إضافات على تذكارات القديسين في الهند 1987

BY THE GRACE OF GOD

IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS PATRIARCH OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST, SUPREME HEAD OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

Apostolic Benediction to our beloved brother in Christ His Beatitude Mor Baselius Poulose II, Catholicose of the East, their Graces our beloved Metropolitans, and our spiritual children – Venerable Corepiscopos, Dedicated Dayroyos, Esteemed priests, Reverend Deacons, Devoted Nuns and all the Faithful of our Syrian Orthodox Church in India.

We have immense pleasure to send this Apostolic Bull of great historical importance to our Church in India. When we go through the history of our Church, we can find that many customs and practices had been observed by the local Churches apart from the general customs and practices of the Universal Church. And, some of the Apostles, Martyrs and Fathers who proclaimed the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ, sacrificed their lives in the areas where they preached. These Apostles, Martyrs and Fathers had been respected and considered by those local Churches as their Saints and Intercessors. Later on, the names of those Saints were included in the prayers and Holy liturgies of the local Churches as their acclaimed Saints and Intercessors. Our Church in India is also blessed to have a priceless heritage in the eminent examples of our great Holy Fathers who dedicated and sacrificed their lives for her sake, to inspire and guide her through the succession of true faith and Apostolic tradition. Here, we recall the words of St. Paul—”We beseech you, brethren, to respect those who labour among you and are over you in the Lord and admonish you, and to esteem them very highly in love because of their work.” (I Thessa. 5:12-13).

Hence, we, as the supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church hereby proclaim our Apostolic decision to our Church in India, to include and remember in the Fourth Tubden (Diphtooko), after remembering the names of “Mor Pathrose and Mor Poulose, Chiefs of the Apostles”, the name of “Apostle Mor Thoma as the preacher of the Holy Gospel of our Lord Jesus Christ in India”, who proclaimed the Holy Gospel and shed his sacred blood in the soil of that Great Country, according to the tradition of our Church.

And, according to the recommendation of the local Synod of our Church in India, held on August 22, 1987, we, hereby grant permission to include and remember in the Fifth Tubden (Diphtooko), after the name of “Mor Abhai the chosen one”, the names of “Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Elias Third”, “Maphriono Mor Baseliose Yeldo” and “Metropolitan Mor Gregoriose of Parumala”. This practice should be observed in our Churches in India as well as in the Churches of our faithful from India. wherever they celebrate Holy Qurbono. May this Apostolic proclamation be an incentive to our faithful in India to rededicate their lives according to the living examples of St. Thomas the Apostle and the other Saints.

We extend our Apostolic Blessings to you all. May the Grace of God be with you through the intercession of St. Virgin Mary the Mother of God, St. Peter the Chief of Apostles, Apostle St. Thomas and other Saints. Amen.

Our Father Who art in heaven, …

Issued at our Patriarchal house in Damascus, Syria
on the 20th day of October, in the year 1987