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Patron : His Grace Dr. Mar ApremMetropolitan’s Palace,Trichur - 680 001, Kerala, IndiaPhone : 91487 - 2420978Personal : 91487 - 2442166E-mail : aprem.mar@gmail.com

VOICE OF THE EAST(A socio-Religious bi-monthly)(Private Circulation only)

July - August 2011

Websites :

India : www.churchoftheeastindia.orgAustralia : www.Assyrianchurch.com.au

Assyrianchurchnews.comChurchdiscussion.com

Russia : www.Assyrianchurch.narod.ruIran : www.margivargis.012 webpages.comLos Angeles : www.stmaryassyrianchurch.comUnofficial site : www.nestorian.org

Contents1. Editorial2. Silver Jubilee Youth Conference3. Patriarchal Apostolic Sojourn to Canada & Australia4. Christians reach broad consensus on appropriate missionary conduct5. Miss Akhina Mooken Wins Miss India Canada6. Assyrian Church Scholars Participate in Syriac Symposium7. Californian Capital Recognizes Assyrian Martyrs DayPhotos8. Shrine for AssyrianPatriarchs and Bishops Erected9. Commemoration of Saint Yosip Khnanisho in Kirkuk10. Bishop Mar Odisho Oraham in Jönköpping,Sweden11. Los Angeles to Dubai12. Silver Jubilee of the Youth Conference13. Visits to Indian Homes14. Holy Qurbana and Baptism in San Diego15. To O’Hare in Chicago16. Two O’Clock and Twelve O’Clock17. O’Hare to JFK Airport in New York18. Eighth Visit to UAE ParishNews19. Three Episcopas in Mar Thoma Church20. His Beatitude Mar George Alenchery21. Assisi Day of Prayer, 201122. Demise of the Mother of Mar Meelis Metropolitan23. St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School

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Voice of the East

Vol. 58 July - August 2011 Nos. 7 & 8

Editorial The Fifth FamilyThe Assyrian Church of the East is the oldest autocephalous Church in the eastern world. Thisfact is known to the scholars of all churches. Despite the glorious history of the Church of the Eastand the ongoing suffering of its faithful, one Eastern church in particular continues to object to theinclusion of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Middle East Council of Churches (MECC).

The MECC recognises only four families of churches; the Roman Catholic family, the EasternOrthodox, the Oriental Orthodox and the Protestant churches.

A rethinking of this four-family formulation is now made. The General Secretary Mgr. PiotorMazurkiewiez of the Commission of the Bishops conference of the European Community writes,“The fifth family is one of the oldest and the most self contained of the Middle Eastern Churches”.A conference has been called for 18 and 19 November 2011 in Kaslik, Lebanon to discuss thefuture of the Christians in the Middle East. Obviously the Assyrian Church of the East wasinvited.

By the eleventh century, the Assyrian Church of the East was the world’s most far-reachinggeographical church. She has a venerable history in spreading the gospel of Christ to the East ofthe Euphrates River and into the farthest reaches of Almighty God’s creation. Many persecutionsand misfortunes have however reduced the Church of the East to a fragment of its early numericaland geographical might.

The role played by the Assyrian Church of the East, erroneously called the ‘Nestorian Church’,cannot be denied or minimized. In his famous book, Nestorian Missionary Enterprise, JohnStewart calls the Assyrian Church of the East, a ‘Church on Fire’, referring to the expanse of itsmissionary enterprise. There is no doubt that the Church of the East should have a prominentplace in the study of Christian history and mission.

Regrettably, little is known today amongst the wider public about the magnificent history of theChurch. Indeed, many priests and bishops in other churches often ask me, “What is the origin ofyour church?” Our faithful must learn then to propagate the history and teachings of our forefathers.

It cannot be forgotten that where the history of our Church is well understood, namely amongstour sister churches in the Middle East, greater understanding and acceptance must abound. Theacceptance of a ‘Fifth Family’ by the Commission of the Bishops Conference of the EuropeanCommunity is an important step in the direction towards this greater understanding and accep-tance of our most ancient and holy Church.

