The 15-day lent and festival at the ancient St. Mary's Church at Kallooppara, near Mallappally, better known as Kallooppara Valiyapalli, had a ceremonial start on Monday.
Mathews Mar Theodoseus, Metropolitan of the Idukki diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church, hoisted the ceremonial flag at the Kodiyettu (flag-hoisting) ceremony held on the church premises in the forenoon.
Mar Theodoseus, assisted by parish priest Jiji Varghese Parappallil, celebrated a Holy Eucharist earlier in the morning.
Zacharia Ninan Chirathilattuwill, priest, will lead a prayer congregation on Wednesday forenoon. Youhanon Mar Polycarpus Metropolitan will lead a Holy Eucharist at 8.15 a.m. on August 7. Transport and Devaswom Minister V.S. Sivakumar will inaugurate the platinum jubilee celebrations of the St. Thomas Youth Movement at a public function on the church premises later in the afternoon.
Benjamin Koshy, former High Court judge, will inaugurate a seminar at the church auditorium on August 13. Youhanon Mar Chrysostomos, Metropolitan of the Niranom diocese of the Church, will preside over the inaugural function. Jacob Cherian, Sam Koshy T., and P.K. Geevarghese will address the seminar.
Johns Abraham Konatt, clergy trustee, will lead the Holy Eucharist at 8.15 a.m. on August 14. Paulose Mar Pachomios Metropolitan will lead a Holy Tri-mass at 8.30 a.m. on August 15. The festival will come to a close with a Holy Raasa later in the afternoon.
