Felicitation Ceremony Honors Newly Enthroned Metropolitan

Following the Enthronement Liturgy of the new Metropolitan Moran Mor Samuel Theophilus on June 22, 2024, there was a felicitation meeting in honor of His Holiness at the Mor Athanasius Yohan Memorial Convention Center in the Church’s global headquarters at 11:30 am.

The inaugural address was delivered by H.G. The Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan, prelate of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, who acknowledged the contributions of the Believers Eastern Church in uplifting various communities. “It is remarkable that the Church works among people who speak 300 different languages,” he said, extending his best wishes to the new Metropolitan. Shri. Ramesh Chennithala (Former Minister for Home Affairs & Former Opposition Leader, Govt. of Kerala) delivered the keynote address.

Other notable guests of honor included H.G. Cyril Mar Baselios I Metropolitan (head of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church), H.G. Thomas Mor Thimotheos Metropolitan (Synod secretary of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church), Swami Gururetnam Jnana Thapaswi (General Secretary of the Shantigiri Ashram), Their Graces Kuriakos Mor Gregorios Metropolitan and Kuriakos Mor Ivanios Metropolitan (Malankara Jacobite Syrian Knanaya Community), Rt. Rev. Dr. Oommen George (Bishop Emeritus, Church of South India), Rt. Rev. Thomas Samuel (Bishop Emeritus, Church of South India), Bishop Dr. George Eapen (St. Thomas Evangelical Church of India Fellowship), Rt. Rev. Clement Ettanil OSB (Abbot of the St. Thomas Benedictine Abbey), Rev. Dr. Packiam T. Samuel (Vice President – National Council of Churches in India), Dr. Prakash P. Thomas (General Secretary, Kerala Council of Churches) and Shri. Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan (Former Kerala Home Minister and Member of Legislative Assembly, Kottayam Constituency).

In his address, His Holiness Moran Mor Samuel Theophilus Metropolitan conveyed his gratitude to the church members and the guests of honor for their support and prayers, and expressed his hope to lead the Church forward in collaboration with his fellow Episcopas, priests, and heads of other Churches, adding that he would do so in the path set by his predecessor Metropolitan Athanasius Yohan I of blessed memory.

The livestream of the felicitation ceremony can be watched below.