Statement by President Obama on the Occasion of Orthodox Easter

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This weekend, Michelle and I extend our best wishes to members of the Orthodox Christian community here in America and around the world as they observe Holy Friday and the Feast of the Resurrection. For millions of Orthodox Christians, this is a joyful time, but it’s also a reminder of the sacrifice Christ made so that we might have eternal life. His decision to choose love in the face of hate, to hope in the face of despair, is an example we should always strive to follow. However, it’s especially important to remember this year, as members of the Orthodox community have been confronted with persecution and violence, particularly in the Middle East and North Africa. For centuries, the region and the world has been enriched by the contributions of Orthodox communities in countries like Egypt, Lebanon, Syria, and Iraq. As a nation, we reaffirm our commitment to protecting universal human rights including the freedom of religion. Moreover, in this season of hope and restoration, we celebrate the transformational power of sacrificial love.

4 May 2013

Barack Obama

President of the USA

http://www.Whitehouse.gov

http://www.whitehouse.gov/the-press-office/2013/05/04/statement-president-occasion-orthodox-easter

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Celebrations Mark Centenary of the Establishment of the Catholicate of the Malankara Church

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On Sunday, Dalai Lama Tenzin Gyatso addressed the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church centenary celebration, saying that India’s an example for the world because many religious sects co-exist in the country today. He noted, “Spiritually, the country occupies a very important place and its tradition is relevant today. Harmony can be more effective if love and compassion are practised in daily life. Now, everyone talks about money, which is important, but one must not forget peace of mind and spirituality”. Addressing the gathering, former Indian President A P J Abdul Kalam said that people should embrace a fusion uniting economic prosperity and a spiritual way of life. He also emphasised the importance of imparting moral values during early education.

Releasing a Centenary souvenir on the occasion, Chief Minister of Kerala State Oommen Chandy {a Malankara Orthodox believer: editor} said that the social responsibility of religious organisations gives stability to society. Delivering the presidential speech, Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose Paul, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, said that Malankara Orthodox people never wanted quarrels or undue privilege, only justice and the rule of law, observing, “We’re a peace loving community. We appeal to the government to act courageously, to give justice per the law of the land, to resolve conflicts in the community”. He added that the Church would set aside 1 billion Rupees (556 million Roubles. 18 million USD. 13.8 million Euros. 11.2 million UK Pounds) for social welfare schemes, including assistance to heart and cancer patients, building homes for the homeless, and providing financial aid to poor students. Union Minister K V Thomas {a Catholic believer: editor}, Member of the Legislative Assembly of Kerala Hibi Eden (INC/Ernakulam District), General Secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam Shri Vellapally Natesan {a Hindu believer: editor}, Metropolitan Mar Aprem Mooken (Chaldean Syrian Church of the East in India), Rev Thomas K Ommen (Church of South India), and Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany (INC) were present at the fete.

26 November 2012

Times of India

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/World-should-follow-Indias-example-Dalai-Lama/articleshow/17366444.cms

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The Catholicate of the Malankara Church was established in 1912. Metropolitan Moran Mar Baselios Paulose Bava of Kandanad became the first Catholicos in 1912. To mark the centenary of the establishment of the Catholicate of the Malankara Church, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church announced that it’d carry out a billion Rupee programme of charitable work in the centenary year. The Catholicos, Baselios Marthoma Paulose Paul, who made the announcement at the launch of the centenary celebrations here on Sunday, said that the works would include building houses for homeless Church members, meeting the wedding expenses of widows’ daughters, providing education assistance and health insurance for the poor, and relief to farmers in debt. The Catholicos said that aid would also go for the treatment of cancer and heart disease, and for dialysis. In a veiled reference to an earlier split in the church, he called for peace and unity in the Syrian church, saying, “We hold the same beliefs; we should be in the same camp”. He said that St Thomas the Apostle founded the Malankara Church in AD 52; hence, the Church was now celebrating its 1,960th anniversary, together with the centenary of the Catholicate.

A large number of religious, political, church, and community leaders… including Archbishop Emeritus Mar Joseph Powathil of the Archdiocese of Changanassery (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church), Metropolitan Mar Aprem Mooken (Chaldean Syrian Church of the East in India), Union Minister K V Thomas, General Secretary of the Sree Narayana Dharma Paripalana (SNDP) Yogam Shri Vellapally Natesan, and Kochi Mayor Tony Chammany (INC)… attended the public meeting. Tens of thousands of Orthodox believers from throughout Kerala showed up. A huge rally in the city marked the centenary. In view of the huge crowd expected to attend the meeting, the police announced traffic restrictions. However, there were disruptions of traffic on the key roads in the city.

26 November 2012

The Hindu

http://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/church-chalks-out-rs-100crore-charity-works/article4136341.ece