PARUMALA FESTIVAL-2009

PARUMALA FESTIVAL-2009
The annual festival of Parumala church on the banks of the pampa at parumala, will begin with a Kodiyettu ceremony on October 26,2009. Senior metropolitan of Malankara orthodox church H.G Geevarghese Mar Osthatheos and metropolitan of Niranom diocese Youhanon Mar Chrysostomos would lead the Kodiyettu cermony.
Catholics of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baseleous Marthoma Didymus will inaugurate the week- long annual pilgrimage to the tomb st st. Gregorious at 3.pm. Paulose Mar Milithios , Catholicate designate, will preside over the function.
A 144- hour continues prayer session will begin under the auspices of the malankara orthodox youth movement at 5 pm. Finance minister T.M Thomas Issac will inaugurate a free medical camp followed by birth day celebrations of the Catholics on October 29. Various pilgrimage processions will be accorded a reception at parumala at 9.30 am on Otober 30,2009. A meeting to commemorate the death centenary of pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysus, founder of parumala seminary, will be held at 11 a.m
the feast of St. Gregorius will be held on November 2nd. A public meeting in connection with the 107 th feast of St. Gregorius will be held at 11 pm on November1. A musical concert will also be held in the evening. The faithful from different parts of the state will reach parumala in separate processions to offer prayers at saint's tomp on November 1st and 2nd.
Minister P.J Joseph will inaugurate the annual meeting of mar Gregorios Orthodox Christan Students Movement at 11 am on November 2nd. The annual church festival and pilgrim week will come to close with a customary holy Rasa at 2 pm
The island of parumala turned in to a sea of humanity as thousands of believers thronged the parumala seminary to offer prayers at the tomb of st. Gregorios at St. Paul's and St. Peter's church on Sunday 1st November,2009 in connection with the 107th feast of the saint.
The faithful undertaking the pilgrimage to the saint's tomb barefoot was common scene on all roads leading to parumala.
The seminary authorities received the processions at parumala by extending candles to them. The feast of St. Gregorios whom the faithful reverently call parumala Thirumeni will be celebrated on Monday 2nd November. A meet was held at the seminary as part of the feast on sunday 1st November, Catholicos of the East Baselios Mathoma Didymus I inaugurated the annual event. St. Gregorios is the first native saint of any church in India

Prof John Kurakar