Mar Aprem

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Silver Jubilee YouthConference

The 2011 Assyrian Church of the East AnnualYouth Conference, hosted by St. Mary’s Par-ish of Los Angeles, California has proudly cel-ebrated its silver anniversary.The conference, held from 29 June – 4 July atthe Warner Center Marriott, hosted 300 youthmembers along with several priests from differ-ent parishes around the nation.Attendees were honored with the presence ofHis Beatitude Dr. Mar Aprem, Metropolitan ofMalabar and India; His Grace Mar AprimKhamis, Bishop of Western USA; His GraceMar Awa Royel, Bishop of California; and Sis-ter Dr. Jincy of India.This year’s conference theme was “Transfor-mation”, with the focus on Romans 12:2 – “Donot conform to the pattern of this world, but betransformed by the renewing of your mind. Thenyou will be able to test and approve what God’swill is—His good, pleasing and perfect will.”Leading the bible study sessions were Cor-episcopa Gewargis Toma of Chicago, Illinois;Rev. Genard Lazar of Sydney, Australia; Rev.Lawrence Namato of San Jose, California; andDeacon James Darmo of Los Angeles, Califor-nia.On Friday, His Beatitude Mar Aprem presentedhis speech on our churches of India, followedby Sister Dr. Jincy who presented her speechon the promotion of the vocation of monasticlife in our church.In the evening, St. Mary’s youth hosted an el-egant banquet dinner held at the Marriott Ban-quet Hall during which each youth participantwas awarded a medal of honor along with twonewly published books, one of which is writtenby His Grace Mar Awa Royel and titled Mys-teries of the Kingdom, written to educate aboutthe seven sacraments of our Church.

After a day-long trip to the Disneyland Resortin Anaheim, California on Saturday, the youthdedicated Sunday to numerous events.

Before commencing the Sunday morning Eu-charistic Liturgy, the ordination of two Readerstook place, one of whom was a youth confer-ence participant, Robert Ishoo.

A goodbye picnic was held at Lake Balboa Park,followed by an evening of hors d’oeuvres bythe pool, friendly games in the banquet hall anda closing prayer by Rev. Gewargis Rasho.

Youth conference is about building a strong andeverlasting relationship with Jesus Christ. Wehope that every youth member went home witha new spiritual outlook on life.

Patriarchal ApostolicSojourn to

Canada & AustraliaJuly 27 – August 18 and

September 1 – October 10, 2011Visit to Canada

- Leaving Chicago towards Toronto onWednesday July 27, 2011.

- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated at Saint Mary’s Cathedral in Torontoon the 1st Sunday of Summer, July 31, 2011.

- Leaving Toronto towards Windsor on Thurs-day, August 4, 2011.

- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated on Saturday August 6, 2011 onthe Feast of the Holy Transfiguration at SaintThomas Church in Windsor.

- Leaving Windsor on Saturday August 6, 2011towards London, Ontario. The Mystery of theHoly Qurbana will be celebrated on the Sec-ond Sunday of Summer on August 7, 2011 inSaint Zaia Church in London.

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- Leaving London, Ontario towards Hamiltonon Wednesday August 10, 2011. The Mysteryof the Holy Qurbana will be celebrated on theThird Sunday of Summer in the Saint MariChurch in Hamilton on August 14, 2011.- Leaving Hamilton towards Toronto on Sun-day August 14, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated for the Commemoration of theBlessed Virgin Mary on Monday August 15,2011 in Saint Mary Church in Toronto.- Leaving Toronto towards Chicago on Thurs-day August 18, 2011.

Visit to AustraliaH.H. Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch willconduct an Apostolic Sojourn to the Archdio-cese of Australia at the invitation of H.B. MarMeelis Zaia Metropolitan and Mr. YokaniaEzekiel, principal of the Assyrian Church Schoolin Sydney.- Leaving Chicago towards California on Sep-tember 1, 2011.- Leaving San Francisco towards Sydney onMonday September 5, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated in Rabban Hurmizd Cathedral on theFirst Sunday of Elijah on September 11, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated in Saint Mary’s Church, Fairfield onthe First Sunday of the Cross and Fourth Sun-day of Elijah on September 18.- Blessings and gifts will be presented to thegraduates of the Mar Narsai Assyrian Collegeon Wednesday September 21, 2011 at 7:00pmin Edessa Hall.- Leaving Sydney towards Melbourne on Fri-day September 23, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated on the Second Sunday of Elijah inMelbourne on September 25, 2011.

- Leaving Melbourne towards Sydney on Mon-day September 26, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated on the Third Sunday of Elijah in SaintHurmizd Cathedral on October 2, 2011.

- Leaving Sydney towards California onWednesday October 5, 2011.- The Mystery of the Holy Qurbana will becelebrated in Mar Yosip Khnanisho Church onthe Second Sunday of the Cross on October 9,2011.

- Leaving California towards Chicago onMonday October 10, 2011.

