Encyclical from Metropolitan Locum Tenens HG Dr. Samuel Mor Theopilus Episcopa

May 28, 2024

ENCYCLICAL

My dear Brother Episcopas, the clergy and faithful of the holy church.

Grace, mercy, and peace from God the Father, the Son, and our Lord Jesus Christ, through the ever-present Holy Spirit, be with you.

It has been more than two weeks since our beloved spiritual father, His Holiness Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I, departed from us. Words cannot express the deep gratitude and heartfelt appreciation we hold for his tireless labour, love for our Lord, and guidance over the years. While we are all deeply saddened by this sudden loss, we find solace in knowing we do not grieve without hope, as Saint Paul reminds us in 1 Thessalonians 4:13.
During His Holiness Moran Mor Athanasius Yohan I Metropolitan’s repose and subsequent farewell, our entire church family came together, beautifully displaying the incredible unity and love we share. May we extend our deepest gratitude to each of you.

The time you took and the sacrifices you made to honour our beloved Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I were deeply heart-touching and meaningful. Your presence, prayers, and the incredible effort of travelling from afar—by bus, train, hired vehicles, and other means—to be part of the funeral have had a significant impact.

As per our church’s traditions, beginning May 8th, all Diocesan offices and parishes of our Church are observing a 40-day mourning period. During this period, a photograph of our beloved Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I is placed inside the church, and solemn prayers are offered in loving memory of him.

A FEW IMPORTANT CONCERNS:

As we move forward, we request your wholehearted cooperation on some important matters of our church, which are noted below.

• Condolence Meetings: Each Diocese should organise a public condolence meeting, inviting all mainline church heads, leaders of significant Christian ministries, prominent individuals in society, including the elected representatives of your area—MPs, MLAs, other distinguished and influential personalities, and well-wishers of our church—for a time of remembering and honouring the life and legacy of our reposed Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I of blessed memory.

• Forty-Day Memorial Service: To cherish the memory of our beloved Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I, we request a special Forty-Day memorial service be held in his honour on Sunday, June 16th, 2024, in all diocesan offices, institutions, and parishes of our church worldwide.

• Preserving His Legacy: To keep the cherished memory and legacy of our honourable Metropolitan alive, we encourage you to display framed photos in your diocesan offices, institutions, parishes, and homes. We will send you high-resolution digital copies of these photos, along with suggested captions for printing and framing.

• Selection of the Next Metropolitan:  Following the Forty-Day Memorial Service, the Holy Synod will convene from June 17, 2024 at the Church Headquarters in St. Thomas Community, Kuttapuzha, P.O. Thiruvalla, Kerala, India. During this gathering, the Holy Synod will prayerfully choose the next Metropolitan for our church, establish a timeline for the installation ceremony of the chosen successor, and take up other pressing agendas of the church, all while honouring the legacy of our beloved Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I.  We request that all of our faithful, join unitedly in fervent and continuous prayer for this momentous occasion.

LET US PRAY TOGETHER

As we navigate through this huge transition, we invite you to join us in fervent prayer for the following:

1. Selection and Choosing of the next Metropolitan: That the Holy Spirit, which has guided the holy Church in the past, will grant the members of the Holy Synod divine wisdom, discernment, and guidance to choose a Bishop who will shepherd our church with His love and vision for our church.

2. Our Mission’s Continued Success: That God’s continued favor will be upon all of our efforts as we strive to share God’s love in both words and deeds.

3. Unity and Stability: That we may find unity and stability within our church community, working together in a bond of love, peace, and complete cooperation in submission while celebrating our diversity in love for God.

4. Youth serving God: That young men and women of our church, will respond to the call of God, to serve the holy church and choose to be trained in our Diocesan Seminaries, Sisters of the Cross (SOC) training centres, and Major Seminary (SITS).

5. Dedication and Placement of Sisters of the Cross (SOC): That God will give guidance and wisdom for the upcoming dedication and placement of Sisters of the Cross (SOC) and that God will use their talents and dedication to bring His love and message to those in need.

6. The members of The Holy Synod: That God will grant wisdom, grace, sound health, and emotional & spiritual strength as they prayerfully take responsibilities for leading the holy church and make important decisions for the holy Church.

May the love of God the Father, the grace of our Lord Jesus Christ, and the communion of the Holy Spirit be with you all now and forever +.

In Christ,

+ Samuel Mor Theophilus Episcopa

Metropolitan Locum Tenens