The annual festival at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's Church on the banks of the Pampa at Parumala will be held from October 26 to November 2.
The festival will begin with a flag-hoisting ceremony on October 26. Senior Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Geevarghese Mar Osthathios and Metropolitan of the Niranom diocese Youhanon Mar Chrysostomos will lead the ceremony on the church premises at 2 p.m.
According to M.D. Youhanon Ramban, Parumala seminary manager, senior Catholicos of the East Baselius Mar Thoma Didymus I will inaugurate the week-long annual pilgrimage to the tomb of St. Gregorios, the first canonised saint of the Church, at a meeting at 3 p.m. Mar Osthathios will preside over the meeting. Jiji Thomson, IAS, will deliver the keynote address. Mathews Mar Theodosius, Mar Chrysostomos and Fr. John Abraham Konatt, clergy trustee of the church, will address the meet.
A 144-hour continuous prayer session will begin under the auspices of the Malankara Orthodox Youth Movement at 5 p.m. Youhanon Mar Polycarpus will inaugurate the session. Metropolitans Paulose Mar Pachomios, Joshua Mar Nicodemus, Kuriakose Mar Cleemis, Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, Youhanon Mar Chrysostomos, Youhanon Mar Dioscorus, and Youhanon Mar Polycarpus will lead the holy Eucharist to be celebrated at the church during the festival.
Free medical camp
A free medical camp under the auspices of St. Gregorios Mission Hospital will begin at the Parumala seminary auditorium on October 28 forenoon.
Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II will inaugurate the 91st birthday fete of the senior Catholicos on October 29. Mar Osthathios will preside. Mar Chrysostomos will inaugurate an environmental awareness seminar in the afternoon.
Cultural meet
Public Service Commission Chairman K.S. Radhakrishnan will inaugurate a cultural meet to be held in connection with the church festival on October 30. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios will preside.
Processions by pilgrims will be accorded reception at Parumala on October 31. Youhanon Mar Polycarpus will inaugurate a youth meet later in the day.
State Human Rights Commission Chairman Benjamin Koshy will deliver the keynote address at a felicitation meeting to be held on November 1. Film director Blessy will inaugurate a music programme ‘Sangeetharchana' at 5 p.m.
Saint's 109th feast
The 109th feast of St. Gregorios will be held on November 2. Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II will lead the tri-mass at the church in the morning.
The senior Catholicos will inaugurate the centenary celebrations of the Catholicate at Malankara at a public meeting at 11.30 a.m. Writer Sukumar Azhikode will deliver the keynote address.
Believers from different parts of the State will reach Parumala in separate processions to offer prayers at the saint's tomb on November 1 and 2.
The annual church fete and pilgrim week will come to a close with a procession at 2 p.m. on November 2.