Christians reach broadconsensus on appropriate

missionary conduct28 June 2011

Christian Witness in a Multi-ReligiousWorld: Recommendations for Conduct”, afive-page document on the conduct of mis-sion “according to gospel principles”, wasreleased during a public presentation onTuesday 28 June at the Ecumenical Cen-tre in Geneva, Switzerland.The recommendations regarding respectfulbehaviour on the part of missionaries, evange-lists and other witnesses when sharing the Chris-tian faith were issued following a five-year se-ries of consultations among the World Councilof Churches (WCC), the Pontifical Council forInter-religious Dialogue (PCID) of the RomanCatholic Church and the World Evangelical Al-liance (WEA).

The three bodies include Orthodox, Catholic,Anglican, Protestant, Evangelical, Pentecostaland independent churches with a combinedmembership of some two billion people repre-senting nearly 90 percent of the world’s Chris-tians.

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Miss Akhina Mooken Wins Miss India Canada

The Toronto-area girl defeated 15 contendersfrom across Canada to win the crown at the21st annual Miss India-Canada Pageant here.One of the major cultural events of the Indo-Canadian community across Canada, the an-nual beauty pageant draws a huge response asit features high-voltage musical performances,songs, catwalks and quizzing of the contestants.Nineteen-year-old Akhina Mooken, who wasfinally crowned Miss India-Canada, will havea free trip to India, apart from various awards.Bestowing the crown on her, event organizerSanjay Agnihotri said Mooken will work withvarious social organizations in Canada and In-dia.After 21 years of this contest it is the first time aSouth Indian girl is winner. She is from Kerala,from Trichur from the Mooken family. Her fa-ther Dharmo Mooken is the second cousin ofMar Aprem Mooken, Metropolitan of India.Dharmo’s maternal grandfather is late O.T.Inasu the only Athletha of the Church of theEast in India. Akhina Mooken’s only brotherAkhil Mooken is a police officer in Toronto.Photo is on cover page 2.Assyrian Church Scholars

Participate in SyriacSymposium

By Joseph Haweil (Melbourne)www.news.assyrianchurch.com

Assyrian Church of the East scholars have par-ticipated in the 6th North American Syriac Sym-posium, convened at Duke University in USA.Held between 26-29 June in North Carolina,the symposium saw more than 75 Syriac ex-perts and scholars come together under thetheme “Syriac Encounters”.

Papers presented at the symposium examinedthe formation of communal identity, construc-tion of tradition, language contact, and religiousconversation within Syriac Christianity and be-tween Syriac Christianity and other traditions.

His Grace Mar Emmanuel Joseph, Bishop ofCanada, and the Rev’d Sister Jincy OthottilUlahannan of the Order of Marth Mariam Sis-ters, Kerala, India were participating represen-tatives of the Assyrian Church of the East.

His Grace Mar Emmanuel Joseph of Canadapresented a paper entitled Monastic Dress in aMemra attributed to John bar Penkâyç. HisGrace holds two Masters degrees in Divinityand in Near and Middle Eastern Civilizations.He is presently a doctoral candidate at the Uni-versity of Toronto.

The Rev’d Sister Jincy’s paper was entitled Li-turgical Theology of St. Mary in the East SyriacPerspective.

Sister Jincy holds Bachelor and Master of Com-merce degrees from Calicut University. She alsoholds a Master of Syriac Language and Litera-ture and a PhD in Syriac from Mahatma GandhiUniversity. Sr. Jincy is presently the Principalof the Chaldean Syrian College of the AssyrianChurch of the East in East Fort, Thrissur.

Californian CapitalRecognizes Assyrian

Martyrs DayBy Joseph Haweil (Melbourne)www.news.assyrianchurch.com

The City of Sacramento, capital of California,has passed a resolution recognising 7 Augustas Assyrian Martyrs Remembrance Day.

The resolution, officially passed on 26 July 2011,particularly noted the history of the AssyrianGenocide and its 2007 recognition by the In-ternational Association of Genocide Scholars.

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In accepting the resolution from SacramentoCity Council, His Grace Mar Awa Royel,Bishop of California, thanked the City of Sac-ramento and noted the “past sufferings, perse-cutions [and] genocide committed against theAssyrians, Christians of Mesopotamia, the in-digenous people of modern day Iraq.”“In recent history the suffering of the AssyrianChristians began at the turn of the 20th centurywhen during the First World War, the imperialOttoman government carried out a systematicgenocide of the Assyrians, the Armenians andthe Pontic Greeks,” said His Grace.“Later in 1933 the royal government of Iraqcarried out the massacre of the Assyrians atSemele, in Northern Iraq.”Concluding his remarks, the Bishop of Califor-nia discussed the present persecution ofAssyrians in the Middle East, observing, “stilltoday, the Assyrian Christians of Iraq in par-ticular and in the Middle East at large are per-secuted and driven out of their ancestral home-land.”Assyrian Martyrs Day is held worldwide on 7August annually.Shrine for Patriarchs and

