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

Foreign Women Molested in Kerala on New Year Night

Cochin (Kerala, India), SVM News, January 01, 2008: Foreign female tourists were molested on New Year night in Cochin in Kerala, India.

New Year festivities turned into a nightmarish experience at the Fort Kochi beach as some revellers allegedly harassed and molested some of the female tourists. When a few resisted the youth for their unruly behaviour, the miscreants beat them up.

A huge Santa Clause image was also burnt at the beach on the same night.

Police said that some of the youngsters allegedly misbehaved with the teenaged daughter of a Swedish tourist, Christon, who had come all the way to Cochin to celebrate New Year with his family.

Another foreign woman was also allegedly molested, police authorities said to the Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service.

Many of the tourists made a hurried exit from the beach after virtually being driven to tears by the revellers. "It was a real New Year 'bash'. Some of us were really running for our life. It is really sad," a woman tourist shared her bitter experience.

"We had a terrible experience when my daughter was grabbed by some men. This is really bad. We respect Indian women and expect the same from Indian men towards our ladies too," said an angry Christon. "Such behaviour would only harm the state's interests," he added.

A big posse of police personnel posted at the venue was of little help as they failed to control the miscreants.

Manoj Abraham, Cochin City Police Commissioner said, "Though the tourists have not lodged any complaint, police however, has registered a suo motu case".

An young man below 18 years old has been arrested in connection with the incident. And also the government has asked the police to keep a strict vigil at tourist destinations.

Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches of India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries condemned the attack towards foreign tourists.

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews291.html

House Church of Salem Voice Ministries Demolished by Muslim Extremists

Malabar (India), SVM News, December 30, 2007: Underground house church of Salem Voice Ministries demolished by Muslim extremists at Sunnam Potty in Malabar on December 29.

A mob of 10 to 15 people came by cars and vans with spade, pick axe, iron bar and other tools and weapons and totally demolished the church on Saturday night. Suspecting the attackers were the activists of the Students Islamic Movement of India (SIMI).

Around 50 people were attending in that church every week for worshipping service since last few months. The majority were individual muslim youngsters from various families.

There was a baptism service held on Saturday early morning. Eight youngsters and three couples were baptised. Though it was a secret service, the news somehow leaked out. That might have provoked the extremists to demolish the church.

The church building was leased from a believers family without any rent. That family is living in a distant place. They were threatening by unknown people since last few days for giving this house for prayer and worship.

Pastor Mildad and family are ministering in this area. They face death threat.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, Director of the Salem Voice Ministries visited the demolished church. He condemned the incident and requesting prayers for the pastor and family, house owner and family and the believers.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews290.html

Christians torturing in Orissa; State Minister resigns

Bhubaneswar (Orissa), SVM News, December 28, 2007: At least 55 Churches at G Udaygiri, Nuagaon, Brahmanigaon and Phulbani Sadar were attacked and a Congress MP Radha Kant Nayak's house was ransacked in Dasingbadi in violence on the fifth day in the rural tribal dominated areas of Orissa.

Eight people killed in the communal violence was sparked off on Monday, the 24th of December when mobs led by Vishwa Hindu Parishad activists set ablaze Churches, Convents and some houses belonging to Christians. Hundreds of members of the community were hiding in forest to save their life from the attackers.

Orissa Government has ordered a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. Retired High Court judge Basudev Panigrahi will conduct the inquiry.

The All-India Christian Council criticised the government decision for a judicial inquiry into the violence in Kandhamal. John Dayal, the general secretary of the Christian Council demanded that a Central Bureau of Investigation probe be ordered into the attacks on the Christians.

Raphael Cheenath, the Archbishop of Bhubaneswar-Cuttack said that the judicial inquiry will not lead to giving justice to the victims.

Paul Ciniraj, president of the Christiam Ministers of the Churches in India said, "All and real attackers can be held through the CBI inquiry".

Meanwhile, the State Steel and Mines Minister Padmanabha Behera, a Dalit hailing from the violence-hit Kandhamal district, resigned from his post on moral grounds in the wake of the communal violence for the fifth day on Friday.

Behera, a former member of the Lok Sabha told that he submitted his resignation to Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik, as he was pained over the continuing violence in the area.

The Kui speaking tribal people who had been agitating in Kandhamal had demanded Behera's resignation. The tribals were opposing the demand of the Dalit Christians of the district for grant of Schedule Tribe status.

The State government also transferred District Collector of Kandhamal Bhagirathi Mohapatra and appointed District Collector of Malkangiri Manish Kumar Verma in his place with immediate effect.

Mohapatra was directed to join the General Administration Department in Bhubaneswar for further posting.

