the near
future to have recognition from the states and to start their manipulating
activities against the Orthodox Christian faith, supported by huge financial
resources coming from the West, with suspected Zionist support.  It is our duty
to reinforce the understanding of our people to their Orthodox beliefs and to be
prepared to respond to the claims of these heretical groups. Many publications,
audio-visual and electronic programs, youth and Sunday School curriculum should
be produced, together with visitations by the clergy to the
homes of the faithful. Our faithful should be alerted to the visits by these
sects home by home. With great pain we learned that in Armenia of a new law
recognizing Jehovah's Witnesses as a legal religious organization.

III.             ECUMENICAL COLLABORATION

A. World Council of Churches

As members of the WCC we support the work of the Council and through our
representatives we continue to bring our active participation in the ecumenical
work of the Council.

We were informed that the WCC Commission on Faith and Order met in Kuala Lumpur,
Malaysia, from 28 July – 6 August. We were informed that the 9th General
Assembly of the WCC will be held in Porto Alegre, Brazil, 14-23 February 2006.
An Orthodox Pre-Assembly Meeting will convene 10-17 January 2005, in Rhodes,
Greece. We also learned that the WCC will convene the Conference on World
Mission and Evangelism in Athens, Greece May 2005.

B. Middle East Council of Churches

1. The MECC remains for our Churches in this region and important ecumenical
organization. We have been founders of the MECC and our Churches have played an
important role in the work of the Council. We will continue to encourage and
support fully the work of this Council.

2. The Eighth General Assembly held in Cyprus in December 2003 elected Pope
Shenouda III as the President representing the Oriental Orthodox Family of
Churches.  The General Assembly also elected, Mr. Guirguis Ibrahim Saleh,
nominated by the Oriental Orthodox Family in the Middle East, to become the new
General Secretary. We appreciate and we support all his plans and his work aimed
at re-strengthening the MECC. We would like to express our full support and
appreciation to Mr. Guirguis Saleh, since we have seen how he is capable and
able to perform his ecumenical role through increasingly developing relations
with the Heads of Churches in the Middle East. His spiritual trends are clearly
affecting the daily life of the personnel of the Council.

The Executive Committee appointed Mr. Razig Suriani as the director of the Unit
on Education and Renewal for a second term and Mrs. Seta Khedeshian as the
director of the Unit on Life and Service.

3. The Association of Theological Institutes in the Middle East (ATIME) in its
last planning committee meeting in Cairo, held in October 2004, elected Rev. Fr.
Daniel Korea from the Syrian Orthodox Church was elected upon the nomination of
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I, as the new Executive Secretary of ATIME for a three
year term, which can be renewed.

4. We welcome the decision taken by the Executive Committee of the MECC to
reemphasize the importance of Christian-Muslim dialogue in the region and give
more visibility and efficiency to this concern by establishing a new committee.
We expect that these decisions will be implemented soon because we believe that
Christian-Muslim dialogue is of special importance to the region.

C. The Consultation between the Representatives of the Oriental Orthodox
Churches and the United Bible Societies (U.B.S.)

1. The first meeting with the U.B.S.  was held at the Armenian Catholicosate of
Cilicia, Antelias, Lebanon, 11-12 February 2004, by the invitation of Catholicos
Aram I.  It was agreed that the request of the Oriental Orthodox Churches to
have special translations of the Holy Bible for their churches fully coinciding
with their canons and dogma in full accordance with the original texts of the
Holy Bible in its original language.

IV.              ORIENTAL ORTHODOX SUBCOMMITTEES


We were informed of the activities of the three subcommittees respectively the
Subcommittees for Theological Seminaries, Youth and Publications. We bless and
encourage them to continue their fruitful activities for our churches.

VI.              JUSTICE AND PEACE

The prevailing situation in the world in general and in the Middle East in
particular has been part of our constant concern and ongoing discussions. We
renew the commitment of our Churches to peace with justice. We strongly condemn
all forms and expressions of violence and urge all to engage in processes and
actions aimed at conflict resolution through mutual love, respect and trust.


