KOTTAYAM: On hearing the Haiti disaster, the supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Church  His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I urged its fithful to pray for the victims and extend maximum support to the relief operations done by variuos organizations. He reminded the faithful in American dioceses that it is the time to share our love and concern to the Hatians who desperately looking forward for a help at all levels.

The 7.3 earthquake that hit Haiti Tuesday, the strongest it’s felt since 1700, has caused much death and destruction with people in the streets crying out for help

The North East American diocesan Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas had sent out a Kalpana on this to all his churches here to mobilize a relief fund on this Sunday.

The Diocese of Northeast America
of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
80–34 COMMONWEALTH BOULEVARD • BELLEROSE • NEW YORK 11426
Telephone (718) 470 9844 • Fax (718) 470 9219
www.malankaraorthodoxchurch.in • AmericanDiocesanOffice@yahoo.com

Mathews Mar Barnabas                                           Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
Diocesan Metropolitan                                           Auxiliary Metropolitan

CK 01/2010

Blessings to the Vicars, office-bearers and members of all our parishes in the Diocese of Northeast America,

Dearly beloved,

We are all aware of the devastating effect of the terrible earthquake that struck Haiti two days ago. Even to this day, we do not know how many lives have been lost. It is estimated that the number would be more than hundred thousand. A big number has been wounded and trapped. Now help has been sought by the international and national agencies who are involved in openhearted assistance in the relief, rehabilitation and reconstruction process of these areas.

Whenever we were called to extend a helping hand to the victims of tragedies whether caused by human cruelty or natural calamities our diocese has been very generous in our contributions. We managed to help the victims of World Trade Center Tragedy in 2001, Tsunami in 2004 and Hurricane Katrina in 2005. We should remember our Lord’s saying “as you did it to one of the least of these my brethren, you did it to me (St. Matthew 25:40).” We exhort all of you to contribute generously and to alleviate the suffering of our fellow human beings. Please collect the amounts in the parishes and send the checks to the Northeast American Diocese with the old name American Diocese with memo Haiti Disaster Relief Fund, at your earliest. Please consider this matter as most urgent.

May the blessings and mercies of God Almighty be showered upon us all. Yours in our Lord,

Mathews Barnabas Metropolitan
January 14, 2010