T’puram: The 73rd memorial feast of Venerable Archbishop Mar Ivanios, the architect of Malankara Reunion Movement, the first Metropolitan Archbishop of Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram and the founder of the Bethany Congregation, will be observed from July 1 to 15 at St Mary’s Major Archiepiscopal Cathedral, Pattom, where his tomb is located. The concluding memorial celebrations on July 15 will be attended by Cardinal Anthony Poola, president of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) and Archbishop of Hyderabad, as the chief guest. The solemn Holy Qurbana at 8am will be celebrated by major Archbishop-Catholicos Cardinal Baselios Cleemis, head of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Cardinal Poola will deliver the memorial message, followed by incense prayers at the tomb and the traditional memorial feast. The celebrations will commence on Wednesay with Holy Qurbana led by Bishop Yohanon Mar Alexios, Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy of Thiruvananthapuram. During the following days, liturgical services will be led by Bishop Antony Mar Silvanos, along with several vicars general and senior clergy from dioceses of Parassala, Mavelikara, Thiruvananthapuram, Muvattupuzha, Delhi-Gurugram, Tiruvalla and Puthur, as well as leaders of the Bethany Ashram and the Malankara Major Seminary. Special liturgical celebrations will also be held in different rites and languages. On July 4, Holy Mass in the Latin Rite will be celebrated by bishop Antony Valunkal, auxiliary bishop of the Archdiocese of Verapoly. On July 9, a Tamil-language Holy Qurbana will be offered by Very Rev. Jose Bright, Vicar General of the Diocese of Marthandam. On July 10, Bishop Dr. George Rajendran of the Diocese of Thuckalay will celebrate the Syro-Malabar Rite Holy Mass.