The escalation of violence and confusion in Iraq worries us. In this situation
this country is losing its people either by killing or immigration. We urge all
the citizens of Iraq of all religions and culture to feel their responsibility
towards their country and one another. We call on all nations to help the people
to Iraq to restore their country to its independence and sovereignty with the
full participation of all Muslim and Christian communities in Iraq.

We renew our calls for a return to the peace process with a particular focus on
the establishment of a Palestinian state and the right to return for the
Palestinians. True and lasting peace will only be realized when justice and
dignity is upheld and maintained and when Israel according to U.N. Security
Council Resolutions withdraw from Arab and Palestinian territories.

We look towards the Holy Lands in the Middle East, in which our Lord Jesus
Christ was born, and pray that it may become again a land of peace and tolerance
with rights returning to the deprived.

VII.           NEXT MEETING OF THE HEADS AND THE STANDING COMMITTEE

God willing, the next meeting will be held in St. Ephrem Monastery, Ma'arat
Sadnaya, Damascus, Syria, from 6-8 December 2005 for the Standing Committee and
from 9-10 December 2005 for the Heads.

* * *

Having completed this meeting, we offer prayers of thanksgiving to the Lord for
guiding our deliberations and work. We ask our Lord to grant us His grace and
wisdom to continue our efforts in maintaining and preserving the Apostolic faith
and the unity of His holy Church. We pray that God may grant to our people and
to the world the hope that His peace, justice and goodness will prevail.

We thank the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria for its fraternal love and
gracious hospitality. We extend our thanks to all those who labored, prayed and
assisted us for the success of this meeting.

Glory be to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.

21 October 2004
St. Mark Centre of the Coptic Orthodox Church
Nasr City, Cairo, Egypt

Pope Shenouda III    Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I    Catholicos Aram I

Source: http://www.mec-churches.org/positions/Oriental_churches.htm

Posted By:
Thomas Daniel (Reji)
St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
Cheppaud, Alleppy (Dist), Kerala, India
http://www.socdigest.org
http://apostolicvisit.cjb.net
http://groups.msn.com/StGeorgeSyrianOrthodoxChurchCheppaud

Dear honorable members

Greetings in HIS name

To keep the forum debate's authenticity, we the moderators of this forum, have
decided to implement a new guideline.

As per the new guideline from 26th of October 2004, we will not publish any
messages without proper signature. Your signature should contain full name,
family name, home parish, present parish attending along with proper references
like that of the parish priest's; name, e mail address and telephone number,
where we can verify the genuineness of the e mails.

After the verification of your identity, we will provide a member ID Number
which can be used as your signature for future postings and by member ID numbers
we can verify your mails. However, If you want your name to be withheld from the
messages published, we will comply to your request and then only the ID number
will be published.

These personal contact details will be stored in our database and will not be
published in the forum.

However, if you are hesitant to reveal the name and identity, you can still be a
member of the forum and get the daily digests in your e-mail id supplied, if you
wish so.

This new guideline is applicable to all members, regardless of their Christian
denomination.

We hope our members will appreciate it and cooperate with us.

Be with us and be part of us.

In Our Lords Love
For & on behalf of
SOCM-FORUM Moderators

Thomas Daniel (Reji)
(Forum Owner)
St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
Cheppaud, Alleppy Dist, Kerala, India.
http://groups.msn.com/StGeorgeSyrianOrthodoxChurchCheppaud

"In order that men should esteem and love each other, should not be proud,
should not be arrogant to each other, the most wise Lord has given to different
men different natural and beneficial advantages, so that they may have need of
each other. In this manner each one of us must involuntarily acknowledge this or
that infirmity and humble himself before God and men."

St. John of Kronstadt.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------
"How precious also are Your thoughts to me, O God! How great is the sum of them!
If I should count them, they would be more in number than the sand." Psalm
139:17-18

Verse 5:19; "Whoever shall break one of these small commands and
teachers others to do so will be called least in the kingdom of
heaven ":
[ Refer :  Isaiah 2:3;  42:4;  42:21; Micah 4:2 ; Romans 3:31 ;  Heb
8:10]
       Form this we can learn three things
1) Do not loosen Lord's words for selfish reasons.
2)  Teach the Lord's word with out watering it down.
3)  One who preaches should practice also.
4) He is blessed in the kingdom of heaven.