BishopsA shrine for Assyrian Patriarchs and Bishopshas been erected in Montrose Cemetery, Chi-cago, Illinois (with up to 15 spaces for futureburials). This shrine is needed as Assyrianschurches and Bishops are a reality in the USA.The shrine in Chicago states that it is erected‘during the Patriarchate of His Holiness MarDinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch.’ H.H. the lateMar Eshai Shimun, Catholicos Patriarch wasburied in California in November 1975. MarNarsai De Baz, late Metropolitan of Lebanonwas buried in Chicago in February 2010.This beautiful shrine, constructed in marble wasdedicated by Dr. Norman Solhkhah andDr. Edison Ishaya on Friday 29 July 2011.Commemoration of Saint

Yosip Khnanisho inKirkukThe youth association of St George Church inKirkuk, Iraq have successfully drawn together

local youths through a three-part series of edu-cational presentations.The presentations, given over numerous weeks,covered various discussion topics, included dra-matic plays of many genres and welcomedhymns and lectures offered by church members.The third message in the series, held on the 14July, coincided with the commemoration day ofSaint Yosip Khnanisho according to the calen-dar of the Assyrian Church of the East.A comedy drama was performed, followed bya program of cultural, scientific and religiouslectures allowing constructive debates betweentwo teams.The fun-filled and educational day was describedas an opportunity to gather the youth of thechurch from the dangerous streets of the cityand into the loving and peaceful house of theLord.

Bishop Mar Odisho Oraham in Jönköpping

Parishioners of St Mary Church in Jönköpping,Sweden have welcomed His Grace Mar OdishoOraham, Bishop of Europe.On arriving, His Grace was warmly welcomedby Rev. Daniel Shimon along with many dea-cons and committee members of the parish.His Grace consecrated the Eucharistic Liturgyat St Mary Church on 31 July, the commemo-ration date of the Feast of Nosarde’l (God’sFeast), which celebrates the Assyrian nation’sconversion and subsequent baptism into Chris-tianity.At the conclusion of the offering of HolyQurbana, the parishioners fellowshipped in thechurch hall where they shared in an open break-fast in honor of His Grace’s visit.In his keynote message, His Grace updatedparishioners on the Eastern Churches meetingsin Berlin.During his visit to the southern Swedish city,His Grace visited many homes of parishionersbefore departing for the Episcopal See ofStockholm.His Grace will visit many European parishesduring an upcoming five-week sojourn.

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LOS ANGELES TODUBAI

via Chicago and New YorkMar Aprem Metropolitan

From Cochin to Los AngelesOn Monday 27th June 2011, I left Thrissur earlyin the morning and reached the international air-port in Cochin in less than one hour. Flying fromCochin I reached Dubai Airport three hourslater. Dubai’s airport is very long and it is tire-some to go to the gate of departure to boardthe Los Angeles flight. Therefore I had requestedfor the wheelchair service. Therefore, the te-dious nature of international travel is made alittle more comfortable for the old and the sick.

There were other passengers who were tryingto get into our three wheeler car. But the staffsaid, “We are paid by another company, weare helpless. We will lose our job if we showsympathy to other old passengers who are notlisted with our company.”

When we boarded the flight to Los Angeles weknew that it was going to be a long non-stopflight of over 15 hours. Upon reaching our des-tination I got the help of the wheel chair onceagain. Therefore without much waiting in thelong queue for immigration we were wheeledthrough a short cut meant for diplomatic per-sonnel as well as the ill.

When my wheel chair came out of the securityarea before all other passengers the priest ofour parish Cor-episcopa George Rasho andDeacon Walter were waiting for me. I told themI am not sick. I just took advantage of my oldage to get the services of the wheel chair. If allpassengers above 71 request the wheel chairservice it will an increased burden upon the air-lines.

