Year 2011

2011 was a year of joy and hope in the Eastern Churches with these new leaders:

- Patriarch Sviatoslav Shevchuk (UGCC)

- Major Archbishop Mar George Alencherry (Syro-Malabar Catholic Church)

- Patriarch Bechara Al Rahi (Maronite)

Let us pray for good health, for strength, and for the inspiration for them that they may fulfill their duties in the office as leaders of the Ukrainian, Syro-Malabar and Maronite Churches who are in communion with the Pope of Rome.

Let us pray for the Churches around the world that they may fulfill in their mission to spread the Good News to those who didn't hear it and strength to face challenges inside and outside the Church.

2011 for me is a year mixed with joys and sadness, a colorful year for the Catholics around the world. Let us pray that the year 2012 will be a year of getting started with plans, strategies and projects for the good of the Church and the people around the world.

Through the prayers of the Theotokos, O Savior save us!

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Enthronement of the new Syro Malabar Catholic Major Archbishop His Beatitude George Alencherry

May 29, 2011 when His Beatitude George Alencherry was Enthroned Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church. and it was presided by Most. Rev. Bosco Puthur, Auxiliary Eparch of the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly, and the Apostolic Administrator of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church. Note that this is the first time the Syro Malabar Catholic Hierarchs elect a Major Archbishop since it has been granted full Administrative powers by the Vatican in 2004, since its first Major Archbishops, Cardinal Mar Anthony Padiyara and Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil are appointed by the Pope. The Syro Malabar Catholic Church is the second largest Sui Iuris Eastern Catholic Church, with more than 4 Million faithful and the first is the Ukrainian Greek Catholic, with 6 Million faithful


Here are some Photos taken at the Enthronement Ceremony

Some pictures are located at this Site of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church dedicated on his Election, Confirmation by the Pope and Enthronement as Syro Malabar Catholic Major Archbishop

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CURRENT EASTERN CATHOLIC MAJOR ARCHBISHOPS

HIS BEATITUDE GEORGE ALENCHERRY, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF ERNAKULAM-ANGAMALY OF THE SYRO-MALABAR CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE SVIATOSLAV SHEVCHUK, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF KYIV-HALYCH OF THE UKRAINIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE LUCIAN MURESAN, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP OF FAGARAS SI ALBA IULIA OF THE ROMANIAN GREEK CATHOLIC CHURCH

HIS BEATITUDE CATHOLICOS MORAN MOR BASELIOS CLEEMIS THOTTUNKAL, MAJOR ARCHBISHOP CATHOLICOS OF TRIVANDRUM OF THE SYRO-MALANKARA CATHOLIC CHURCH

"In the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop is a title for an hierarch to whose archiepiscopal see is granted the same jurisdiction in his autonomous (sui iuris) particular Church that an Eastern Patriarch has in his. The title is used archbishop of episcopal sees that were founded more recently than the patriarchal sees and are therefore less prestigious. Consequently, there are differences between the two offices. Major archbishops rank immediately below patriarchs in the order of precedence of the Catholic Church. Like patriarchs, major archbishops are elected by the synod of the sui iuris Church, but their election requires confirmation by the Pope, not mere notification and granting of communion required of patriarch" 

And 2 of the Largest Major Archeparchy are petitioning to the Holy See on their Elevation as Patriarchate, and until now they are not considered due to some "Ecumenical" situations, though the Ukrainian Greek Catholics named their Major Archeparch Patriarch and the way they addressed him.

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THE EASTERN CHURCHES CONFIRMATION OF THE ELECTION OF ARCHBISHOP Major of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-MALABAR (INDIA)

The Holy Father has granted the confirmation may be required in accordance with canon 153 of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches by Bishop George Alencherry, Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Thuckalay, May 24, 2011 which was canonically elected Major Archbishop of Ernakulam - Angamaly of the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church, which met at Mount Saint Thomas , Kakkanad, Kochi (Kerala, India).

Archbishop George Alencherry

Archbishop George Alencherry was born April 19, 1945 at Thuruthy, nell'Arcieparchia of Changanacherry.

He was ordained a priest November 19, 1972. E 'was secretary of the Archbishop of Changanacherry, assistant pastor of the Cathedral, Director of the " Sunday Schools "dell'Arcieparchia.

He studied at the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Seminary St. Joseph Alwaye and earned a doctorate at the ' Institut Catholique de Paris , where he specialized in Catechesis.

On his return from Paris, he was appointed director of the Center for Catechetical dell'Arcieparchia Changanacherry. She also directed the " Pastoral Orientation Centre, Cochin , inter-ritual, which depends of the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Conference (KCBC).

E 'teaching " Pastoral Counseling "and Systematic Theology at the Faculty of" Paurastya Vidyapitham, Pontifical Oriental Institute of Religious Studies "in Vadavathoor, Kottayam, and at the Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy in Alwaye. E 'was Vicar General of Changanacherry dell'arcieparchia 11 November 1996 he was appointed first Bishop of Thuckalay and was ordained Feb. 2, 1997.

On May 24, 2011 he was elected Major Archbishop. The Holy Father Benedict XVI has confirmed the election Synodal Apostolic May 25, 2011.

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