Verse Matthew 5: 20) "unless your righteousness shall abound more
than that of the Scribes and Pharisees, ye shall not enter into the
kingdom of heaven"

It is possible that many of them were living a good life.  But their
devotion was merely external. (Refer Matthew 23:3-7 and 13-33-41).
The Disciples of Christ should be different from those.  They should
do what they preach

=====================================================================
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

Links to the new church web pages.

1} Kothamangalam Marth Mariam Valiya Pally. (St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church)
    http://syriacchristianity.org/chu/KothamangalamValiyaPalli.htm

2} St. Yeldho Mor Baselios Chapel, Kothamangalam (The place where Bava first
landed)
    http://syriacchristianity.org/chu/CheriapallyChapel.htm

John Philip
St. Joseph’s Cathedral
Kottayam
Member ID # 0898

Dear All,

The silver Jubilee celebrations of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association
Ernakulam (JSCAE) and the Annual perunal of the St. Ignatius Jacobite Church,
Ponnurunni, Ernakulam was held on the 1st and 2nd of this Month. The
celebrations, a low key affair due to the tragedy that stuck this part of the
world was attended by the faithful in large numbers. The Silver Jubilee
Meeting was inaugrated by the Hon. Sports Minister of Kerala, Mr. Dominic
Presentations. The Vicar of St. Ignatius Jacobite Church, Ponnurunni, Ernakulam,
Rev. Fr. Jacob Kuruvilla welcomed the gathering. H.E. Joseph Mar
Gregorious of the Kochi Diocese presided over the meeting. The Secretary Mr. K.A
Joseph presented a Summarised account of the activities of the Association in
the last 25 years. The Association has been involved in the social life of the
people of Ernakulam for so many years and have been helping the needy from all
walks of life. There are scholarships for students  from poor backgrounds,
hospital visits, visits to orphanages and old age homes giving them emotional
and material support for years. The Beautiful St. Ignaitus Church in the
Jacobite Centre, Ponnurunni,Ernakulam http://www.stignatius.org.in/files/ stands
as a crown on the City and caters to the need of the faithful in the city.

Rev. Fr. Jacob Kuruvilla, our dearest Aniyan Achan under whose leadership the
Parish grew and flourished is in his 25th Year of Priesthood. He was also
felicitated on the occasion.

Felicitations were given on the occasion of the Jubilee by the Ernakulam MLA
Prof. K.V. Thomas.

The annual feast of Mor Ignatius Noorono, St. John the Baptist and Mor Ahatullah
bava was celebrated on the two days.

The small community in the church had cancelled most of its celebrations and
handed over a Draft of Rs.25000 to the Chief minister's Relief fund
for the Tsunami victims as a first installment. The Amount was receved by Mr.
Dominic Presentation at the function.

All former and present office Bearers of JSCAE were honoured on the occasion.

The meeting was followed by Rasa in which all the faithfuls took part with
prayers.

On second H.E. Kuriakose Mor Diyascoros led the Mooninmel Qurbono.

Boney Kuriakose
St. Ignatius Jacobite Church, Ponnurunni,
Ernakulam
St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Church, Anna nagar,
Chennai
Member ID # 0963

As the 1st installment of the pledged amount of Rs. 10 lakhs to the Chief
Minister’s Tsunami Relief Fund, Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church handed over Rs.
3 lakhs to the Ernakulam District Collector.  The cheque was handed over to the
Collector by the Catholicos H. B. Baselius Thomas I in a public meeting,
convened at the end of Puthencruz Convention.

On Sunday, 2nd January 2005, the Church organized special prayers for the
deceased and victims of tsunami disaster, at all Malankara Churches.  The
Catholicos issued a special bull asking all Churches to donate the offertory on
that day to the Church’s relief fund collection.

