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For the first time in the
history of the Church, the newly ordained Catholicos was
privileged with the physical presence of his predecessor during
the installation ceremony. Invoking prayers from one and all,
when Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II offered the
shepherd Staff – Amsavadi - and adorned the successor with three
engelpions – one of Cross and another of St. Mary and another of
St. Thomas, with the words – the Spiritual authority and the
Temporal authority that the Church entrusted with me fourteen
years ago is now handed over to you with all the satisfaction of
the heart - it was a divine will that was fulfilled. Choking the
eyes and hearts of all, when His Holiness Marthoma Mathews II
Bava stood up, at the conclusion of the ceremony, to hug and
garland his successor, it was a meeting of the Past and the
Present, giving way for the latter.
More touching was the parting message given by the outgoing
Catholicos, wishing the new Catholicos God’s benison in the
discharging of the duties for the steadier growth of the Church.
Then taking leave of his Authority and the Throne, with his head
held high, H. H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, stepped down from
the Holy Place of the Parumala Seminary Church assisted by Fr.
V. M .James and Fr. Varughese and Deacon Siby, leaving the
destiny of the Church, safely and graciously, in the hands of
Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymos First and other
Metropolitans , Priests, Deacons and the Faithful. |
