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.

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.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarch, Catholicos Meet in Germany

Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch has met with Catholicos Abun Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East in Germany to discuss the decisions of the recent session of the Local Synod of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church. More (in Arabic) here.

Malankara Orthodox Local Synod Meets

The Local Synod of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church has met under Catholicos Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East to discuss issues in the life of the Church in India and candidates for election to the Church's vacant dioceses in the country. More (in Arabic) here.

UAE Parish Becomes Cathedral

Over the weekend Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Thoma I of Kottayam and the East concelebrated the Divine Liturgy with other hierarchs of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in the Church of St. George in Al Ain, UAE, which by a decree of Patriarch Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch was elevated to the rank of a cathedral. More (in Arabic) here.

UAE Church to Become Cathedral

On 13 May Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka (Iwas) of Antioch will elevate the parish of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in al-Ain, UAE, the Church of St. George, to the rank of a cathedral. Catholicos Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East will participate in the celebratory services together with other metropolitans of the Syriac Orthodox Church. More here.

Malankara Orthodox Outreach in Bangkok

An outreach of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church has been organized in Bangkok, Thailand, for the Malankara Orthodox faithful there. The first Divine Liturgy was held on 3 April. Orthodox faithful in Thailand interested in participating in the mission should contact 0065-81891415. More here.

Syriac Orthodox Catholicos Leading Funeral of Metropolitan Mar Julius

The funeral of the newly reposed Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Julius is being held today at Manjanikkara's Monastery of St. Ignatius. Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church will be leading the funeral services. More here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Julius

Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Julius of the patriarchal Syriac Orthodox institutions in India has fallen asleep in the Lord at St. Ignatius' Monastery in Manjanikkara, Kerala, at the age of seventy-eight. More here.

Metropolitan Mar Anthonios Appointed Head of Honnavar Mission

Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch has appointed Metropolitan Yaqub Mar Anthonios head of the Honnavar Mission in India's Karnataka state to succeed the recently reposed Metropolitan Geevarghese Mor Polycarpose. More here.

Metropolitan Mar Polykarpose Buried

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Polykarpose at his funeral. (Syriac Orthodox hierarchs are buried sitting on their cathedrae.)

Syriac Orthodox Catholicos in Damascus

Catholicos Aboon Mar Baselios Thomas I of the East of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church has begun a visit to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate in Damascus. More here.

In Memoriam: Metropolitan Mar Polycarp

Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Polycarpose of Honnavar, who led the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church's Evangelistic Association of the East (EAE), fell asleep yesterday evening. Born in 1933 to faithful members of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Metropolitan Mar Polycarpose served the Church all his life, first as a layman and later, after 1956, as a member of the clergy.

In 1990 Metropolitan Mar Polycarpose was consecrated to the episcopacy in Damascus by Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatios Zakka I (Iwas) of Antioch and placed in charge of the EAE, which he has served faithfully since then. May his memory be eternal! More on his life and on funeral arrangements can be found here.

Syriac Orthodox Patriarchal Delegation Visits Catholicos

As part of their recent visit to India a delegation from the Patriarchate of Antioch of the Syriac Orthodox Church met with Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the headquarters of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in Puthencuriz. More here.

Catholicos Baselios Thomas I Visiting Australia and New Zealand

Catholicos Abun Mor Baselios Thomas I has begun a pastoral visit to the parishes of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church in Australia and New Zealand. More here.

Metropolitan Mar Militheos Hospitalized

Metropolitan Mar Militheos (Yuhanon) of Thumpamon of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church was hospitalized yesterday and is currently in the ICU at the Pushpagiri Hospital. Please pray for Metropolitan Mar Militheos' quick recovery! Updates on Metropolitan Mar Militheos' health should be posted here.

Malankara Orthodox Service in Kuala Lumpur

The Malankara Orthodox patriarchal auxiliary for Bahrain, Malaysia, and Singapore, Metropolitan Mar Eustathius, has served the first Divine Liturgy of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox parish in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. More here.

Lawsuits Against Malankara Church Should End

The first hierarch of the independent Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India, Catholicos Mar Thoma Paulose II of the East, has stated that his church and the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church under the Patriarchate of Antioch should reunite, but that the latter should withdraw a recent lawsuit against the property of a church and seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church's Diocese of Ankamali so that his church can know that its motives are pure. More here.

Kerala Mediation

Mediation between the two parts of the Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala has begun. More here.