The members of “Seva Ministry”, the charity wing of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox
Church, started relief and rehabilitation works for the tsunami victims of
Kerala.  The team, under the leadership of Seva Ministry General Convener Prof.
T.C. Thomas Thandasseril, visited the coastal areas of Alappuzha, Karunagappalli
and Oachira, and started distributing food, medicine and cloth for the victims
of the disaster.

Thomas Mor Themotheos, Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese, lead a team of priests
and representatives of different associations, and visited the disaster zones in
the coastal areas.  The Diocesan Secretary Very Rev. Kuriakose Kizhakkedath
informed that the Diocese is organizing a unified meeting of representatives of
all its associations on Wednesday, 3rd January 2005, at St. Joseph’s Cathedral,
Kottayam, for preparing a strategy and deciding on how to implement these
programme for helping the tsunami victims.  The Diocesan Metropolitan Thomas Mor
Themotheos will be presiding this meeting.

Knanaya Diocese Metropolitan Kuriakose Mor Severios went to the control room at
Kayamkulam and handed over the first installment of goods collected from the
diocese i.e. food, medicine, cloth, bed and cooking vessels etc.  worth rupees
five lakh, to the Revenue Secretary T.K. Jose.  Mor Severios was accompanied by
the Diocesan Treasurer Com. T. O. Elias, Secretary Thampan Thomas, Knanaya
Congress Gen. Secretary Sabu Thottunkal, Sister Hathunnai Dohan (Germany),
Committee Members Alex Palakkuzhy, Sunil Kalluvettamkuzhi, M.A. Abraham
Mattathil, Babu Palathra, C. Markose Karakkatt and T. Mathew Umacheril.

Mor Severios and the accompanying delegation also visited government’s various
relief camps in the coastal areas.  Donations for the relief works will be
accepted at Mor Aphrem Seminary, Chingavanam, until 10th January 2005, informed
the Diocesan Treasurer Com. T. O. Elias.


St. Mary's Soonoro Simhasana Church, Kochi, donated 100,000 rupees to ASIANET
Tsunami relief fund. The amount was received by the ASIANET representative from
Mor Julius Kuriakose, Metropolitan of the Simhasana (Pontifical)Churches and
Patriarchal Vicar for Indian affairs at Patriarchate of Antioch and All the
East.

SOCM News Bureau - Kochi & Karunagapally

============================================================================
From the desk of the moderators

Malankara Jacobite Church Relief Fund A/C details

Tsunami Relief Fund
A/C # 705507
State Bank Of Travancore
Puthencurizu Branch

Patriarch Center telephones
00 91 484 273 2804
00 91 484 273 2603

Matrimonial Digest / 0041-04

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 # 020/04
++++++++++++++++++++++++++

JacobiteChristian parents settled in Canada invite proposals for
their daughter, 27 years old, fair, slim 5;5''tall with very high
moral value.
she is working  after finishing masters in chemical engineering.
Proposals
are invited from parents of well educated boys from  any christian
denomination in North America. Please e-mail thomekurian@...
giving the details with code # MP-020/04.

++++++++++++++++++++++++++
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 # 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

The Lord taught me in the Gospel what leaven is when He said: `Do ye not
understand that I said not concerning bread, Beware of the leaven of the
Pharisees and Sadducees?' Then, it is said, they understood that He spake not of
bread, but that they should beware of the doctrine of the Pharisees and
Sadducees. This leaven, then - that is, the doctrine of the Pharisees and the
contentiousness of the Sadducees - the Church hides in her meal, when she
softened the hard letter of the Law by a spiritual interpretation, and ground it
as it were in the mill of her explanations, bringing out as it were from the
husks of the letter the inner secrets of the Resurrection, wherein the mercy of
God is proclaimed, and wherein it is believed that the life of those who are
dead is restored."

