By BRIAN J. HOWARD
bjhoward@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
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(Original publication: June 19, 2006)
Source: http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060619/NEWS02/606190327/1028/NEWS12

YONKERS - Justin Barbu was among hundreds who turned out to see the patriarch of the Indian Orthodox Church celebrate Mass during his first visit to the U.S.

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymos I presided over services and met with parishioners at St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church yesterday. The visit by the patriarch of more than 2.5 million Indian Orthodox Christians worldwide was cause for celebration.

But for Barbu, who drove up from Teaneck, N.J., it was cause for hope for the future, especially for a church that is still laying its foundation in this country.

"As the leader of our church, we're extremely proud of him," said Barbu, 27. "Hopefully with this visit, he can bring the next generation closer (to the church) than ever."

St. Thomas, on Riverview Place, was the first Indian Orthodox Church in the United States. Its second-floor chapel was packed with men in suits and women in traditional attire.

Incense hung thick and aromatic in the air during the nearly three-hour morning service. Didymos I celebrated with three others from behind a large, red veil that represented the gates of heaven. Following the service, he was welcomed with speeches and songs.

The Very Rev. Cherian Neelankal Cor Episcopa, the vicar of St. Thomas, said it was an honor for his church to welcome the 90th successor to St. Thomas the apostle, who founded the Christian church in India in 52 A.D.

"This small church exists as a small place within the kingdom of God," he said.

His Grace Zacharia Mar Nicholovos, assistant metropolitan of the American Diocese, remarked on what it meant for the man he referred to as the CEO and chief shepherd of the Indian Orthodox Church to visit. Didymos I is the embodiment of the church's universality, he said.

"In Yonkers today, the church is celebrating that universality," he said. "That universality binds this congregation in New York to the rest of the church scattered all over the world."

County Legislator Gordon Burrows, R-Yonkers, and Richard Halevy, a spokesman for the mayor's office, presented proclamations to mark the visit.

His Holiness, who is 86, was enthroned Catholicos of the East on Oct. 31, 2005. A bishop since 1966, he joined the church as a monk when he was in his teens.

Peter Bouteneff, who teaches theology at St. Vladimir's Orthodox Seminary in Crestwood, said the visit meant much to the congregation.

"You can see how your visit strengthens your flock, encourages your flock and fills them full of love for you, for the holy church, for Christ himself," Bouteneff said.

Deacon Gregory Varghese said the church faces a constant struggle for acceptance, even among other Orthodox faiths. He called on the patriarch to return to India with an understanding to develop the church in America.

"It is high time that the Malankara church realize the great potential that exists in this diocese and in this country," he said. "We are a diocese that hungers and thirsts for progress. Please feed us."

By JAMES WALSH
jawalsh@lohud.com
THE JOURNAL NEWS
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Original publication: June 18, 2006)
Source: http://www.thejournalnews.com/apps/pbcs.dll/article?AID=/20060618/NEWS03/606180315/1028/NEWS12

SUFFERN - The parishioners of St. Mary's Indian Orthodox Church heard a special message yesterday from a special visitor.

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, the head of the 2.5 million worldwide members of the Indian Orthodox Church, made Suffern his first stop on a national tour.

It's the first time that Didymos I has visited the United States. He was scheduled today to visit St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church in Yonkers.

Didymos I was elevated in October as the 90th successor to the throne of St. Thomas, Jesus' disciple who established the church in India, just as Pope Benedict XVI is considered to be a successor to St. Peter in Rome.

Addressing a rapt audience of more than 200 people in the Suffern Church, the 85-year-old Didymos I spoke mostly in Malayalam, one of India's official languages.

"He told us we have five senses and we should use those senses for the benefit of others," said Susan Varghese, wife of the pastor, the Rev. Raju Varghese.

Didymos I told the churchgoers that that were "Christiani," or people who walk with Christ.

"We have to show that in our everyday lives," Susan Varghese said of Didymos' address. "And we have to have the Holy Communion because that is our bread, our life."

She said Didymos also spoke about how everyone will be accountable for his or her actions on Judgment Day and that he would be more accountable because he was their leader.

His visit, which included a religious service and a reception, also was an opportunity for Didymos to break ground for St. Mary's planned addition.

The construction is to provide a vestibule for the building, a former library, which will be topped by a steeple.

"It's really exciting to see His Holiness so close," Raju Varghese said after the congregation received a blessing from Didymos I.

"Back in India, there would be so many people, and today he's so much more accessible," Varghese said. "It's such a pleasure for everyone to come and see him and receive his blessing."

Earlier, a half-dozen children, some shorter than the pews in front of them, sang in big joyous voices of their gratitude to Jesus for dying for their sins.

Religious leaders took turns at the podium, pledging their loyalty to Didymos I, their desire for a strong church administration and a continued modernization of the church.

"Your church is rich in tradition and catching up with modernity," Bishop George Ninan said.

Local secular officials viewed the visit of Didymos I as a historic event.

As Didymos sat in a high-backed chair resembling a throne and was flanked by clergy and officials including county Legislator David Fried, D-Spring Valley, he was presented with the key to the village by Suffern Mayor John Keegan.

David Farrison, representing the office of County Executive C. Scott Vanderhoef, offered an official greeting.

"It's fitting that today's the day before Father's Day," Farrison said, "because you are a father to so many."

Source: http://assyriatimes.com/engine/modules/news/article.php?storyid=3226
By AssyriaTimes Staff Writer

According to Rev. Antwan Lachin from the Patriarchal House in Chicago, on July 16, 2006, His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV the Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East met the Patriarch of the Malankara Orthodox Church, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didimos I in the Dominican University of Chicago.

