The blessed Patriarchal Jubilee Celebrations at Damascus
By Fr. Dr. Biji Chirathilattu, Vicar, St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Parish, Vienna
As I got into the Austrian Flight on 12.09.05 to go to Damascus, I did not have any idea that God was now flying me to one of the most blessed and beautiful celebrations I have ever attended in my life. Actually I was thinking at times why I should spend so much time and money with my limited income to go there just to attend the celebrations! But on the return flight on 16.09.05 afternoon I exclaimed to myself “Wow! It was certainly God’s plan that I should once again witness with my eyes the glory of the Syriac Orthodox Church, especially of its supreme Head Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iws I, The Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.”
My amazement began, the moment I saw from a distance. the present Ma`arat Saydnaya area. When Moran bought that hill it was just a desolate hill (a Malayalee would call it “Mottakkunnu”) filled with stones and thorny bushes. When I stayed there during 1996-1997 as the first Indian student there, Mor Ephrem Seminary was the only building in the area. As I used to walk up the 1 km mud road from the bus stop to the seminary in those days, wild dogs used to chase me because they were not used to human presence in their territory! And there were many who criticized Moran for building such a magnificent seminary building in that wilderness. But in the last 8 years the whole area has changed to one of the best residential areas in Syria. The Park Sheraton hotel is just 5 min. walking distance from the seminary; the luxurious villas with acres of garden around them surround the seminary hill. And inside the seminary complex itself, a beautiful Church, an Auditorium, a Youth centre, a Monastery for the nuns, etc., are newly built. The olives, which we watered then, are bearing fruits now. And down the hill Moran has built two 4-story apartments for the esteemed guests and the bishops of the church. The hill facing the seminary hill is being acquired by Moran now for founding a private University. This area today has become the best witness of Moran’s visionary activities and how God guides our Moran to provide for His church.
On 13.09.05, Moran reserved his time in the morning exclusively for meeting the priests and believers who came from India to attend the celebrations led by V. Rev. Fr. Sleeba Kattumangattu. It was heart touching to see the affection with which Moran blessed them, received the beautiful gifts brought by them and paused for photos with them. And then HH answered patiently the numerous questions put forward by the TV channels. As Moran opened the photo exhibition at 18hrs monks, priests, nuns, and believers rushed in as a crowd to see the rare photos of Moran. Photographs from the apostolic visits to India occupied at least half of the exhibition, and the shining grace in the exhibited photos of Moran conquered the hearts of everybody. The charity bazaar opened simultaneously by Moran exhibited the manifold Syrian Christian handicrafts, especially the ones made by our nuns there.
From 19hrs onwards the concert by the different choirs of the Syrian orthodox parishes all over the world reasserted the beauty of our church music. In between the choirs, a PowerPoint presentation regarding the life and works of Moran was shown. It was an excellent glimpse into the last twenty-five years history of our church as well. One thing in the presentation touched my heart deeply and still pains me. At the end of the presentation was a recorded interview with Moran. In that, the interviewer asked Moran what saddens Moran the most. Suddenly Moran’s eyes were filled with tears and HH answered in a broken voice that it pains him much when somebody not understanding his truth and love quarrels with him. I wish that all the dissidents in our church understand this true concern of Moran and make peace with him. One thing is sure, if somebody does not understand and love this Moran and does not make peace with him, never are they going to love and obey a patriarch again. HH is so much loving and caring.
The Silver Jubilee Holy Qurbana celebrated on 14.09.05 at 9.00 am was attended by more than fifty Syriac Orthodox Bishops as well as Patriarchs, Cardinals, Bishops and dignitaries from Coptic Orthodox, Armenian Orthodox Church and numerous Sister Churches. The thousands who came from different parts of the world had to stand outside the church to attend the mass, because by 8.30 am the seats inside the church were already filled.
Our Catholicos H.B Baselios Thomas I occupied the most important place in the Holy Altar (sanctuary) and co-celebrated the H. Qurbana with Moran. H.B. the Catholicos delivered the sermon in Malayalam in the middle of the Holy Qurbana, and the copies of its English and Arabic translations were distributed to all. H.B. the Catholicos recounted the immense growth of the church under the patriarch in the last 25 years and deservedly praised HH for all of that. Moran humbly answered to all that by saying: “it is not my ability, but it is all given by God.” Out of the many gifts offered to HH at that time, a new and beautiful throne presented by the Patriarchal Secretary H.G Mor Athanasius Elia Bahe was the most marvellous.
