The 28th Anniversary of Patriarchal Enthronement - Photographs

The 28th Anniversary of Patriarchal Enthronement

14 September 2008

The 28th anniversary of Patriarchal enthronement of His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East, Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church was held at Damascus, Syria on 14 September 2008.The thanksgiving Holy Qurbono and other services were held at the St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral in the Mor Ephrem Monastery, Ma`arat Sayyidnaya, near Damascus. Mor Severios Malke Mourad (Patriarchal-Vicar for Jerusalem & Jordan) and Mor Julius Abdulahad G Shabo (Archbishop of Sweden)were the chief celebrants and
Mor Severios Jamil Hawa (Baghdad, Iraq) Mor Timotheos Mousa Al Shamani (Bartellah, Ninawa, Iraq) Mor Gregorios Saliba Shamoun (Mosul, Iraq) Mor Severius Ishak Zaka (Mosul, Iraq) Mor Athanasius Aphrem Barsaum (Museitbeh, Beirut) Mor Theophilos George (Bouchrieh Fardous St., Lebanon) Mor Philexinos Matta Shamoun (Atshaneh, Bikfaya, Lebanon) Mor Yusphinos Paulose (Zahle, Lebanon) Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis (Damascus, Syria) Mor Dionysius Behnan Jajawi (Damascus, Syria) Mor Clemis Daniel Malak Kourieh (Damascus, Syria) Mor Osthatheos Matta Rohum (Hassakeh, Syria) Mor Selwanos Petros AL-nemeh (Homs, Syria) Mor Timotheos Samuel Aktas (Midyat-Mardin,S.E. Turkey) Mor Filuksinos Yusuf Çetyn (Beyoglu,Istanbul, Turkey) Mor Philoxenos Saliba Özmen (Mardin,S.E. Turkey) Mor Gregorios Malke Ürek (TR - Adiyaman - Turkey) Mor Nicholovos Matti Abd Alahad (La Plata, Argentina) Mor Clemis E. Kaplan (Western - United States of America) Mor Athanasius Elia Bahe (Canada) Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi(Former Patriarchal Vicar for Canada) Mor Dionysius Geevarghese (Simhasana Churches of Kottayam & Environs, India) Mor Militheos Yuhanon (Thumpamon - India) Mor Polycarpus Eugene Aydin (Netherlands) Mor Dionysius Isa Gürbüz (Switzerlands & Austria) Mor Severios Hazail Soumi ( Belgium and France) Mor Julius Hanna Aydin (Northern Germany) Mor Athanasius Touma Dakkama (Great Britain) Mor Militius Malke Lahdo (Australia & New Zealand) were the co-celebrants of the Holy Qurbono.
Moran reserved his time exclusively for meeting of priests and believers a group of 90 who came from India to attend the celebrations. Guests took part in the banquet hosted by Moran in one of the big hotels in Ma`arat Saydnaya. From 19.00 hrs onwards the concert by the different choirs of the Syrian Orthodox parishes all over the world reasserted the beauty of our church music.

How did the apostles worship?

How did the apostles worship?

For the longest time, I thought our worship was something we acquired over the centuries, invented by the church as it went along. "Surely," I thought, "The apostles and the early church worshiped spontaneously, with random clapping, shuddering, speaking in tongues, etc."

But then, I stumbled on Liturgica.com . Thanks to this amazing website, and some Coptic videos on youtube, I discovered that I couldn't have been more wrong about worship in the Early Church.
It turns out the apostles worshiped much the same way as we Orthodox do today. There was a clear-cut order and structure to their prayers and hymns.

I decided to test what I read online against scripture, to see if could find a biblical foundation for Liturgical Worship. Here's what I discovered:

I. The Old Testament.
- The Lord clearly dictates to the Israelites how they should go about worshiping him. Sacrificial
rituals and the priestly office are described in great detail. (Exodus Ch.26-28, Leviticus
Ch.16). The writer of Hebrews mentions that all the liturgical rituals and artifacts mentioned in
the Old Testament are a "copy and shadow of what is in heaven." (Hebrews 8:5) It would
seem that the Lord wanted the Israelites to have something as close to Heavenly worship as
possible.

