Body of H.Em. Mar Makarios laid to rest

KOTTAYAM: The mortal remains of His Eminence Thomas Mar Makarios, Metropolitan of the Canada-U.K.- Europe diocese of the Indian Orthodox Syrian Church who passed away on February 23 after a car accident in London, was interred in a crypt at the Devalokam Aramana Chapel on Monday , March 3, 2008.Thousands of faithful gathered for the funeral and send off for one of the Indian Orthodox Church's senior-most bishops.

His body was brought to the Orthodox Theological Seminary, his alma mater, by 12:30am on Monday, March 3 from his home parish Ayroor. After completing the 4th, 5th and 6th segments of the funeral services for the clergy at the seminary chapel, the body of Mar Makarios was taken out for the final leg of his last journey. The ‘nagarikaanikkal’ceremony (farewell procession), to the accompaniment of scores of vehicles, started from the theological seminary by 8.15 a.m. and was brought to the chapel at the Catholicosate headquarters at Devalokam.

The final segment of the funeral services were led by Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, His Beatitude Paulos Mar Milithios Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan, His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas Metropolitan, His Grace Mathews Mar Epiphanios Metropolitan, His Grace Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan, His Grace Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Metropolitan, His Grace Philipos Mar Eusebius Metropolitan, His Grace Kuriakose Mar Clemis Metropolitan, His Grace Job Mar Philoxenos Metropolitan, His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Mathews Mar Severios Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan, His Grace Paulos Mar Pachomios Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Yakob Mar Irenios Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Zechariah Mar Theophilus Metropolitan, His Grace Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, and His Grace Dr. Yuhannon Mar Chrisostomos Metropolitan.


Thousands thronged Devalokam to have a last glimpse of the departed spiritual leader.
Many leaders from other churches throughout Kerala also joined and delivered their condolences to the Church as a whole. Mourners from the U.S. and various government officials also participated in sharing their condolences and expressed their sadness over the departure of Indian Orthodox prelate.Dignitaries including representatives of various Church denominations comprising Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil (Syro-Malabar Catholic), Major Archbishop Mar Cleemis (Syro- Malankara Catholic), H. G. Joshua Mar Ignatios (Malankara Catholic), Bishop Thomas Mar Coorilos (Malankara Catholic), Bishop Abraham Mar Julios (Syro- Malankara Catholic), H. G. Thomas Mar Thimothios (Jacobite), H. G. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theopilos Suffragan Metropolitan of Marthoma Syrian Church, Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa, President Kerala Council of Churches, Rt. Rev. Bishop Thomas Samuel (C.S.I.), Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Moolakattu (Knanaya), H. G. Kuriakose Mar Severios (Knanaya), H. G. Geevarghese Mar Gregorios (Knanaya)

Works Minister Mons Joseph placed a wreath on the body, on behalf of the Government.

Opposition leader Oommen Chandy, Union Minister Vayalar Ravi, Minister Kodiyeri Balakrishnan MLAs K M Mani, T. U. Kuruvilla Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, M Murali, Joseph M Puthuserry and V N Vasavan, P. C. Thomas (M.P),Kodikunnil Suresh, Kottayam District Collector Ms. Sharmila Mary Joseph , municipal chairperson Reeba Varkey and other people’s representatives also paid their homage. Hundreds of faithful from the deceased Metropolitan’s native place and from abroad joined the masses, as well as a monk brother, priest brother and a nun sister of Mar Makarios, to be present at the departing moment at Devalokam, as the body was interred in the crypt by 12.30 pm.

Earlier, the body of Thomas Mar Makarios was brought from London after the first service, in a frozen enclosure, to the Nedumbassery airport.The body, in sitting posture, was brought to the Old Seminary at Chungam here on Sunday night, from Ayroor, Kozhencherry, his native place, after completing the second and third sections of the funeral service .

Meanwhile, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I,head of the Orthodox Church , in a bull, has said that he, in his capacity as Malankara Metropolitan, has taken over the administration of the Canada-U.K.-Europe diocese.