Request sent to Holy Episcopal Synod of the Indian Orthodox Church with regard to the Brahamavar Orthodox Church
Request Filed to the Holy episcopal Synod in the Month of December 2009- January 2010
His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I
Catholiocse of the East
&
Malankara Metropolitan
Subject: The Brahmavar Orthodox Church
Submitted By
Mr Lejith George
Chairman-OBL Forum
Subin Varghese
Vice-Chairman-OBL Forum
George Alexander
Spokesperson-OBL Forum
On Behalf of the Supreme Chancellery of the OBL Forum
Respected Your Holiness
After Kissing Your Holiness blessed and sanctified hands
May it please Your Holiness
Greetings from Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum
This is a formal request from the OBL Forum for the Brahmavar Orthodox Community who is an integral part of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is high time we reconsider the status of the Brahmavar Orthodox Christians who have been sidelined for past several years. The Brahmavar Orthodox Christians need to be brought to the main stream of the Indian Orthodox Church. OBL forum delegation had the privilege to visit Brahmavar Orthodox Church in the month of November 2009. Based on our experience, we have prepared an article and a number of relevant and practical suggestions for the improvement and upliftment of the Brahmavar Orthodox Christians. Your Beatitude I would like to stress two important suggestions even tough it has been mentioned in the Suggested.
1.Opening a regular communication office for Brahmavar Christians at Church headquarters.
2.Canonization of His Grace Alvariz Mar Julius Metropolitan and Saintly Padre R L Nuronah.
3.Helping them to understand genuine Orthodox faith, by maintaining their culture, traditions and life style and protecting the Brahmavar Orthodox Christians from potential threats of Malankara Catholic Rite and other new generation Christian groups.
Your Grace kindly consider our humble suggestions.
With lot of lots of prayers, love and reverence,
Subin Varghese
Vice-Chairman
OBL Forum
Copy To
His Beatitude Poulose Mar Militeos
Catholicose Designate
His Grace Mathews Mar Severius
Synod Secretary
His Grace Abraham Mar Epiphanios
Asst. Metropolitan of Bangalore Diocese
Suggestions and Recommendations for the Development of the Brahmavar Orthodox Church
1.Provide importance for Brahmavar Orthodox Community in the major events of the Malankara Church. Provide them the opportunity to celebrate Holy Qurbana in Konkini Language during Parumala Peruunal, Centenary Celebrations etc.
2.Organize International/National conferences, seminars, camps of Marthmariyam Samagam, Youth and other Church organizations at Brahmavar which will help the young generation to understand and experience the Brahmavar Orthodox Community. This will fill up the generation gap.
3.The Memorial Day of His Grace Alvariz Mar Julius Metropolitan (September 23) must be celebrated as Reunion Day of the Malankara Orthodox Church with national importance.
4.Give at most importance to the Brahmavar Orthodox Community in Malankara Church Samith’s. Malankara Metropolitan should nominate one person from the Brahmavar Orthodox Community to the Managing Committee. This will help the community to establish free communications with the mother Church.
5.Seminarians of Kottayam and Nagpur Theological Colleges must be given at least two months of internship at Brahmavar.
6.The Holy Episcopal Synod may take the necessary steps to canonize His Grace Alvariz Mar Julius Metropolitan and Padre R L Nuronah.
7.Elevate the Brahmavar St Mary’s Syrian Cathedral as a pilgrimage centre. Annual pilgrimage procession can be organized from Bangalore, Goa, Chennai, Sultan Bathery etc. A pilgrimage procession can be organized under the leadership of spiritual organization from Brahmavar to St Mary’s Church Panjim, Goa.
8.Allow the community to practice all those local costume and traditions which do not hinder Orthodoxy.
9.Translate prayers to Konkini/Kannada language, which are not yet translated for the use of Brahmavar Orthodox Community (e.g.: Kayamtha Namasakram, Sleeha Namaskkaram etc).
10.Help the community to publish faith oriented materials in Konkini/Kannada language.
11.Properly recognize and honor all those Priests who had devoted their life to serve and lead the Brahmavar Community ( Fr P J Koshy, N J Thomas Ramaban etc)
12.His Holiness Catholicose, Metropolitans and Church leaders must visit the community in regular intervals of time and should strengthen them in Orthodox faith.
13. Organize the Brahmavar Orthodox Christians in Kuwait, Dubai etc and provide them the opportunity to attend Konkini Qurbana at least once in a month.
Subin Varghese
Vice-Chairman
OBL Forum
www.theorthodoxchurch.info
Dept. of Public Relations
OBL Forum
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There is a small group of Konkani speaking families settled in and around Mumbai, originated from St.Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Brahmavar. Their poor forefathers came to Mumbai in search of employment. They started a small club (kude) by the name of St.Mary’s Club Brahmavar, at Station Road, Byculla, Mumbai, in or around 1950. In this “Kude” some of our members, who did not have a roof over their head, stayed with their meagre belongings. Later this “Kude” was shifted to the present place at Chakala, Andheri East, Mumbai. For our spiritual needs, now a Priest from Brahmavar comes once in a month to celebrate the Holy Qurbaan in Konkani.
Now the need of the hour is, we the Konkani speaking Brahmavarians need to build a Church of our own, in Mumbai ( or have a separate Hall ) for Sunday Holy Quarbaans and other spiritual support for the community. Please help and support us and please, please, do not ignore us.
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