- The Prophet Isaiah Describes a vision that he saw in the Temple (Isaiah Ch. 6.) In it, he
sees heaven opened up, and the angels worshiping God. The "Holy, Holy, Holy.." chant of
the angels is mentioned, and it's interesting to see that "the temple was filled with smoke." At
one point, probably the most important part of the vision, an Angel flies down "with a live coal
in his hand, which he had taken with tongs from the altar." The coal was placed in Isaiah's
mouth, for the remission of his sins.

Sound Familiar? Let's go on to the New Testament.

II. The New Testament.
- Christ explicitly states that he has not come to do away with the law and the teachings of the
prophets, "but to fulfill them"(Mathew 5:17.) The Gospels show that the Lord reguarly took
part in Jewish worship by attending Feasts in the Temple (John 7:14, 12:12), and regulary
visiting and preaching in the synagogues (Mathew 4:23, 9:35.)

-The Apostles continued to worship as Jews even after the ascension of Christ. In the Book of
Acts, we see the Apostles Peter and John going up to the temple for the ninth hour of prayer
(Acts 3:1.) At many times church leaders are shown praying at "liturgical hours"(Acts 10:2-3,
9.) On top of that, it seems that the New Testament church observed some sort of church
calendar, since St.Paul seems determined at one point to be in Jerusalem for the feast of
Pentecost (Acts 18:21, 20:16.)

-The book of Revelations is a liturgical goldmine, especially the eighth chapter. We see an Altar
(verse 3,) Angels serving and offering incense with a censer (verse 3) In Chapter six, we see
the communion of the departed (verses 9-11.) Ch.5:11 shows us the liturgical
nature of heavenly prayer.

Imagine my amazement! Suddenly, it became quite clear why the church continued to practice this ancient form of worship for millenia. If it's good enough for the apostles, it's good enough for me! :)

source: http://predenominational.blogspot.com/

Greek Orthodox venturing into iner cities

Lost in America. Greek Orthodox Christians doing what they can by venturing into the inner cities and giving out food, clothing, and hugs.

Christianity and ecology

Christianity and ecology :

The Orthodox Church on wealth, poverty and saving the environment.

One of the nicest cups of tea you can find. Filter coffee for a lazy holiday morning or a late night session. Chocolate bars to die for. How can helping others be such pleasure? The answer is Fair Trade

World trade is designed to make large multinational companies rich. It sometimes seems that delivering food is a secondary consideration, or even a downright nuisance. There seems to be no room at all for caring about the producers or the environment. Most producers of raw materials and food live in areas which are politically unimportant, economically underdeveloped, and financially poor. Who cares about the men and women who grow your sugar or your coffee? Apparently not the big manufacturers or the big supermarkets.

As Christians we must care. It is not a "Liberal Christian" option. Our Lord has called on us to care about our neighbour as much as we care about ourselves. We demand decent wages and working conditions. We should choke on every mouthful we eat or drink if we do nothing to show that we care about the people who worked to produce our food and drink. According to Christian Aid, many of the growers and small farmers live in poverty, hunger, and fear of violence. We would not tolerate it for our families, yet how many of us do anything for these people.

Stop just a minute! Before you decide that you have stumbled onto the wrong website, please read on. This is not a Marxist attack on Capitalism. It is Orthodox Christianity in the style of Saint John Chrysostom. He castigated the rich, who did not care what their lifestyle did to the poor. He preached against moneylenders who pretended to help, but who really pushed the poor deeper into despair. In the modern world, the organisation called Christian Aid has been telling people about the inequality and destructive injustice of so much world trade. You can read more on their website. Many religious leaders are saying the same things.

In the summer of 2002 the world sumit in South Africa discussed the environment and sustainable development. There were a few important agreements which were heavily publicised in the media in the West. However, a great chance was missed. Staff from Oxfam have reported on the negative side of the conference. The rich nations have failed to do anything significant to tackle poverty and the decay of the world environment. The single word which Oxfam used to describe this was "greed".You can read about Oxfam campaigns on their website.

