Believers Church Consecrates 12 Episcopas in India

Believers Church consecrated 12 additional Episcopas at a solemn ceremony held at St. Thomas Believers Church Cathedral, 2nd March 2017. Dr. K.P. Yohannan, Metropolitan, presided at the service.

The consecration ceremony was attended by nearly four thousand people from all across the dioceses of Believers Church including Bishops, Clergy, Synod representatives and bishops representing different churches.

Among those consecrated were Rt. Rev. Daniel Punnoose, Rt. Rev. Praison John, Rt. Rev. Jeba Singh, Rt. Rev. Sacharia Jose Puthenveetil, Rt. Rev. Anup Jena, Rt. Rev. Japha Aimol, Rt. Rev. Jesu Prasad, Rt. Rev. Joju Mathews, Rt. Rev. Roy Isaac, Rt. Rev. Martin K. Esappan, Rt. Rev. Samkutty Isaac and Rt. Rev. Samuel Thomas Nampuzhiyil. The new Episcopas were selected after long deliberation by the Episcopal Synod and ecclesiastic Almaya Forum jointly and were consecrated following the order of Apostolic succession and in continuation of the holy tradition of the Apostle St. Thomas.

The service began with a procession, followed by the presentation of bishops-elect by the presenting bishop. The consecration of the 12 new bishops-elect was done during the course of the Holy Eucharist, and each of them was presented with the symbols of office – the Bible, episcopal ring, cross, mitre and pastoral staff.

After the consecration service, a public meeting to felicitate the newly appointed Bishops was held. Mr. P.J. Kurien (Rajya Sabha Deputy Chairman) inaugurated the meeting presided by the Metropolitan. Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan (Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church ), Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselius Thomas I (Malankara Syrian Jacobite Church), Most. Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom, Valiya Metropolitan (Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church), Rt. Rev. Dr. K.J. Samuel (Former Moderator, Church of South India), Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos (President, Kerala Council of Churches), Dr. Mar Aprem (Metropolitan, Church of the East), Cyril Mar Baselios, Metropolitan (Malabar Independent Syrian Church), Rt. Rev. Dr. C.V. Mathew (Presiding Bishop, St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India), Rt. Rev. Dr. J.W. Gladstone (Former Moderator, Church of South India), Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa (Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church), Rt. Rev. Thomas Samuel (Church of South India), Kuriakose Mor Gregorios (Metropolitan, Kallisserry Diocese, Knanaya Syrian Jacobite Church), Mor Ivanios Kuriakose (Assistant Metropolitan, Malankara Syrian Knanaya Archdiocese), Rt. Rev. Dr. George Eapen (Evangelical Church of India Fellowship), Swami Gururethnam Jnana Thapaswi (Organizing Secretary, Santhigiri Ashram), Mr. Blessy Sylvester (Film Director and Screenwriter), Abdul Khader Maulavi and Akkeeramon Kalidasan Bhattathirippad (Sreevallabha Temple Tantri) spoke on the occasion and delivered felicitations.