St. Ambrose of Milan.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------
"His name shall endure forever; His name shall continue as long as the sun. And
men shall be blessed in Him; All nations shall call Him blessed." Psalm 72:17

Teaching about anger

Mat  5:21-22   "21You have heard that it was said to the men of old,
You shall not kill, and whoever kills shall subject to  horrible
judgment..  But I tell you that anyone who is angry with his
brother  will be subject to judgment.
   Again, anyone who says to his brother, 'Raca,' is answerable to
Sanhedrin . But anyone who says, 'You fool!' will be in danger of
the fire of hell.

[ Refer : Dt 5:17, Mt 5:21, Mt 19:18, Mark 10:19, Luke 18:20, Rom
13:9, James 2:11]

This is the 6th commandment. (Exodus 20:13).  Our Lord approaches
the act of killing the same way to the anger that could prompt   a
killing.   An act comes from an emotion.  Lord refers to Anger,
disparaging, and insult. ( all the three ).  The Jews taught that,
an adulterer, one who insults his neighbor and one who brings bad
name for his neighbor, were all doomed to go to hell.  But they
never thought that the act that brings all this thing is the
equivalent, to  the emotion that could lead to this acts.   Our
Lord's words were new knowledge for the people who regarded the Old
Testament Laws literally.

Any one who gets angry for no reason and a murderer has the same
punishment. (Matthew 5:21-22). St. James (1:20) and St. Paul talks
about anger. ( Colo 3;8).

Why is that anger is shown with such severity? It is because it
always is unforgiving, simmering (smolder), and waits for the
revenge.

Lord then says that even the two words that come out of anger – Raka
(An Aramaic term of contempt) and Fool are also punishable.  Both
anger at heart and in the words are also prohibited.

[ In modern English – fool, stupid , idiot  and other disparaging
words are very common ]

Sanhedrin (The council): - The supreme council and court of justice
among the Jews. It had 3. 7. 0r 23 members depending on the
importance of the place. This council administered court of justice.
[ More reading
http://www.newadvent.org/cathen/13444a.htm
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sanhedrin

Hell-fire: The word used is `Gehenna' which means hell. This is a
place of all wicked people.  (Matthew 5:22, 29, 30, 10:28, 18:9,
23:15,33 Mark 9:43, 45, 47 Luke 12:5, James 3:6)

There was a place in The Hinnom Valley near Jerusalem. Here the
bodies of people who were stoned to death and other desecrated (un
holy) things were burned. That place was named `Gehenna'. In short
in those times people considered Killing as a sin. But our Lord said
bad acts are punishable. Just like that even our bad thoughts are
also punishable.
Anger that prolongs is bad. A word that abuses others is forbidden.
The disparaging someone's good name is most forbidden.

=====================================================================
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

To All My Loved Ones

  As you well know, we are getting closer to my birthday. Every year there is a
celebration in my honor and I think that this year the celebration will be
repeated. During this time there are many people shopping for gifts, there are
many radio announcements, TV commercials, and in every part of the world
everyone is talking that my birthday is getting closer and closer. It is really
very nice to know, that at least once a year, some people think of me. As you
know, the celebration of my birthday began many years ago. At first people
seemed to understand and be thankful of all that I did for them, but in these
times, no one seems to know the reason for the celebration. Family and friends
get together and have a lot of fun, but they don't know the meaning of the
celebration. I remember that last year there was a great feast in my honor. The
dinner table was full of delicious foods, pastries, fruits, assorted nuts and
chocolates. The decorations were exquisite and there were many, many
  beautifully wrapped gifts. But, do you want to know something? I wasn't
invited. I was the guest of honor and they didn't remember to send me an
invitation. The party was for me, but when that great day came, I was left
outside, they closed the door in my face and I wanted to be with them and share
their table. In truth, that didn’t' surprise me because in the last few years
all close their doors to me.

