Syro-Malankara Catholic Church honours 21

Express News Service 22 Sep 2008 05:36:00 AM ISTTHIRUVANANTHAPURAM: Twenty-one members of the laity, including eight women, have been vested with special honours by the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The men have been honoured with the title ‘Bar Eatho Kasheero,’ Syriac for ‘Diligent Son of the Church,’ and the women with ‘Bars Eatho Kasheertho’ standing for ‘Diligent Daughter of the Church’.

This is the first time the young Church, which has traditions dating back to the times of St Thomas the Apostle, is honouring laity members after the institution of synodal administrative system. Also, the Church has taken a new step among the episcopal churches of Kerala by investing such honours on women, a Church spokesperson said. Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, the head of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church, awarded the titles at the anniversary celebrations of the Malankara Reunification at Ranni on Saturday.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Antiochian Rite Church historically linked to the Syrian Church, but is in communion with the Pope today.

The Church was founded by Archbishop Mar Ivanios in 1930 by joining the Catholic Church.

The laity members were selected on the basis of the work in various sectors, including education, religious education, media and engineering.

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