This is in sharp contrast with the spiritual lead taken by the Orthodox Church in the field of environmental discussions. The most senior figure in the Orthodox Church, Patriarch Bartholemew (based in Istanbul) has drawn together religious leaders and representatives from East and West, from Christianity, Hinduism, Bhudism and other world faiths.

As religious bodies such as monasteries own huge areas of land around the world, there has been an agreement to set aside profit in favour of sustainable, organic farming on monastery lands. This helps to show the world an example of responsible stewardship.

In the Summer of 2002, Patriarch Bartholemew, the Pope, and other world religious leaders signed an agreement . They called for a spiritual dimension in the debate about development and the environment. Only a new spirit of generosity and unselfishness, a spirit of sacrifice, can transform world development.

Many people are already involved in campaigning or pressure groups. What else can we do? What can ordinary people do to make a difference? One simple answer is that we can all use consumer power. Make an ethical choice when you shop. Ask if the furniture is made from sustainable woodlands. Check if the trader knows anything about the working conditions of the people who made the goods. Choose products which are traded fairly to give the producers a decent standard of living.

Fair Trade goods are an excellent example of the choices you can make. Forinstance, if you buy "Cafedirect" instant coffee, you will put 4 times as much money into the pockets of the growers than by buying any major brand. This means people in some of the poorest parts of the world can work in their own villages without moving away to the cities.They can earn a living without cutting down more forests or damaging the environment. There are Fair Trade clothing companies and all sorts of Fair Trade foods (sugar, rice, nuts, jams, honey). And you can buy wooden goods which already carry a levy for tree planting and forest management.

source: http://www.orthodoxchurch.co.uk/

Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of HIS BEATITUDE MOR BASELIOS THOMAS I

Sacerdotal Golden Jubilee of HIS BEATITUDE MOR BASELIOS THOMAS I,

the Catholicos of India & Regional head of the Syriac Orthodox Church

It was on September 21, 1958, Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the present Catholicos and regional head of the Syriac Orthodox Church of India, was ordained a Kassisso (Priest) by the former Patriarchal delegate to Malankara, late lamented Mor Yulius Elias at the Majanikkara Dayro. In this eventful fifty years of priest hood His Beatitude has contributed a lot for the Malankara Church for which the Church is greatly indebted. In recognition to H.B.'s great services, a Malankara Syrian Church Committee meeting held in early 2007 decided to celebrate the sacerdotal golden jubilee of the Catholicos in a grand way. As per the decision of various Church bodies, the golden jubilee celebrations of the priestly ordination of their high priest got to a grand start at Kothamangalam on Sunday 16th December, 2007. All through the year various cultural and educative programs were arranged by different parishes in Malankara and outside, commemorating the services of their Church father. Now these celebrations are coming to an end with a grand public meeting to be held, at Marine Drive ground at Cochin on 19th October 2008, under the president-ship of His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the prince Patriarch of the Apostolic See of Antioch & all the East and the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Various religio-political leaders has been invited for that grand finale of the year-long celebrations in which tens of thousands of Syrian Christian faithful are expected to participate. Preliminary preparations has already been completed and the Malankara Church is awaiting the 4th Apostolic Visit of His Holiness due for October 17th with great jubilation.

A brief Biography of Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I

Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the spiritual head of the Syrian Christians of India, was born in the Cheruvillil family of Vadayambadi, Puthenkuriz to Mathai and Kunjamma on 22nd July 1929. Early part of his life was full of sufferings. Though he belonged to an aristocratic family, by the time he was born the family had seen bad days. As a child he had frequent bouts of illness which affected his education. His mother used to take the young boy frequently to the nearby Malecuriz Dayro where the relics of late Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias III and Saint Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni) had been interred. One night, as his mother prayed with the young boy on her lap, she had a vision which prompted her to dedicate the boy to the service of the church. Within days, the boy's illness was entirely cured. God was with him, guiding him and shaping him.

