Indian Orthodox Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios Passes Away

(Paul Ciniraj)
London, SVM News, 23 February, 2008: Canada, UK and Europe Bishop of the Indian Orthodox Church Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios (82) died on February 23 at 11 am (Indian Time 4.30 pm) at New Castle General Hospital in London.
He was held in a serios road traffic accident on January 5 on his way to New Castle airport and was admitted in Newcastle General Hospital with critical condition.
Bishop Makarios was one of the senior bishops of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church, residing at Episcopal Diocesan House in Buffalo in New York, USA.
The immediate arrangements are being processed to bring Bishop's dead body to India. Dr. Geeverghese Mar Coorilos, the bishop of Bombay Diocese will be arriving in New Castle to make necessary arrangements.

The funeral will be held at the specially constructed enclosure at Catholicate palace, Devalokam, Kottayam. The funeral services will be led by Catholicose Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, Catholicose designate Paulose Mar Milithios and other bishops.The funeral is expected to be delayed by a few days on account of the long procedures for autopsy of the body as per British law. Since the bishop is a US citizen and the funeral is planned in India, complicated rules also will be attendant to it.

Bishop Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios was born on May 26, 1926, the son of Mr.Chacko and Mrs. Mariamma Kuttikandathil in Kerala. He entered into the priesthood as a deacon in February 23, 1951 and ordained as a priest in 1952 by His Holiness Catholicos GeeVarghese Baselios II.

His death came on February 23, exactly at his 57th year of priesthood. Also it was 74th memorial day of St. Geeverghese Dionysius of Vattasseril.

Thomas Mar Makarios was the first vicar of the Orthodox Church in New Delhi after his ordination.

Then he studied in various religious institutions in England, Germany, Switzerland and France. He has been in the U.S since 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Nashota House in Wisconsin, a Master's of Sacred Theology from Virginia Theological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Theology from Union Theological Seminary in Richmond.

He returned back to India and worked as a professor of Church History at Orthodox Theological Seminary in India. Mar Makarios was consecrated as a Metropolitan by His Holiness Catholicos Ougen I in 1975. And he was appointed as the first metropolitan of Diocese of Bombay. Four years he served as bishop of Bombay.

In 1979 Mar Makarios was transferred as the metropolitan of the Diocese of America of the Indian Orthodox Church. Since 1985, he has been teaching religion at Alma College in Michigan. Although he is busy year around as senior metropolitan of his church in western hemisphere, he sets aside the time to come to Alma College.

He believes that he can help give students a deeper insight into the 'mysterious' insight of the Eastern Church. Inrecognition of Makarios' achievements and contributions to church and society, the college awarded him the degree of Doctor of Divinity Honorees Causa in 1990.

The American diocese was devided in 1992 as two dioceses by name Diocese of America and Diocese of Canada, UK and Europe. Since then he was ruling the diocese of Canada, UK and Europe as its bishop.

The family of Thomas Mar Makarios is noted for submitting themselves at the service of God through the Indian Orthodox Church. Rev K C Mathew Cor Episcopa is one of his brothers. Another brother, Lazarus Ramban is a monk. Sister Mary, one of his sisters is a nun.

Director and staff of the Salem Voice Ministries conveyed their condolences for the demise of Bishop Thomas Mar Makarios. Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) also conveyed deep condolences.

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews295.html

Christian Preacher Dr. D.G.S. Dinakaran passes away

Chennai (India), SVM News, February 20, 2008: Popular Evangelist Dr. D.G.S Dinakaran died in Chennai at the age of 72, after a struggle with heart and kidney ailments.

He was admitted to Appollo Hospital in Chennai on January 29. The end came at 0630 hrs on Wednesday, the 20th of February. Family members were at his bedside when he breathed his last. His body was taken to his residence at Jesus Calls for public homage.

Dr.Dinakaran is the founder of the Jesus Calls Ministry.

He was Born on July 1, 1935, he had a very tough life being torn by the ailments of poverty and agony of unemployment. Unable to bear these problems, he decided to put an end to his life at his 20 years of age. On his way to throw himself in front of a speeding train, he was stopped by his uncle who introduced him to Jesus Christ. He said an immediate peace overwhelmed him, and he went home with hope and a new purpose for his life.

Then he worked at a bank and ended up becoming a top executive for the company. Yet he had a heart for ministry that compelled him to start the Jesus Calls ministry.

Later, he had a vision of the Lord Jesus appearing to him, asking him to train lay people like himself to reach the people of his nation and other parts of Asia with the good news of the Gospel through radio and television ministries. He also started other ministries related to Jesus Calls ministry, wrote books, and influenced many people in all walks of life for God.

He is also the founder of Karunya Institute of Technology in Coimbatore.

He is survived by his wife Stella Dinakaran and son Paul Dinakaran who is also a well known Christian preacher in Chennai.

Rev. Paul Ciniraj, President of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of Salem Voice Ministries conveyed heartfelt condolences to the bereaved wife and family members

SVM News (with picture): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews294.html

Christian monastery and church vandalized in India; Priest and three inmates brutaly beaten

Narsingpur (Madhya Pradesh, India), SVM News, February 16, 2008: Sacchidananda Christian Ashram (Monastery), and Church were vandalized, and the priest, who is the head of the Ashram and three inmates were brutally beaten by a mob of radical hindus at Narsingpur in Madhya Pradesh in India on February 14, the valantine's day.

The priest and the head of the Ashram Rev. Father Anto Mundanmony and the inmates were immediately admitted at Jabalpur Hospital.

Rev. Father Verghese, an Ashram member told to Rev. Paul Ciniraj, Director of Salem Voice Ministries and SVM News Service that on thursday night, a mob of 50 activists of Vishwa Hindu Parishad (VHP), Akhil Bharatiya Vidyarti Parishad (ABVP), and Bajrang Dal demolished the door of 62 year old nun's cottage and tried to attack her. At this time, the priest Father Anto and other inmates rushed to rescue her; but the attackers brutally beaten them and Father Anto and Richard Danial were thrown out on the floor.

"Few days ago, we requested the police for protection. So they appointed two constables and they were present on the scene, but just helpless onlookers. They did not even call for additional police force to prevent the attack", Pastor Verghese said.

Sacchidananda Ashram was entrusted in 1986 . Its activities are Dialogue with different traditions and cultures, Inculturation of lifestyle and worship models, Promotion of Indian Christian Spirituality and Theology, Healing ministry through prayer, Counselling, Herbal medicine, Acupressure treatment and Yoga Therapy, Yoga Sadhana, Silence and contemplation for expansion of awareness, wholeness and harmony. Courses on Indian Christian Spirituality, Yoga for holistic life, Yoga for physical and mental health. But the attackers accuse that the ashram involves converting people to Christianity.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards Narsingpur Sacchidanda Ashram and its inmates.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews293.html