The government appointed Nitin Bhanudas Jawle, Additional District Magistrate of Rourkela, as District Magistrate of Malkangiri on place of Verma.

The State government had come under severe criticism from various quarters for its failure to contain violence in Kandhamal where the agitation of the Kui tribals had been virtually hijacked by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad following an alleged attack on their leader Swami Lakshmanananda on December 24.

As the tribals observed a 36-hour bandh starting from Christmas morning, taking benefit of the situation the VHP supporters burnt down a number of churches and lit up homes of the members of the Christian community in many areas.

The administration had imposed curfew in four towns of the district on the evening of December 25. The curfew continues to remain in force.

SVM News (with pictures): http://salemvoice.org/svmnews289.html

Two Christians Killed And 12 Churches Burned in Orissa, India

Kandhamal (Orissa), SVM News, December 26, 2007: Two christians killed and at least 12 churches and several christian institutions, Christian houses and shops were burned by Hindu fundamentalists and hundreds injured on Christmas night in Kandhamal District of Orissa State in India.

Narsingh Bol, a police official told to Salem Voice Ministries (SVM) News Service that the protesters backed by the Vishwa Hindu Parishad (World Hindu Council) set fire to eight churches and ransacked another four. Reports say one Christian was killed in Barakhamba village and others were fleeing from villages to the jungle.

At least a dozen of vehicles including two police vehicles were also set on fire. Besides, the protestors attacked house of the elder brother of the state steel and mines minister Padmanav Behera and torched one of his vehicles

Police imposed a curfew in four towns of tribal-dominated Kandhamal district, where most of the incidents were reported.

The violence began on December 24, when about 500 men attacked a tent displaying the nativity scene that Christians of various denominations jointly put up in a small town called Bamunigam.

Nine Baptist and Pentecostal Churches and three Catholic Churches were attacked.

In Balliguda block of Phulbani district, five churches were damaged including a Baptist church, Catholic church, Pentecostal church, and a Catholic sisters' convent. Church furniture, the sound systems, and the tents were burnt. An English medium school was attacked and the computer training center was vandalised. A Christmas celebration was stopped during the worship service of Baptist church.

In Nuagam Block of the same district, a church in Kdupakia village, another church in Sirtiguda, Gosukia and Jangungia villages were assaulted and furniture and church properties were destroyed and a cross was broken down.

In Chakapad Block, of Phulbani district, a church was torched while Christians were having a Christmas feast. The food was destroyed and several were almost killed.

In Phringia Block, of Phulbani district, a Catholic church was destroyed by a bomb planted by fundamentalist. Pastor Junas Digal was tonsured and brought to temple and forced to bow down to the deity.

In Raikia of Phulbani district, shops belonging to Christians were reportedly destroyed. The Hindutva fanatics were marching in a procession and holding weapons. The Christians were ordered to stay inside their homes.

In Phulbani headquarters, a Baptist church and a Catholic church were not allowed to conduct Christmas celebrations. An orphanage run by a Catholic priest was attacked and three vehicles were torched.

Carmel Convent School in Phulbani town was attacked and the school buses and vehicles were broken and torched. A delegation of Christian leaders from Phulbani met the District Collector to insist on safety measures for the Christian minority.

Authorities say the church violence came after a Hindu leader called Swami Laxmananand Saraswati, who has campaigned against what he calls the "forced" conversion of low-caste Hindus to Christianity, was attacked on Christmas eve.

Christian missionaries have long found willing converts among India's neglected tribal communities or "untouchable" Hindus -- known as Dalits -- who still face massive discrimination.

In Kandhamal, the majority of Christian converts are Dalits.

Over the past decade in Orissa, Christian houses and churches have been set on fire, tribal Christians have been harassed and boycotted, and pastors and other Christians have been killed.

A Hindu man Dhara Singh is serving a life sentence for burning alive an Australian Christian missionary Graham Staines and his two sons as well as a Catholic priest in Orissa in 1999.

Graham Staines, who had worked for three decades with lepers, and sons aged eight and 10 died when a Hindu mob torched a jeep in which they were sleeping.

Sectarian clashes break out periodically in the billion-plus country of multiple faiths, where approximately 2.3 percent are practising Christians.

As the communal fire in Orissa continues to spread, senior Christian leaders met the Prime Minister and requested him to intervene to curb the attacks on the minority community by mainly the fundamentalist Hindu groups in the state.

Pastor Paul Ciniraj, the president of the Christian Ministers of the Churches in India (CMCI) and the Director of the Salem Voice Ministries rged the central and state government authorities to protect the lives and properties of Christians, Dalits and other minority communities in Orissa

SVM News: http://salemvoice.org/svmnews288.html