Curtains came down on the silver jubilee of the elevation of the Syro Malabar Church to Major Archiepiscopal status at Mount St. Thomas at Kakkanad on Saturday.
The event, inaugurated by the Patriarch of the Chaldean Church Raphael Sako, was attended by senior representatives of various church denominations from around the world.
Raphael Sako commended the way the Syro-Malabar Church was radiating its rich tradition in keeping with the contemporary requirements. Giambattista Diquattro, apostolic nuncio of the Vatican to India, presided over the event. There was a call for upholding the unique identity of the church while remaining a part of the communion.
Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church; Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Syro Malankara Church; Archbishop Cyril Vasil, secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental churches, Archbishop Francis Kallarackal, Archbishop emeritus of Verapoly; Supreme Court judge Justice Kurian Joseph; and Dimitrios Salachas, Exarch emeritus of the Greek Catholic Church attended the concluding event. A documentary on the history of the Syro Malabar Church was screened and cultural programmes were held to lend colour to the event.