During that occasion the books on Moran, “Festschrift” by V. Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil, Vicar, St. George Syrian Orthodox Church, Chicago and “Marditho dezokhootho” (Jaithrayathra) by Commander Santhosh John were released by Moran. After the Holy Qurbana, Moran unveiled a statue of himself near the church and 25 doves flew up in the sky symbolizing the last 25 prosperous and peaceful years.
After that the invited guests took part in the banquet hosted by Moran in one of the big restaurant (At-tilal) in Ma`arat Saydnaya. Though more than 1200 people attended it, it was well disciplined; traditional Syrian delicacies were served. When the pilgrims from the Saydnaya church arrived at the seminary by 17.30 hrs, the seminary premises were looking like a soldier’s camp being filled with scouts from different countries. From 18hrs onwards, these scouts from about 10 countries paraded and saluted before Moran. The discipline and the musical performances of the scouts were notable.
On 15.09.05 morning, the Malayalees were blessed to celebrate their beloved Onam with HH at Ma`arat Saydnaya with an elaborate breakfast including many Indian dishes. Even a Maveli was present for the occasion! It was the day of the Church heads and Diplomats. As the supreme head of the Coptic Orthodox Church HH Baba Shenouda arrived at the seminary by 1 pm, the joy of both church members were at its peak. In the evening, Pope Shenouda addressed in the church a meeting of religious authorities, church dignitaries, diplomats and invited guests. The presence of many Muslim leaders as well as the top officials of the Syrian Government was to be specially noted. Pope Shenouda delivered a scholarly address on the Patriarchate and congratulated his colleague HH as most wise, scholarly, and efficient Patriarch. It is very rare that a church leader appreciates so much the activities and qualities of another church leader. And HH replied to all of that laudation by saying that all of those are gifts of God to him, and not his merits. In the official dinner following that ministers and government officials from Syria and India as well as diplomats from various countries congratulated HH. Even the Islamic mullahs spoke about the qualities of Moran HH.
Though I left Damascus on 16.09.05 afternoon, I could hear form H.G. Dr. Kuriakose Mor Theophilose that the concert on that evening by the well famous Christian singer Abir Nehme in association with the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Choir was the most attended function of the jubilee celebration. Thousands took part in the ethereal joy from the heavenly melodies sung that evening. The blessed “Myron Qoodosho” after the Holy Qurbana on 18.09.05 concluded the Patriarchal Silver Jubilee celebrations at Damascus.
On the whole it was a unique celebration in the history of the church. It was serene, holy, disciplined and joyful. Everybody present there was happy that they could attend it. The arrangements were perfect, even though hundreds from other countries had to be accommodated and fed. The team consisting of the first Secretary of HH, HG Geevarghese Mor Athanasius, the second secretary HG Mor Athanasius Elia Bahe and a number of priests, monks, nuns and seminary students have labored for long to make it such a big success and they could be proud now that they have done a wonderful job indeed. And Moran was present there every time shining like a sun, blessing all and everything. His Holiness’s presence itself was a blessing, because one could always observe the rays of divine grace flowing from HH’s pleasant face every time. And HH saw to it that the Mapheryono was there with him all through the celebrations. They were always together hand in hand as brothers. The highest importance given to our Mapheryono in every event there should open the eyes of the rival groups at last. They should know what they are missing now! There has never lived a Patriarch who has given so much respect and importance to the Mapheryono. May HH live long to pasture his sheep to the green pastures forever.
Related Links:
1. The Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch & all the East
http://www.syriacchristianity.org/Patriarchate.html
http://sor.cua.edu/Patriarchate/index.html2. Biography of Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwaz
http://syriacchristianity.org/bio/PZakka.htm
http://sor.cua.edu/Personage/PZakka1/index.html3. Biographies of the Presiding Hierarchs of SOC
http://www.syriacchristianity.org/Presiding.html
http://sor.cua.edu/ChTod/index.html
Source: //www.socdigest.org