Silver Jubilee of the YouthConference

The Assyrian Youth Conference was a grandsuccess. Cor-episcopa George Rasho, priestof the Los Angeles parish along with his wifeHelen and four daughters were working day andnight for the success of this big event. His el-dest daughter Christine was the local in charge.My presentation was about the modern Churchof the East in India including statistics and thepresent plans of our church with help of the twoyoung bishops Mar Yohannan Yoseph and MarAwgin Kuriakose both living in Trichur andsupervising 15 parishes each under the Arch-diocese of India. Many people asked formaland informal questions about the Church in In-dia. Some are well informed about the activi-ties through the Voice of the East bi-monthlyas well as the through the websitewww.churchoftheeastindia.org.Rev. Dr. Sr. Jincy also gave a talk encouragingvocation among young people. She had at-tended the Youth Conference in San Jose twoyears earlier also. Last year Bishop Mar AwginKuriakose attended the conference. Sujo Jos,daughter of the priest in Madras Rev. JosKonikara had attended the conference last year.

The 300 youth from our different parishes werehappy to hear about our church in India and themany activities going on. As the Catholicos Pa-triarch did not come this year owing to his busyschedule I had the privilege of celebrating HolyQurbana on July 3rd in St. Mary’s Church. Asthe renovated church is not completed yet weconsecrated the Holy Qurbana in the adjacentreception hall. Bishop Dr. Mar Awa Royel gavethe homily and Bishop Mar Aprim Khamishelped me to do the 20 minutes of bending andkneeling during the liturgy. We three bishopsgave the sacrament of Qurbana in three sec-tions.

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From the Indian Church Varghese, son ofVengassery Anthony Master came to attend theHoly Qurbana. Although there were cor-episcopas and priests and many deacons theycould not stand in the altar due to lack of space.Six deacons and one cor-episcopa and threebishops conducted the service.

Bishop Mar Aprim Khamis ordained two subdeacons, one of whom was already a Reader.Many young people come forward to be dea-cons. Both these young deacons were alreadygraduates. Most of the new deacons are edu-cated; Deacon Rauman who attended HolyQurbana in India on my 70th birthday is finish-ing his exams to become a Chartered Accoun-tant. Although we refer to this qualification asCA, Americans call it CPA.

Deacon Pathrose DDS of San Jose is a den-tist. He donated $10,000 for the Youth Con-ference (four and a half lakh rupees - nearlyhalf a million rupees). Of course dentists makea lot of money in America but a desire to do-nate is special gift from God. His wife showedher family Bible and asked me as well as BishopMar Aprim Khamis to write something in it forremembrance.

Visits to Indian HomesI was able to visit Dr. Catharyn Mani, dentistdaughter of Maney Paul as well as Dianne,daughter of Architect Chandy Francis.

In San Diego I stayed in the house of myyounger brother Addison Mooken. I baptizedDylan, son of Dr. Miki, second daughter of myeldest brother Dr. Joe Mooken on Sunday 10July in the newly consecrated Rabban HurmizdChurch in San Diego.On Wednesday July 6th I was invited to havesupper in the home of Rev. Ashur D. alKhouri,

priest of our parish in Orange County. I hadvisited Qasha’s house in Beirut in 1962 beforehe was born. His uncle, Deacon Israel Khouriwhom I later met as cor-episcopa in Australia,was my guide in 1962 in taking me to the churchin Beirut as well as the house of a leader of theAssyrian community Mr. Avraham Aziz. Rev.Ashur’s grandfather Rev. Pathrose Khoury ofTkhuma tribe was a well known person. Hecame to work in USA and died there.That is why I decided to visit his home in Beirutwhen I was retuning after my studies in Englandon a World Council of Churches scholarship.Beirut was beautiful and prosperous in 1962.But when I visited Beirut as a guest of the lateMar Narsai Metropolitan in March 1998 thesituation had changed from bad to worse. Evennow the future is not bright for Christians.I was happy to spend time with Qasha Ashurand his wife and three boys. All three boys aresoccer players. One of the boys is named Davidafter grand father; my father’s name was alsoDavid (or Devassy in Malayalam dialect). So Ifelt at home in that family. Qasha Ashur is anengineer by profession. He is an architect. Hewas serving the Church as a deacon in an hon-orary capacity. But when the priest of the St.Paul’s Parish in Orange County Rev. GabyBrakhia died suddenly the parish was without apriest. Bishop Mar Aprim Khamis who has thecharge of the three parishes in Southern Cali-fornia trained him as a priest and ordained himto the rank of a priest. Now Rev. Ashur is notonly a builder of churches and buildings, but abuilder of souls. He told me that he convertedone Gupta from India and baptized him to Chris-tianity by the name Peter.Rev. Ashur has built a good relationship withthe neighboring churches. It is interesting to notethat these ecumenical friends include BishopSerapion of the Coptic Orthodox Church. It isa historical fact that there was great enmity be-tween Cyril of Alexandra and Nestorius of

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Constantinople during the Council of Ephesusin 431 A.D.

