His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Didymus I consecrated seven new bishops today (February 19., 2009) at St. George Orthodox Church, Puthupally, the Oriental Georgian pilgrim centre of The East. HH was assisted by H.B Paulose Mar Milithios, Catholicate designate and all the other bishops. The new bishops are H.G. Yuhanon Mar Polycarpos, H.G. Mathews Mar Theodosius, H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius, H.G. Abraham Mar Epiphanios, H.G. Mathews Mar Themothios, H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebios and H.G. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros.

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H.G. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros, 43, belongs to the Kallarackal Kaleelil family of Kundara, Thiruvananthapuram diocese, and is the son of  P T Mathunny Panicker & Late Mrs. Kunjamma Panicker. His parent parish is St. Thomas Orthodox Valiyapally, Kundara. He obtained his B.Sc degree  from Kerala University(1984), theological diploma (GST) from Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, Bachelor of Divinity (B.D) from Serampore University (1988), and Master of Theology (1991) and Doctor of Theology (1995) from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He also holds a certificate in Pastoral Counselling from Glasgow University, Scotland (1997). He was ordained to the Holy priesthood by the late H.G. Geevarghese Mar Dioscorus. HG, whose resume reflects his multifaceted personality, is now the Professor and Dean of Studies at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. He is the author of five books.

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H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebios, 43, is a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor, Kollam diocese. He hails from Vattakkattu family, Puthoor, and is the fourth son of late. Y. Daniel and.Chinnamma Daniel. He has completed his B.Sc (Kerala University), LL.B (Bangalore University), GST (Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam), BD (Serampore University), M.Th (St. Peter's Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore), Diploma in Biblical Geography (Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem) and Research Study in Old Testament (Federich Alexander University Germany). HG is currently pursuing Doctoral Research in the Old Testament at the St. Peter's Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore. In 1995, H. H Baselious Mathews II ordained him to the priesthood. With an impressive resume and a string of achievements, H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebios is now a faculty for the Old Testament at the St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur. He is the author of one book in Malayalam.

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H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius, 52, hails from the Thekkil Kandathil family of Valanjavattom, Thiruvalla, and is the youngest son of late T.V.Mathai and Annamma Mathai. His home parish is St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Valanjavattom of the Niranam Diocese. He was barely 16 years of age when he accepted membership in the Society of Sacred Transfiguration, Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram, from the late lamented Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan. H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius graduated from Madras University in 1979 and took his post-graduation (1981) in science with first class and first rank. He took his M. Phil in 1988 and Ph. D in 1995 from the Kerala University. He also has a B. D. from the Serampore University. The certificate in Advanced Christian leadership from the Haggai International Institute, Singapore, burnishes his resume further. H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius was ordained to the priesthood in 1995 by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimotheos Metropolitan (the present Catholicos). Currently, HG is the secretary, St. Thomas Orthodox Clergy Association, Diocese of Thumpamon, and director, Zoology Research Centre, St. Stephens College, Pathanapuram. His most popular work is 'Paristhithy Adyatemeekata' (Environmental Spirituality).

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H.G. Mathews Mar Themothios, 45, belongs to Painuvilla Puthenveedu House, Mavelikara Diocese, and is the son of P J Baby and Thankamma Baby. His home parish is St.Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthiyacavu, Mavelikara. He took his B. Sc degree from Bishop Moor College, Mavelikara, G.S.T. from Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, and B.D and M Th from Serampore College, Kolkata. He took his licentiate in Sacred Scripture from the Pontifical Biblical Institute, Rome, and his doctoral degree from the Pontificia Studiorum Universitas, Rome. He also took a diploma in Biblical Archeology from the Pontifical Institute, Jerusalem. This multilingual scholar is currently faculty member and registrar at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. Noteworthy among his works is an exegetical study of Psalm 24, which was published in Rome.

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H.G. Mathews Mar Theodosius was born on September 15, 1955, as the eldest son of Mr. P. M. George and Mrs. Aleyamma George, Punchayil Veedu, Pandankary, Edathua (Niranam Diocese). His GST and BD degrees are from the Orthodox Theological Seminary Kottayam. This educationist who was at one time the principal of St John's Higher Secondary School, Kunnamkulam, has a BEd from Sardar Patel University and a post-graduate degree in History. He was ordained priest on April 27, 1982, by the late lamented H.G. Joseph Mar Pachomios Metropolitan. A member of the Order of Imitation of Christ (OIC), Bethany, since age 16, he became the monastery's superior in 1996 and was serving thus at the time of his election. He was professed a Ramban at Parumala on December 4, 2008.

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H.G. Yuhanon Mar Polycarpos was born on November 30, 1954, to Mr. Zachariah and Mrs. Annamma, Parakunnil House,Panniamkkara P.O, Vadakkancherry, Palakkad. He has his G.S.T. (1978) and B. D. (1979) from the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam,a certificate course from Bossey Institute of WCCA, Geneva (1999-2000), and a certificate course in counseling from the Indian Christian Medical Association of India, Shillong. He was ordained priest by late lamented H.G.Yuhannon Mar Severios (in 1980) and was professed Ramban by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (in 2006). When elected by the Malankara Association in September, he was serving as the manager of the Vettickal Dayro.

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H.G. Abraham Mar Epiphanios hails from Thekkemala, Kozhenchery. Born in 1960 as the son of Mr.V.A. Oommen and Mrs. Gracy Oommen, the Ramban (then Abraham Oommen)was educated at Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, Old Seminary Kottayam and Gurukul Lutheran Theological College, Madras (B.A, B.D and M.Th respectively). Ordained as a priest on May 21, 1987, he accepted the vows of monasticism and was professed Ramban on March 31, 2002. The Ramban was serving as the manager of Devalokam Aramana when the Malankara Association elected him as a bishop-designate.

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St.George Orthodox Church, Puthuppally is one of the oldest and renowned churches of Malankara Orthodox Church. The patron saint is St.George. It is one of the pilgrim centers of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is known as the Georgian pilgrimage center of the East. This church is the refuge of thousands of people all over the world who seek the intercession of St.George. The church is the venue for the consecration of the seven bishops of the Malankara Orthodox Church on February 19, 2009.

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The tonsuring of 5 of the 7 Bishop Designates to monastic orders (Remban) was held at Parumala Seminary on Thursday December 4th, 2008. The service of tonsuring of Bishop Designates to monastic orders was celebrated by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, the Catholicos of the East, His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios and other metropolitans of our church.

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The Malankara Syrian Christian Association 2008 was held on September 11, 2008 at Pampakuda under the leadership of His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I Catholicos. Seven bishop designates were elected by the association. Yeldo Remban, Fr. Mathew Baby, Fr. John Panicker, Fr. Markose Joseph, Christophoros Remban, Fr. Stephen OIC and Fr. Alex Daniel were elected for the post of Episcopas. His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I Catholicos and members of the Holy Episcopal Synod offered incense at the tomb of the Late His Holiness Baselios Paulos I, the first Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Church at Cheriyapally, Pampakuda before inaguarating the association meeting.

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Sacraments are special experiences in our life as Orthodox Christians when the perception of God's presence and actions is heightened and celebrated. Traditionally, the Sacraments have been known as Mysteries in the Orthodox Church. This description emphasizes that in these special events of the Church, God discloses Himself through the prayers and actions of His people. The seven main sacraments are Holy Baptism, Holy Chrismation, Holy Eucharist, Holy Confession, Holy Matrimony, Holy Orders and Holy Unction (anointing the sick). The documentary contains many of the sacraments performed by H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, the catholicos of the East.

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