We Keep The Doors Wide Open: His Holiness
Marthoma Didymos I
IOH News Service
Kottayam November 2
2005: The Supreme Head of the Church of Malankara His
Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I said he was praying for
peace not only to the church and for believers, but to the
entire nation. Talking to newspersons after assuming the highest
position of the church of Malankara at the church headquarters
at Devalokam, His Holiness said his desire to establish peace
with the patriarch faction is his primary concern. He is ready
to start peace talks based on the constitution of the church
with the Patriarch faction, if they take the initiative.
''We were keeping our doors wide open, now it is for them to
take a decision,'' His Holiness was answering to a question to
the media persons.
Referring on a media
report of an alleged ultimatum given by the Catholicos Baselios
Thomas I, head of the Patriarch faction, that they would take
possession of the churches under dispute if the government did
not take steps to re-open them, he declined. ''Violence is not
the path of the Orthodox church. The government should take
steps to reopen the churches under dispute on the basis of the
court verdict,'' His Holiness said.
His Holiness the Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymos I was
enthroned as supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian
church on October 31 following the abdication of the throne by
Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II due to ill health and
old age.
His Holiness also expressed his gratitude to the authorities of
the Gulf countries for giving permission for establishing
churches in their country. His Holiness also said that the
possibility of convening a meeting of the Malankara Association
will be discussed with the necessary committees to elect a
designate Catholicos, since there is no constitutional provision
for that position.
Metropolitan Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios and Sabha Secretary Dr.
Alexander Karakkal was also with His Holiness to attend the
press conference.
Many dignitaries also visited His Holiness at his head quarters
Devalokam Aramana.
(Indian Orthodox Herald News Release,
November 02, 2005)