Holy Qurbana and Baptismin San Diego

On Sunday 10 July I celebrated Holy Qurbanain the new Church in Green Valley in San Di-ego. The Church is only 3 miles from the houseof Addison in Green Valley. It is on the mainroad and a good location with plenty of spacefor the parking of cars. The cost of this churchwas $800,000. It was sold to us when a femaleAfrican-American Protestant pastor died leav-ing a congregation which her children did notwish to continue serving. Therefore, the mem-bers joined other neighboring churches.Our congregation is only 100 families. Thischurch has more than sufficient space for ourmembers. Our people are renovating it. Thereis enough room downstairs for a hall and classrooms for Sunday school.On Saturday evening I had gone to that churchand conducted evening prayer known asRamsha in our Church. In addition to the par-ish priest Rev. Yokhanna Jebba, Rev. Pathrosewas also there. Both these priests had left theChaldean Catholic Church and joined ourChurch. Rev. Pathrose told me that he was aparish priest in Vienna and other places in Eu-rope.On Monday 11 July Addison drove me to theLos Angeles Airport from his home in GreenValley, San Diego. We planned to leave at 5.30a.m. Then we decided it would be adequate toleave at 6.00 a.m. in order to reach the airportat 8.30 a.m. When we arrived at the airportwe decided to check in at the kerb. Unfortu-nately we had no seat number assigned to me.So the man who checked the baggage said hewould issue a boarding pass and I should pro-ceed to the gate to get the seat assigned onehour prior to the departure of the flight.

In order to check in the one suitcase I had topay $25. The man who does the check in atthe Kerb insisted that I should produce a creditcard or debit card. I have never had creditcards in my life. Addison used his credit card.Thus the bag was checked in. Addison advisedme to get a credit card before my next foreigntrip. Nevertheless I have a hunch that creditcards will drag one into debts.

To O’Hare in ChicagoI flew to Chicago on 11 July. Kando Makkoand Joe Jacob were waiting at the airport. “Areyou not an ilnaya ?” That question amused him.I remember that he told me some years agothat his father was the late Deacon BenjaminJacob of Flint, Michigan. Deacon BenjaminJacob was a cousin or uncle of Mar ThomaDarmo, former Metropolitan in India. The term‘ilnaye’ refers to individuals from Eyil village,which is close to the village of Mar Bhisho wherethe late Mar Abimalek Timotheus was born in1878.I stayed in the parsonage at the St. Mary Churchin Roselle, near Chicago. Last year whenBishop Mar Awgin came for the Youth Confer-ence he stayed in the same building. Since thennobody has been residing in that building.Therefore they had to repair the air conditionerupstairs.Mr. Kando Makko and his wife Emily weretaking good care of me. Mr. Kando is retiredand has time to devote for the church. Emilyhad been a house wife all along and so hadenough time for cooking. They wanted me toeat more. I told them that I would be sick if Iate more than what I was doing. My weightcould hit a dangerous 80 kg i.e. 176 lbs.It is not the stomach that decides. The brainshould give a command to the stomach to stopeating when we are in the danger zone. Re-member Proverbs 23, verse 2. No doubt daily

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exercises like a one hour brisk walk in the morn-ing will do wonders. I know it, but I do notstrictly adhere to such a routine.Rev. Khoshaba Buza, priest of this parish isstaying in his own house. Some three years agoCor-bishop Paulos and Rev. Dr. William Tomawere staying in that house. Now both of themmoved out closer to their parish churches. Cor-bishop Paulos is the Vicar of the St. GeorgeCathedral and Rev. Dr. William Toma is theVicar of St. Sargis Church which was the Ca-thedral until Catholicos Patriarch Mar EshaiShimun moved his residence from Chicago toSan Francisco around 1954.I spent one day with my sister Prabha’s sonChacko Cherian Poothicote whom we callChiku. He is an IT specialist. His wife Smithaworks for IBM. The other house I stayed inwas that of Sanil, son of my younger brotherWindsor. Sanil Mooken is an IT Manager inTech Lighting Co. in Skokie. Sanil and his wifeMariya are active members of St. John Churchin Chicago.On Saturday 16 July Juliet Kasha and her sonRamsen came to St. Mary Church and tookme to their home. I had stayed in that homewhen the late Bishop Poulose Mar Poulose andmyself went to attend the Holy Synod in 1997.On Sunday 17 July Sanil Mooken drove me toSt. George Cathedral at H.H. Mar Dinkha IVBoulevard. The parish priest Cor-BishopPaulos, Deacon Dadway and others assistedme. The Cathedral was almost full. SanthoshNadakavukaren and his wife Sumathi werethere. Both their children were baptized in thischurch. But they could not come this time asthey were spending summer vacation withgrandpa and grandma in Cochin. A new comerwas Liejeo Joy, son of Mr. I.G. Joy, Chairmanof the Board of Central Trustees in India.We had breakfast in the hall after Holy Qurbana.Cor-episcopa announced that anybody want-ing to give donation to the Indian Church couldgive it to the office and he would hand the total