Since I wasn't invited, I decided to enter the party without making any noise. I
went in and stood in a corner. They were all drinking; there were some who were
drunk and telling jokes and laughing at everything. They were having a grand
time. To top it all, this big fat man all dressed in red wearing a long white
beard entered the room yelling Ho-Ho-Ho! He seemed drunk. He sat on the sofa and
all the children ran to him, saying: "Santa Claus, Santa Claus" as if the party
were in his honor At 12 Midnight all the people began to hug each other; I
extended my arms  waiting for someone to hug me and ... do you know ...   no one
hugged me. Suddenly they all began to share gifts. They opened them one by one
with great expectation. When all had been opened, I looked to see if, maybe,
there was one for me. What would you feel if on your birthday everybody shared
gifts and you did not get one? I then understood that I was unwanted at that
party and quietly left. Every year it gets worse.

People only remember to eat and drink, the gifts, the parties and nobody
remembers me. I would like this Christmas that you allow me to enter into your
life. I would like that you recognize the fact that almost two thousand years
ago I came to this world to give my life for you, on the cross, to save you.
Today, I only want that you believe this with all your heart. I want to share
something with you. As many didn't invite me to their party, I will have my own
celebration, a grandiose party that no one has ever imagined, and a spectacular
party. I'm still making the final arrangements. Today I am sending out many
invitations and there is an invitation for you. I want to know if you wish to
attend and I will make a reservation for you and write your name with golden
letters in my great guest book. Only those on the guest list will be invited to
the party. Those who don't answer the invitation will be left outside. Be
prepared because when all is ready you will be part of my great
  party.

I Love you!

Thomas Mann George,
Marth Mariam Church Kandanad,
St Mary’s Jacobite Church Bangalore,
Member ID # 0972.

Why is that girls are not allowed to wear "pott" in our church. while this is
common in catholic church.?  Any thoelogical reasons? first of all is there any
ban for it?

regards

Paul Philip
St. Ignatous  SOC, Dallas
ID 901

Native sons will return to help countrymen cope

Hawaii-like beaches and coconuts falling on silky sand - that's how Lony Thomas
and Paul Mattamana recall the coastal beauty of their native Kerala district of
India.

On Sunday the two men prayed to relieve the suffering that's replaced that
beauty, and for their trip later this month to the devastated region. They will
take with them at least $3,000 collected in less than a week by their 1-year-old
congregation of India-born families at St. Mary's Jacobite Orthodox Church, 3410
W. Walsh Place.

St. Mary's church has 13 Indian families who worship in the Orthodox tradition
before an altar ablaze with candles and bathed in swirling incense smoke. On
Sunday, their pastor, the Rev. George Parathuvayalil, led the Divine Liturgy in
both English and Malayalam, adding special prayers for the tsunami victims.

Mattamana and Thomas, who are planning separate trips, will help rebuild areas
where the poorest of the poor live in fishing villages of reedy shacks. Their
own families, and most in the congregation, hail from inland areas not affected.

"We want to make sure the people get help - we don't want to waste money and
time here," said Mattamana, explaining why he and Thomas want to contribute
hands-on help rather than simply send money.

The two men fear some formal relief programs will spend an inordinate amount on
overhead costs. That's why they want to direct how their church's money is used.

"There's a lot of bureaucracy over there," explained Thomas, 52, a consultant
for a U.S. store chain.

They estimate that three or four families could have their boats and homes
replaced just from the funds already raised by St. Mary's. Eventually, the
church hopes to give $10,000 directly to the people, said Mattamana, 55, who
works for the Denver Mint.

Given the magnitude of the loss, the first week's offerings of one tiny church
in Denver may seem inconsequential, the men acknowledge.

"It's nothing, a drop in the bucket," Thomas said, "but if three or four
families can be helped right away, it's something."

- Jean Torkelson

Source:
http://www.insidedenver.com/drmn/local/article/0,1299,DRMN_15_3441666,00.html

============================================================================
From the desk of the moderators

Malankara Jacobite Church Relief Fund A/C details

Tsunami Relief Fund
A/C # 705507
State Bank Of Travancore
Puthencurizu Branch

Patriarch Center telephones
00 91 484 273 2804
00 91 484 273 2603

"...the soul copies the life that is above, and is conformed to the peculiar
features of the Divine nature; none of its habits are lift to it except that of
love, which clings by natural affinity to the Beautiful. For this is what love
is; the inherent affection towards a chosen object. When, then , the soul,
having become simple and single in form and so perfectly godlike, find that
perfectly simple and immaterial good which is really worth enthusiasm and love,
it attaches itself to it and blends with it by means of the movement and
activity love, fashioning itself according to that which it is continually
finding and grasping."

