The Archbishop of Canterbury Rowan Douglas Williams and wife, Jane Williams, who are arriving in the city on Friday evening, will be the chief guests at the closing ceremony of the golden jubilee celebrations of the South Kerala diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) here on October 24.
CSI South Kerala diocese Bishop J.W. Gladstone told a press conference here on Thursday that the Archbishop of Canterbury and his wife, along with a nine-member delegation from London, will take part in a host of programmes and ecumenical meetings during their two-day visit of the city.
‘‘Their programme will begin with a breakfast meeting with religious, political and cultural leaders of the city on Saturday morning. Following this, they will visit the Kerala United Theological Seminary at Kannamoola, where Mrs. (Dr.) Williams' father had served as a member of the teaching faculty and Principal and where she herself has spent part of her childhood,'' he said.
The delegation will later participate in a women's conference at LMS Compound and then a convocation ceremony at Dr. Somervell Memorial CSI Medical College, Karakonam.
On October 24, the Archbishop will hold a meeting with priests and members of the Mar Thoma Church. The meeting will continue till noon, after which he will attend the valedictory function of the golden jubilee celebrations of the CSI South Kerala diocese at Mateer Memorial Church at LMS Junction. The meeting will be inaugurated by head of the ruling family of erstwhile Travancore Uthradam Tirunal Marthanda Varma.
Bishop Gladstone said Dr. Rowan Williams would lay the foundation stone of the first cathedral of the CSI South Kerala diocese on LMS Compound.
‘‘The Church of South India and the Anglican Church have been closely associating with each other since 1947. The CSI and the Anglican Church have been going together in ecumenical and philosophical levels. In that respect, the Archbishop of Canterbury is our spiritual leader,'' the Bishop said.
The 104th Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Williams is acknowledged internationally as an outstanding theological writer, scholar and teacher.
CSI South Kerala diocese vice-chairman A. Dharmaraj Raslam, secretary D. Lawrence, joint secretary S. Dharmaraj, and treasurer D. Kristhudas were present at the press conference.
