In Memoriam: Metropolitan Mar Barnabas of New York

Metropolitan Mar Barnabas (Mathews) of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, recently retired Metropolitan of New York and Northeast America, has reposed at the age of eighty-eight. Born K.K. Mathukutty in Perumbavoor, Kerala, on 9 August 1924, the future metropolitan was in 1951 ordained to the priesthood as Fr. Mathews, later being consecrated to the episcopacy in 1978 as Bishop Mar Barnabas.

In 1981 Mar Barnabas was elevated to the rank of metropolitan, and in 1982 he was elected as the first metropolitan of the newly established Diocese of Idukki in eastern Kerala. In 1992 Metropolitan Mar Barnabas was transferred to the Malankara Orthodox Diocese of New York and America, becoming its second ruling metropolitan and shepherding the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in North America until 2009, when new dioceses were created and he became ruling metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese.

During Metropolitan Mar Barnabas' tenure in North America the Church there underwent a period of significant growth, with new churches being established across the continent. In 2011 he retired as metropolitan to return to Kerala, where he was cared for as his health declined. This past Sunday, 9 December, he fell asleep at the Pampady Monastery at the age of eighty-eight. May Metropolitan Mar Barnabas' memory be eternal! A full account of his life may be found here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Mar Pachomius of Mavelikkara

The independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Metropolitan Paulose Mar Pachomius of Mavelikkara has fallen asleep in the Lord at the age of sixty-six. Although a successful student, as a young man the future metropolitan joined the Bethany Monastery, where he eventually became the superior and generally well known in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church as a spiritual father. In 2003 then Fr. Paulose was elected to the episcopacy as Metropolitan Mar Pachomius. May his memory be eternal! More on Metropolitan Mar Pachomius' life and recent repose can be found here and here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Mar Osthathios of Niranam

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Osthathios of Niranam fell asleep today at Parumala's St. Gregorios Hospital. Although afflicted by kidney failure, Metropolitan Mar Osthathios pleaded not to be put on dialysis because of the many poor throughout the world without access to such treatments. The medical team responsible for him attempted to put him on dialysis regardless of his request, but the attempt was unsuccessful and Metropolitan Mar Osthathios reposed under their care. May his memory be eternal! More on Metropolitan Mar Osthathios' repose can be found here.

Malankara Orthodox Receive Syriac Orthodox Community in California

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has received a Syriac Orthodox mission into its jurisdiction in the Los Angeles area, placing the community under the care of Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Milithios of Thrissur. More here and here.

Malankara Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Crestwood Seminary, Discusses Curriculum Development

Metropolitan Alexios Mar Eusebius of the Southwest American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has visited Sts. Vladimir's and Nerses' Seminaries in New York to meet with the seminaries' leaderships and with the diocesan seminarians studying at St. Vladimir's. During his time at St. Vladimir's Metropolitan Mar Eusebius discussed the creation of a curriculum more oriented to the needs of the seminary's Malankara Orthodox students with the seminary's dean. More here and here.

Kerala 2-Child Draft Bill Criticized By Religious Organizations

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian and Malankara Syriac Orthodox Churches are joining other religious organizations in Kerala in criticizing a draft bill on women's rights in the Indian state that would limit couples to having two children in an effort to curb the growth of the state's population. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Catholicoses Begin Hunger Strikes

The heads of both the independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the autonomous Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church have begun indefinite hunger strikes in protest over the ongoing dispute between their churches over the ownership of Sts. Peter and Paul's Church in Kolenchery, Kerala. More here and here.

Bangalore Metropolitan Visiting USA

Metropolitan Abraham Mar Seraphim of Bangalore of the independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has begun a 3-week pastoral visit to the United States during which he will visit Malankara Orthodox parishes in metro Chicago (where he previously served as an assistant priest), the East Coast, and Texas and lead celebrations of the Dormition and Assumption of the Mother of God in Chicagoland. Metropolitan Mar Seraphim will also visit St. Tikhon's Theological Seminary in eastern Pennsylvania during his time in the United States. More here.

Indian Orthodox TV Launched in the USA

The independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Yulios of Ahmedabad has launched a branch of Indian Orthodox TV in the United States during his recent visit to North America. More here.

Syriac Orthodox Catholicos Meets with Indian PM

The head of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Thoma I of the East, has met with Indian Prime Minister Manmohan Singh in an effort to enlist the Indian government's support in the settlement of property disputes between parishes of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India and the independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. More (in Arabic) here.

Malankara Orthodox Catholicate Celebrates Earth Day in Kottayam

The Catholicate of the independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is hosting Earth Day celebrations at its seat in Kottayam, during which Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II of the East planted a tree on the grounds of the Catholicate and noted that, "If greed-driven continual exploitation of nature takes place, human extinction will result." More here.

Ahmedabad Metropolitan Visits USA

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Yulios of Ahmedabad begins a month-long visit to the USA today to visit the parish he served as a priest in Chicagoland and other parishes of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in the eastern and central United States. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Catholicos Arrives in Texas

Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has arrived in Texas to celebrate the consecration of metro Dallas' Church of St. Mary. More here.

Malabar Metropolitan Visits Coptic Orthodox Church in Abu Dhabi

As part of his ongoing stay in the UAE, Metropolitan Zacharias Mar Theophilos of Malabar has visited Abu Dhabi's Coptic Orthodox church to meet with its rector and discuss the state of the Orthodox Churches in the UAE and Egypt. More here.

Malabar Metropolitan Visits Abu Dhabi

Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Theophilos of Malabar of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church has visited St. George's Cathedral in Abu Dhabi, UAE, to celebrate the ongoing feast of Pascha with the church. More here.

Rajasthan Priest Receives Indira Gandhi Award

Fr. Saji Yohannan of St. Gregorios' Church in Udaipur, Rajasthan, a parish of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, has received India's prestigious Indira Gandhi Priya Darshini Award for his work in education and community development. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Metropolitans to Consecrate New York Church

Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of New York and retired Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas of New York will together consecrate St. Gregorios of Parumala's Church in Fishkill, New York, this coming weekend prior to Metropolitan Mar Barnabas' return to Kerala at the end of this month.

Thrissur Metropolitan Visiting North America

Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Milithios of Thrissur has begun a month-long visit to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in the United States and Canada. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Metropolitan to Consecrate Seattle Area Church in May

Metropolitan Alexios Mar Eusebius of Stafford and the Southwest American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church will be celebrating the consecration of the newly completed temple of St. Thomas the Apostle's Church in Renton (metro Seattle), Washington, this coming 6/7 May. More here.

Bangalore Metropolitan Calls on Laity to Engage in Missionary Work

Metropolitan Abraham Mar Seraphim of Bangalore has called on the faithful of his diocese to focus on the missionary work essential to the future of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. More here.