H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didimos I has been recently ordained Patriarch, therefore he is visiting his parish in the U.S. for the first time. His Holiness is the 89th successor to the apostolic throne of St. Thomas, who founded Malankara Orthodox Church in Kerala-India around 52 AD. Being the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, His Holiness will henceforth lead one million Malayalee Christians of Malankara.

Many metropolitans and bishops from different denominations attended the event, for instance the Counselor of the Greek Orthodox Church. Attendees were also official members of the state and General Council of India.

The event started by a praying in English. The first speech was delivered by H.H. Mar Dinkha IV in his mother language the Assyrian. It was translated to English by Chorbishop David Royel afterwards.

Apparently, everyone had agreed on the fact that their common faith is Orthodox, and the Christian churches should be united under the name of the only Lord, Jesus Christ.

H.H. Mar Dinkha IV was asked to light the first candle as it is a custom among the Indian churches. The event has been broadcasted on AssyriaSat, the Assyrian Global Satellite Television Network.

The hospitality of the parishioners and their love and passion left good memories for the days to come.

Source: http://www.svots.edu/News/Recent/2006-0619-malankara/

On Monday, June 19, 2006, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, Catholicos of the East and Metropolitan of Malankara, visited St Vladimir?s Seminary, where seven Malankara Indian students are currently studying. His Holiness, who lives in India, is the head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, and his visit to the seminary is part of his first visit to the United States since his enthronement in 2005.

Along with the Metropolitan were His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, Metropolitan of America and His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Assistant Bishop in America. A priest and a deacon from India who are accompanying His Holiness on his visit to the United States also visited the campus along with a priest from the West Coast, a deacon from New York who is a graduate of St Vladimir?s Seminary and four current seminarians.

Fr John Erickson, dean and professor of church history, Fr John Behr, professor of patristics, and Fr Steven Belonick, director of recruitment and alumni relations of St Vladimir?s Seminary welcomed the bishops, clergy and seminarians. The visiting group was given a tour of the campus including the library, the administration offices, classrooms, the chapel, and the new Lakeside apartments. While on campus His Holiness blessed a former classroom that is being used as a chapel for the Malankara students.

Click here for photographs

Source: http://www.nydailynews.com/boroughs/story/427284p-360369c.html
By Charles W. Well.

One of the world's least-known Christian leaders is visiting New York - and other strongholds of his church in the U.S. - for the next six weeks, and if he stays under the radar, that's fine with him.

Baselios Marthoma Didimos I, the 89th successor to the apostolic throne of St. Thomas and catholicos (head) of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, lives and travels simply.

"Yes, he is a simple man, like Jesus," said Mathews Mar Barnabas, metropolitan (spiritual leader) of the 20,000 or so American members of the church.

The biggest event of the entire visit, which started Tuesday and lasts until Aug. 3, will take place today: a reception for about 1,000 faithful at a Korean Presbyterian church in Bayside, Queens.

"We do not have a church big enough for that many people," said Barnabas, 84, who has led the American diocese since 1992. "In the past, we have held other events in the [Korean] church."

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which is often called the Indian Orthodox Church, has about 80 parishes and priests across the country - 27 of them in and around New York. Its U.S. headquarters is a modest building in Bellerose, Queens.

It is one of the six so-called Oriental Orthodox churches - the others are Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Antiochean - created in the fallout from a split in the fifth century with other Christian chur-ches over Jesus' nature as both divine and human. They are separate from both Eastern rite Catholic chur-ches and the larger Orthodox denominations (Greek, Russian, etc.) formed after the schism between Rome and Eastern churches in 1054 over papal authority.

As confusing as it all sounds to many outsiders, various Orthodox leaders know exactly who is who and what is what.

It is one of the six so-called Oriental Orthodox churches - the others are Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Eritrean and Antiochean - created in the fallout from a split in the fifth century with other Christian chur-ches over Jesus' nature as both divine and human. They are separate from both Eastern rite Catholic chur-ches and the larger Orthodox denominations (Greek, Russian, etc.) formed after the schism between Rome and Eastern churches in 1054 over papal authority.

Didimos I is the newest leader in this ancient world, and one of the oldest. He is 85.

He became catholicos last October when his predecessor, Beselios Marthoma Mathews II, then in his 90s and the oldest active bishop in any Christian denomination, resigned because of failing health.

Didimos "was here three years ago," said Barnabas, "so he knows the American church very well. This is a holy apostolic visit, like the Pope would make to Catholics."

Didimos will visit New York area parishes - the largest is St. Thomas in Yonkers - and attend a special conference on families next month before traveling to Los Angeles, Chicago, Atlanta and other Indian Orthodox strongholds.

While he is in New York, he will stay at the combined residence and office where Barnabas, a priest since 1951, lives and works. He spends much of his time writing - in English and Malayalam, the Indian dialect of Karala, the state where the church was founded by the apostle Thomas in A.D. 52, and tending to administrative affairs.

Soft-spoken and slight, Barnabas is gently teased by aides about his 20 or so books. "He keeps them short so he won't scare anybody away," one joked this week.

Like most church leaders, he was born in the state of Karala, the administrative focal point of the church. "He was assigned to New York because he can resist temptation," an aide joked

At that, Barnabas smiled.

"No," the aide continued, "it was because he is a simple man, with a simple lifestyle."

At this, Barnabas showed the small cross that hangs around his neck. It is wooden.

"I wear no gold," he said. "Jesus did not, and I represent him."