amount to me. Thus they gave us $2500. Thelatter, along with the $500 which St. MariChurch, Yonkers presented me, was handedover to the Trustees for building the AssyrianConvent in Thrissur. The total cost of the firstfloor of the Assyrian Convent is 3 million Ru-pees or $69,000. If a miracle happens we cancomplete the first floor which can accommo-date eight nuns. Now we have only three nuns.

Two O’Clock and TwelveO’Clock

The Catholicos Patriarch was away visiting par-ishes in New York and New Britain when Ireached Chicago. One day after His Holinessreturned to Chicago his secretary Rev. AntwanLatchin telephoned to inform me that my ap-pointment with the Patriarch is at two o’clockand lunch. I heard twelve o’clock and Rev.Khoshaba Buza drove me from St. MaryChurch, Rosalle to Morton Grove. As there wasan accident on the way there was some delay intraffic. I prayed to God to help us to reach thePatriarchate on time. Yes! We made it 2 min-utes before twelve o’clock. We were usheredinto the sitting room.I noticed some delay there. Later I understoodthat I was expected there only at two o’clock.Then I understood that two o’clock twelveo’clock sounded very close. During our inter-view I was able to present a typed report fromthe time of the last Holy Synod in January 2010to July 2011 to the Catholicos Patriarch. HisHoliness blessed the plaque to be fixed on thebuilding of Assyrian Convent for the MartMariam Sisters which is being built in Thrissur,India. I also submitted the reports of the twoEpiscopas under me, namely Mar YohannanYoseph and Mar Awgin Kuriakose.His Holiness was happy to hear about the con-struction of the Mar Timotheus Metropolitan IIArcade which is a commercial complex. Therent from this building will be used entirely to

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help old men in our Church who will need fi-nancial assistance for their living. This land wasdonated by the late C.J. Mathunny Masterwhose only son Jose had died young. I alsoreported about the progress we are making inthe Seminary 10 kms from Thrissur in the 52acre land donated by late Athletha O.T. Inasu.There is a Rubber Estate which will give in-come after two years.

O’Hare to JFK Airport inNew York

On 20 July I went to New York and was re-ceived by John Thermadam at JFK airport. Istayed in his home which I had blessed in myprevious trip a year earlier.John Thermadam’s father is the first cousin oflate Mar Timotheus Metropolitan II who diedon 6 August 2001. The next day we went to anIndian restaurant run by Samuel Pananchery. Ihad a good Indian meal in his restaurant.On Friday I had breakfast in the house of Rev.George Sulaiman, our priest in Yonkers. Re-cently he had attained a master’s degree in pas-toral work. He is doing excellent work in thatparish. He is keeping good contact with the fam-ily of Geevarghese Emmatty and SamuelPananchery who are more frequent in attend-ing this parish. Mr. Ivan Mirza is always en-couraging Indian members to come and attendthe Assyrian service.On Sunday July 24 I baptized Alyssa, daugh-ter of Miki, son of Geevarghese Emmatty ofNew Jersey after celebrating the Holy Qurbanain St. Mari Church in Yonkers, New York. Ihad done several baptisms for that family in NewDelhi and New York.I also had to baptize the twins (a boy and agirl) of Timmy Mooken whose grandfather wasThimothy Mooken, brother of M.O.Thomakutty, a famous leader of the AssyrianChurch in India when I was a youngster. I re-

member when I first met the present CatholicosPatriarch in 1967 in Yonkers, New York (whenthe Patriarch was an Episcopa and I was a priest,both 44 years older now) he asked me “How isMooken Thomakutty?”On Saturday before baptism I had moved to thehouse of Jiju, niece of Geevarghese Emmatty. Itwas the first birthday of her second child. Thecelebration was in the Orthodox Church. Jiju’shusband Rajan Cheeran is an advocate. Rajan’smother Elisa is the first cousin of Rev. TimothyPananchery who was 95 years old when he died,creating a record for the longevity for our clergyin India. The record for longevity in our univer-sal church is that of the grandfather of our presentCatholicos Patriarch, Rev. Benyamin who livedup to 105.