His priestly formation was under the guidance of Mor Philoxenos Paulose (late Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II) who ordained him 'Korooyo' in 1952 and 'Shamshono' at Kadamattom Church in 1957. On 21 Septmeber 1958, C M Thomas was ordained 'Kassisso' (full priest) by Mor Yulius Elias at the Majanikkara Dayro. In 1959 he was appointed as the vicar of St. Peter's church, Puthencuriz. Later he served the churches at Vellathooval, Keezhumuri, Fort Cochin, Valamboor, Calcutta and Thrissur. For a period of seven years from 1967, he was the organizing secretary of Kolenchery Medical Mission Hospital. He also served as the Chief organizer of the North Indian mission at Bhilai in 1970's and as the secretary of the 'Pourasthaya Suvishesha Samajam' in 1974. He was well known as a great revivalist preacher and was also recognized as an excellent organizer.

In January 1974, Fr. C M Thomas was elected to the episcopate by the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association convened at the Karingachira St. George Church and was consecrated Metropolitan with the title 'Mor Dionysius' by H.H. Mor Ignatius Ya`qub III on 24th February 1974 at Damascus, Syria. He was entrusted with the charge of Angamali diocese, the largest of all the Syrian Orthodox dioceses which has a membership of more than half a million.

Photos from the Metropolitan Consecration ceremony of Mor Dionysius Thomas (Catholicos Baselios Thomas I) and Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Perumpillil

by His Holiness the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Yakub III of the Apostolic See of Antioch & all the East

The untiring efforts of Mor Dionysius in those days had helped a lot to revive the confidence of not merely the faithful of the diocese, but the entire Malankara Church. Metropolitans Mor Dionysius, Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (late) and Mor Koorilos Kuriakose (late) together were a great support to the (late) Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II, the then Chief of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. As the Metropolitan of Angamali, Mor Dionysius had successfully initiated many welfare programs and also reorganized the diocesan administration. In 1978 Mor Baselios Medical Mission Hospital at Kothamangalam was started under his patron-ship.

Elected as Catholicos-designate

Following the demise of Mor Baselios Paulose II, the Catholicos of the East, in 1996, Metropolitan Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpally Thirumeni) become the President of the Episcopal Synod of the Church in India. After the passing away of Mor Gregorios Geevarghese in February 1999, Mor Dionysius assumed the Presidency of the Malankara Church Synod. On 27th December 2000, His Excellency was chosen as the Catholicos-designate by the Holy Episcopal Synod. The Church delegates meeting held at Puthencuriz on the same day, unanimously approved this decision. H.H the Patriarch, however, waited for two more years in expectation of a peaceful settlement to the longstanding dispute between the two factions of Malankara Church. But as it became clearer that the chances for reconciliation is remote because of the insincerity on the part of the opposite faction, a crucial convention was convened at Puthencuriz, Kerala on 6th July 2002 in which delegates from all the parishes participated and they approved a new constitution for the effective administration of the Indian Church with the consent of the supreme head, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East. H.E. Mor Dionysius Thomas was elected as the Catholicos and the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church at this historic Church Association. The election was later ratified by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church on 22nd July 2002.

Enthronement as CATHOLICOS

On Friday the 26th July 2002, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East, consecrated the 73-year old Mor Dionysius Thomas as the CATHOLICOS with the title 'BASELIOS THOMAS I' at a solemn function held at the St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral in Mor Aphrem Seminary, Ma`arat Sayyidnaya, near Damascus. Thus, fulfilling the wishes of multitude of faithful, the Malankara Church received a Catholicos after a gap of six years (Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II died in 1996). In the Syrian Orthodox Church hierarchy, the Catholicos is second in rank to the supreme spiritual head, the Patriarch of Antioch.

Fourteen Syrian Orthodox Bishops, from India, Syria, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Turkey and Australia attended the enthronement ceremony as the co-celebrants. Thirty five Rambans, many Nuns of the Church and lay people were also present on the occasion to participate in the historical ceremony. Representatives from Government of Syria & India attended the consecration ceremony as special guests. Besides the three Metropolitans who were the co-celebrants, the Church in India was represented by Very Rev Eraalil Geevarghese Ramban (Kerala), Rev. Fr. Prince Mookkanottil (Vicar Mor Ignatius Syrian Orthodox Church Dubai), Rev. Fr. Eldho Valiya Parambil (Vicar-St.George Abu Dhabi), Rev. Fr. Kurian Maliyil (Vicar Sharjah), Rev.Fr. Mathews (Muscat) and Rev. Fr. Varghese Maikkulangara (Kerala). The consecration ceremony started with the celebration of Holy Qurbono at 8 AM by His Holiness the Patriarch, followed by enthronement ceremony, signing of 'SUSTHATHIKON' (Agreement) and 'OKSIOS' (Rising and Declaration). The ceremonial Services ended with the completion of the Holy Qurbono by the newly consecrated Catholicos.

After the enthronement ceremony a reception was given to the Catholicos His Beatitude Mor Baselios Thomas the First. During the speech delivered on the occasion, His Holiness emphasized the commitment of the Holy See to the Church in India. Replying to the congratulatory messages, His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I reiterated that he like his predecessors, will always take great care in the continuance of the faith and traditions of the Syrian Church.

On Saturday 27th July the newly elevated Catholicos arrived in Malankara and three days after on 31st July 2002, the Sunthroniso of Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I Bava was held at the Kothamangalam Marthoma Cheriapally. H.E. Mor Julius Kuriakose, the first secretary to the Patriarch of Antioch read the Susthathicon, the Patriarchal Bull, proclaiming the enthronement of the new Catholicos for the Church in India. The function was attended by all the Metropolitans of the Malankara Church, hundreds of priests and very large number of laymen who came from all parts of Malankara.

As the head of the Church in India the Catholicos presides over the Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Church which includes all the Metropolitans of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India. His Beatitude is also the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association.

Catholicate Office

The Catholicate office of His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I functions at the Patriarchal centre in Puthencuriz near Kochi, which is also the headquarters of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India.

Catholicate Office: Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Centre (Patriarchal centre) Puthencuriz - 682 308 Ernakulam, Kerala, INDIA. Tel: 0484 - 2732804 Fax: 0484 - 2732804

Catholicate Residence: Catholicate Aramana Mount Sinai College P.O., Kothamangalam - 686 691 Kerala, INDIA Tel: 0485 - 2822485 Fax: 0485 - 2822101

Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I - Important dates

Date of Birth Ordained 'Korooyo' & 'Shamshono' by Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II Ordained 'Kassisso' by Mor Yulius Elias (Patriarchal delegate) Ordained Metropolitan by Patriarch Ignatius Yakoob III Elected President of Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Chosen as the Catholicos-designate Malankara Church accepting the new constitution Consecrated as CATHOLICOS

22nd July 1929 1957 21st September 1958 24th February 1974 23rd February 1999 27th December 2000 06th July 2002 26th July 2002

source: http://www.syrianchurch.org/ApostolicVisit2008/apostolic_visit_GoldenJubilee.htm

Patriarch of Antioch to visit Pathanamthitta

Patriarch of Antioch to visit Pathanamthitta Staff Reporter

For jubilee celebrations of Catholicos Baselius Thomas-I

PATHANAMTHITTA: The Patriarch of Antioch and the head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Ignatius Zakka-I Ivas, will visit the Manjanikkara Diara and the tomb of St. Elias-III at the adjoining Diara Church in the last quarter of October, reception committee office-bearers have said.

The reception committee meet chaired by Youhanon Mar Milithios Metropolitan at Manjanikkara, near here, on Friday chalked out arrangements for a ceremonious reception to the patriarch. The meeting nominated Fr. Mathew Philip (Niranom), Jose Panachackal and Binu Vazhamuttom (Thumpamon) and Zacharia Mathew (Kollam) to the central reception committee.

The patriarch will participate in the episcopal jubilee celebrations of Catholicos Baselius Thomas-I at Ernakulam on October 19.

Though the date of the patriarchal visit to the district is yet to be finalised, the organisers said he is likely to reach Manjanikkara on October 24 or 25.

The Syrian Orthodox Church head will also participate in the consecration of St. George Syrian Jacobite Church at Kavumbhagom, near Thiruvalla.

Mar Milithios said this was the patriarch’s fourth visit to the State. He said believers from the Kollam, Niranom and Thumpamon dioceses will attend the episcopal jubilee celebrations of Catholicos Baselius Thomas-I.

Special arrangements for transportation of the faithful to Ernakulam on October 19 will also be made from different parishes in the district. Mar Milithios said the patriarch would also visit St. Mary’s Cathedral in Pathanamthitta, besides offering prayers at the tomb of St Elias-III, the one and only Syrian Patriarch entombed in the State, in 1932.

Mathews Mar Theodoseus Metropolitan, Mathews Mar Aprem Metropolitan and church managing committee members, M.A. Paulose, Biby Abraham and Aji Jacob also attended the meeting.

© Copyright 2000 - 2008 The Hindu

source: http://www.hindu.com/2008/09/28/stories/2008092852430300.htm

APOSTOLIC VISIT OF THE HOLY FATHER BEGINS ON OCTOBER 17

APOSTOLIC VISIT OF THE HOLY FATHER BEGINS ON OCTOBER 17

Church fathers to be canonized

Golden Jubilee of the sacerdotal ordination of Catholicos on October 19th

The Supreme head of the Universal Syrian Church and the Patriarch of the Apostolic see of Antioch & all the East, His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, is to visit India in the second week of October 2008 to attend the concluding function of the sacerdotal Golden jubilee celebrations of the regional head of the Church in India, His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I. As per the program schedule finalized by the Malankara Episcopal Synod, His Holiness is expected to reach Cochin International Airport on October 17 and will proceed to the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church headquarters at Puthencuriz. The Holy father will be accorded the status of State Guest by the honourable Government of Kerala. This will be His Holiness’ fourth apostolic visit to India, the last visit being in 2004.

One of the main programs of His Holiness will be the official announcement regarding the canonization of three fathers of Syriac Orthodox Church; Maphryono Mor Baselios Shakralla (AD 1764, Kandanad), Mor Coorilos Yuyakkim, the Patrirachal delegate (AD 1874, Mulanthuruthy) and Mor Coorilos Paulose Kochuparamabil, the former Malankara Metropolitan and the regional head of the Church in India (AD 1917, Panampady).

Church fathers to be canonized during H.H's Apostolic Visit
MAPHRYONO MOR BASELIOS SHAKRALLA AD 1764, Kandanad	SACRED TOMB OF MOR COORILOS YUYAKKIM AD 1874, Mulanthuruthy	MALANKARA METROPOLITAN MOR COORILOS PAULOSE AD 1917, Panampady

On Sunday 19th October, the Sacredotal Golden jubilee function of His Beatitude the Catholicos will be held at Marine Drive grounds in Cochin. His Holiness will Chair the jubilee function. Besides the representatives of the State Government, the heads of the Episcopal Churches in India and the other communities will be invited for the function. A 501-member committee has been chosen by the Malankara Association for making preparations for the grand jubilee function. The Episcopal Synod Secretary and Metropolitan of Kochi diocese, His Grace Mor Gregorios Joseph is the Chairman of the committee.

The Malankara Episcopal Synod and a meeting of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association will be convened under the president-ship of His Holiness during this apostolic visit. After attending a few more programs in Kerala, His Holiness will proceed to Banglore and will leave for Damascus on October 27th. Hectic preparations has already been started in Malankara to welcome the supreme head of the Universal Syrian Christian community.

source: http://www.syrianchurch.org/ApostolicVisit2008/apostolic_visit_News.htm#APOSTOLIC%20VISIT%20OF%20THE%20HOLY%20FATHER%20BEGINS%20ON%20OCTOBER%2017