Parish day celebrations of St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Maha Edavaka held on Thursday, November 04, 2010

HG. (Dr.) Zachariah Mar Aprem, the Principal Secretary to the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Church arrived in Kuwait on November 03, 2010 to bless and lead the Parish day celebration of this Maha Edavaka. HG, the Vicar and Ass. Vicar led the Raza, the traditional procession starting from the church to bless the land. Tiny tots holding lit candles led the way while older children with flags and banner of the Church followed them. Elders of the church came next and behind them the Trustee (traditionally – the custodian of the assets of the Church) walked in the procession holding aloft the Cross, followed by the Secretary bearing the ‘Evengalion’. The clergy under the canopy held aloft by the committee members followed singing hymns reverentially. The procession reached the end of the outward journey where it stopped and the priests blessed the four directions of the compass of the land wishing ‘Let there be peace on all who dwell there’. This ceremony completed, the congregation returned to the Church for the public meeting. 

The Parish choir welcomed HG to the meeting with their rendition of the traditional welcome song. Once all dignitaries were assembled on stage a small condolence prayer was made in memory of the Late Very Rev. Abraham Iype Mangat, Cor – episcope who was the vicar of the Parish from 1989 to 1993. Miss. Mariam Sam read from the Scriptures and Fr. Jose Mathew, the vicar, made the welcome address. HG. (Dr.) Zachariah Mar Aprem made the inaugural address and declared the Parish day celebrations open by lighting the lamp. A brief intermission to the meeting was provided by a recital of the Sunday School Choir. The Hon. Secretary of the Parish Mr. Prasad A Cherian read the Annual report. Mr. K P Koshy of the National Evangelic Church of Kuwait administration, Mr. Kurien Varghese, the member of the Managing Committee of the Malankara Orthodox Church, Fr. Jose C Mathew, the Associate Vicar and Mr. Shaji Abraham, Malankara Sabha Managing Committee Member presented their felicitations to the Parish. 

Another recital, this time by the Salmiya Church Choir, became the next intermission, which was followed by the Secretaries of the various Spiritual and Charitable organisations of the Maha Edavaka presenting the respective reports of their activities during the year. The Secretaries of the Martha – Mariam Samajam, Orthodox Christian Youth Movement, Anti – Alcoholism Movement, Akhila Malankara Sushrooshaka Sangham, Indian orthodox Mercy Fellowship, Mar Baselios Movement and Mar Gregorios Movement read their annual reports and the General Secretary of the Prayer Groups read the consolidated reports of the activities of all the seventeen prayer groups. 

General Body of the Parish has decided to honour members who are 65 years of age during the Parish day. Accordingly, 23 members who have attained this venerable status were invited to the stage and presented with ‘ponnaada’. Other members who had completed 25 years in the parish were presented with mementos to mark their silver jubilee of membership. 

Children of Parish who achieved top ranks in the CBSE examinations of 2010 March were also honoured and presented with mementos felicitating their achievements.

 Mr. Mathew K Koshy made a small address of gratitude on behalf of the elders who had been honoured. Mr. Oommen V Kurien, the Hon. Treasurer presented the Vote of thanks, followed by benediction by HG Mar Aprem. The Parish Day celebration came to a close by 9:30 PM.