Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony attends festivities in Kottayam seminary.

DECR Communication service, 24.02.2024.

On 23^rd and 24^th February 2024 as part of his official visit to India the chairman of the Department for External Church Relations the metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony attended festivities on the occasion of the ninetieth anniversary of the death of the much-venerated by Indian Christians Saint Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril and the adoption of the Statute of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church after the proclamation of its autocephaly.

In the evening of 23^rd February, a festive procession was held in Kottayam seminary, which was attended by thousands of the faithful of the Malankara Church.

His Holiness the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III greeted the pilgrims with a speech. Metropolitan Anthony attended the event as a guest of honour.

On the same evening a reception was held on behalf of the primate of the Malankara Church in honour of the metropolitan of the Russian Orthodox Church.

On 24^th February in the academy church at the Kottayam seminary the chairman of the DECR attended the Divine Liturgy which was headed by His Holiness the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. At the end of the Liturgy metropolitan Anthony greeted those assembled on behalf of His Holiness the Patriarch of Moscow and All Russia Kirill and presented as a gift to the Kottayam seminary an icon of the Saviour.

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Dionysius of Vattasseril (Geevarghese Mar Dionysius VI) is one of the most venerated saints of the Malankara Church from the eighteenth and nineteenth centuries. He was the rector of the Orthodox seminary in the city of Parumala. He was known as a renowned scholar, orator and confessor who supported the independence of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He is the second saint to be canonized by the Malankara Church after it received autocephalous status.

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Metropolitan of Volokolamsk Anthony attends festivities in Kottayam seminary.

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Patriarch

Department Chairman

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