Eighth Visit to UAE ParishOn Wednesday 27 July I reached Dubai Airport.I had celebrated Holy Qurbana in Dubai in April2005 inaugurating the UAE Mart Mariam Par-ish. It was in the Mar Thoma Church in JabalAli. Later we rented a chapel in St. Martin’sAnglican Church in Sharjah in Yarmook areawhere many other churches are situated. Afterthe first Holy Qurbana I visited the parish on sixother occasions. This therefore was the eight timeI was visiting UAE to conduct Holy Qurbana.The previous visit was in March 2010.The first baptism organized in Sharjah Parish wason 13 June 2008 along with my birthday cel-ebration. Hanna Maria (Tressia) was baptizedat Mart Mariam UAE Parish (daughter of Leansand Bindu Chakola) by Rev. Simon Emmattyand Rev. Victor Kollannur. That was the timewhen Deacon Sachin Timothy joined the parishof UAE as assistant Vicar and continues in thatcapacity, although he was promoted as full priestin India in January 2009.One and a half years later, a second baptismtook place in January 2010 when CatholicosPatriarch Mar Dinkha IV came to UAE parishwhile returning from India after consecrating two

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Indian bishops. This baby was that of PaulVarghese Chakola and Jiji.On Friday 29 July I celebrated Holy Qurbanain Emirates National School; the same place asmy previous visits. Our rented chapel in St.Martin’s Church where we conduct HolyQurbana every Friday can accommodate only75 people.We conducted baptism before the HolyQurbana. Not only Indians but Assyrians alsocame to attend the services. I was happy tosee Aprim Shapira, Zia George and his wife,Mr. Ward Zaia, Advocate Carman andCarman’s mother could not come as she wassick. Mr Sada and others were also there. Mr.Francis from Baghdad was a new comer.About 160 people were there. We had a meet-ing to celebrate my 70th birthday as this wasmy first visit since turning 70. I told them that Ihad celebrated even 71 years of life last June.Being a diabetic patient I do not like to eat cake.But why should I stop others from eating cakeon my behalf? In Dubai I stayed in the house of Paul Chakolalike last time. His wife Jiji, daughter Diya andson Wardu enjoyed my company. Diya, onlyeleven year old, taught me something aboutFacebook on the computer. For her 11th birth-day a few days later she wrote her wish onFacebook: ‘I want to be a millionaire!’ Shedesigned the cover page of Forbes Magazineand pasted her picture on it. There is no limit toour dreams.

NEWSThree Episcopas in Mar Thoma

ChurchThree new bishops were consecrated inTiruvalla, Kerala on Saturday August 13 by Dr.Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, head of theone million strong Mar Thoma Syrian Church,raising the number of prelates to 13.

His Beatitude Mar GeorgeAlenchery

H.B. Mar George Alenchery was elected bythe Holy Synod of the Syro-Malabar Churchand was consecrated as the Major Archbishopof the Syro-Malabar Church which has 3.6million members. H.B. is also the Metropolitanof Ernakulam and Ankamaly. He is successorto late Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil.

Assisi Day of Prayer, 2011His Holiness Pope Benedict has invited HisHoliness Mar Dinkha IV to attend the AssisiDay of Prayer in Italy on October 27 and 28.As His Holiness is busy with the Apostolic So-journ to Australia in September and October,His Holiness deputed Mar Aprem Metropoli-tan, Bishop Mar Awa Royal and Rev. Dr. Wil-liam Toma to represent the Assyrian Church ofthe East. The same delegation will be in Romeattending the International Congress on the Lit-urgy of the Apostles Mar Addai and Mar Mari.

Demise of the Mother of Mar Meelis Metropolitan

The Voice of the East offers condolence toHis Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM, Metro-politan of Australia, New Zealand and Leba-non on the demise of his mother Maryam Zaiain August 2011 in California. The late MarAbimalek Timotheus of Mar Bhisho, Metro-politan of India was her uncle. Praying for therepose of her soul and comfort for the bereavedfamily.

St. Hurmizd Assyrian Primary School

Twin students of St Hurmizd Assyrian PrimarySchool, Marel and Marlena Oraha, have pub-lished their first book.The book, entitled My Best Friend’s Enemyis a Ghost, was originally drafted by the 11-year-old twins simply for amusement.“I just wanted to write a book because we’reusually bored at home, and we don’t haveFacebook like a lot of our friends, so we juststarted writing it and found that we enjoyed it,”said Marel.

CondolenceOur Condolences to the Badal, David andYacoub Families who lost their children in Ver-nal Fall, Yosemite National Park, California inJuly 2011.

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