Malankara Orthodox hierarch hosts Met. Tikhon

(Malankara-NAD) - His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan hosted a luncheon in honor of the newly enthroned Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon at the Diocesan Chancery in Muttontown, New York.

Other honored guests in attendance included His Eminence, Archbishop Oshagan Choloyan, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Grace, Bishop Anoushavan Tanielian, Vicar, Eastern Prelacy of the Armenian Apostolic Church of America; His Grace, Bishop David, General Bishop and Patriarchal Exarch, Coptic Archdiocese of North America, His Grace, Bishop Mark of Baltimore,Orthodox Church in America; Archpriest Leonid Kishkovky, OCA Director of External Affairs and Interchurch Relations; and Archpriests John Behr and Chad Hatfield, Dean and Chancellor of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY.

During the luncheon guests discussed the problems facing Christians all around the world. The persecution of Coptic Christians in Egypt and the recent events in Middle East were brought up as concern. The group together decried the fundamentalist and militant religious forces in the world.

His Grace Mar Nicholovos spoke briefly acknowledging the love and care that the Indian Orthodox community in North America has received from the Orthodox Church in America. Mar Nicholovos wished His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, a fruitful ministry as the new Primate of the Orthodox Church in America. His Grace also conveyed deep gratitude to His Beatitude and the Seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America, for their service in training the priests of the Diocese.

His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon expressed his gratitude to Mar Nicholovos for the wishes and congratulated Mar Nicholovos on the second anniversary being enthroned as Metropolitan of Northeast American Diocese. His Beatitude also stated that it is important for the Christians in America to be aware of the problems that Christians face globally. His Grace Bishop Davi of the Coptic Orthodox Church called the luncheon an “agape meal” modeled on the love of the early Church and thanked Mar Nicholovos for the solidarity of the Indian Orthodox community with the present trials of the Coptic Church in Egypt. Bishop David also shared his belief that such meals express the common desire for greater unity among Orthodox communions.

Rev. Fr. M. K. Kuriakose, Diocesan Secretary, Rev. Fr. Paulose T. Peter, Director for Ecumenical Relations, and Rev. Fr. Sujit T. Thomas, Director of FOCUS & Family & Youth Conference Coordinator were also in attendance.

The guests offered their prayers and greetings to His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, on the second anniversary of the enthronement of His Grace as Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese.