Patriarch Gregorios in India

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Catholicos and Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Gregorios III Laham, the Patriarch of Antioch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, arrived in India on a five-day visit on Wednesday, 10 March. A linguist, the Patriarch is the author of several works and founder of charitable institutions in Jerusalem. He is visiting to attend the ordination of four new bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Vincent Kulappuravilai, Samuel Kattukallil, Stephanos Thottathil and Antony Valiyavilayil will be ordained bishops at the Mar Ivanios Vidya Nagar at Nalanchira on Saturday, Catholicos Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church said.

Patriarch Gregorios III will call on Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil of the Syro-Malabar Church at Ernakulam on his arrival there on Wednesday. Later, the Patriarch will attend the installation of the new bishop at Marthandam.

On Saturday, the public function that follows the ordaining of the new bishops will be attended by Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor, Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy, Thrissur Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath and Mayor C Jayan Babu.

Here is the Patriarch's speech on the occasion of his visit to His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Catholicos, Major-Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Church, attending the consecration on 13 March 2010 of the four bishops.