St. Gregory of Nyssa.
---------------------------------------------------------------------------
"Restore us, O God; Cause Your face to shine, And we shall be saved!." Psalm
80:3

V 23: "If therefore you shall bring your oblation to the altar. and
shall  there remember that your  brother has any offence against
you,
   24 leave there thy oblation before the altar, and go first and be
reconciled with thy brother; and then come and present thy oblation."


Ordinary Jews offered, young bull, or male lamb or two young pigeons
or   all without any defect, or  `grain offering'  or  `unleavened
wafers' (bread) etc[ as oblation ].  But there are a lot more other
sacrifices also.  The objective of this, 1) It will be an aroma
pleasing to the LORD (Levi 1:9) 2) it will be accepted on his behalf
to make atonement for him (Levi 1:4) 3) remove the impurity.

They believed that their offering would be fruitful immediately.
But they never thought about their spiritual state at the time of
offering.  Our Lord showed that heart is the source of all acts and
taught that  for one to do good acts he needs a good heart. If you
read from Isaiah 1:11 onwards we can see that God dislikes the
offering of anyone whose heart is not pure. When Samuel talks to
Saul he says "obey is better than sacrifice" (1 Samuel 15:22).
Solomon says "To do what is right and just is more acceptable to the
LORD than sacrifice" (Proverbs 21:3)

One thing is special note here. The verse is "remember your brother
has something against you", not `if you have something against some
one'.  How noble is that! [If your brother has something against you
have might have done something in appropriate ]  How beautiful is
the teaching that says go ahead and reconcile with your enemy who
may have doubts about your innocence.

[A priest of the Holy Church seeks the blessing of the people 1)
before the preparatory prayers for the Holy Qurbana 2) before the
start of the Holy Qurbana and 3) Before par-taking the Holy Qurbana.
During Holy Qurbana liturgy people exchange the kiss of peace.
Before entering into the Great Lent there is a `Subkono' prayer
service.  All this are based on this biblical teaching and is very
meaningful.]

Unless man reconcile with others and change his wicked (bad or
wrong) ways, he cannot please God.
=====================================================================
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

1. His Holiness Speaks on the Tsunami Disaster
    http://www.socdigest.org/news/04dec04.html

2. Tsunami Relief Effort
    http://www.socdigest.org/news/05dec04.html

December 27, 2004

It is with great grief that we are receiving the sad news from Kerala and
elsewhere of the devastating and awful news of the deadly Tsunami that took
thousands of lives and sowed massive disaster in India and the South East Asia.
The scale of destruction caused by Sunday's tragedy left everybody in shock and
in helpless situation. Our Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church
in North America joins with the rest of the Holy Church and the World in
registering our deep sympathy and prayers to the families that are going through
this enormous suffering.

As members of the Holy Church, we have a great responsibility to console and
ease the pains of our brethren, in whatever manner possible. Hence, we request
all our Parishes to take a special collection along with the Sunday offertory on
the 2nd of January 2005 and send it to our Archdiocesan office before the 15th
of January 2005. It is also advisable to add a contribution from the parish
fund. Checks are requested to be drawn in favor of the Malankara Archdiocese and
send to Malankara Archdiocese, 611 Roosevelt Avenue, Carteret, NJ 07008. We are
planning to send the same to the Disaster Relief Fund in Kerala. Many of our
faithful have already registered their interest in offering financial support.
Let all of us join in this noble and much urgent cause.

Extending our paternal blessings
+ Archbishop Mor Theethose Yeldho

===============================================================================
From the desk of the moderators

Malankara Jacobite Church Relief Fund A/C details

Tsunami Relief Fund
A/C # 705507
State Bank Of Travancore
Puthencurizu Branch

Patriarch Center telephones
00 91 484 273 2804
00 91 484 273 2603