When I came to the US 4 years ago, I did not know if I will find
even a single Indian Orthodox Church here.
After 4 years now, I have been blessed to have been able to attend
our service in several of our churches here in US. I have known the
great sacrifices made by many of our people inorder that we have our
faith here today.
People like me have a lot to be thankful for. I have known now a
little bit about the hardships and pain borne by several of our
achens and their Kochammas as they worked to establish the
foundations of our diocese here. I have heard stories of how
parishes took shape due to the selfless work of a few dedicated
achens and the faithful in the early days, how people had the
yearning to have Qurbana in those days; how people were so happy to
even meet another Malayalee\Indian in those days; how tough the
times gone by were. By the standards we are generally aware of in
India, we would not feel life in US can be tough, but people living
here will attest to the fact that the struggle never ends, whether
in India or in US.
These achens would bear the various hardships in this alien country
and culture silently, but rush to spiritually nurture the faithful,
would work tirelessly for the church and the faith, even to the
point of self denial. Their kochammas would stand by them through
thick and thin. Note that these were initiatives of their own by
selfless individuals and not any organised effort from the church HQ
from Kottayam, well not in the begining atleast.
As this diocese prospers(and surely, we have a long way to go)
spreading the gospel and glorifying God the right way, as taught by
our father St. Thomas 2000 years ago, we should spare a moment to
remember the sacrifices of these achens and Kochammas for our
diocese.
I was fortunate enough to experience this year's Passion Week and
Easter service with one such achen -- Very Rev. Thomas Mundukuzhy,
CorEpiscopa. I am now witness to the genuine love and affection the
little community in Syracuse and Albany shares with this great
shepherd of the church.
Many thanks to people like him and their families for the pain and
sufferings for our sake.
Let us keep all our beloved shepherds in prayers and pray for
strength to them to guide us and the church. Let us thank God for
the selfless dedicated souls God sent us to establish the roots of
the Indian Orthodox Church on American soil.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany,NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9831
even a single Indian Orthodox Church here.
After 4 years now, I have been blessed to have been able to attend
our service in several of our churches here in US. I have known the
great sacrifices made by many of our people inorder that we have our
faith here today.
People like me have a lot to be thankful for. I have known now a
little bit about the hardships and pain borne by several of our
achens and their Kochammas as they worked to establish the
foundations of our diocese here. I have heard stories of how
parishes took shape due to the selfless work of a few dedicated
achens and the faithful in the early days, how people had the
yearning to have Qurbana in those days; how people were so happy to
even meet another Malayalee\Indian in those days; how tough the
times gone by were. By the standards we are generally aware of in
India, we would not feel life in US can be tough, but people living
here will attest to the fact that the struggle never ends, whether
in India or in US.
These achens would bear the various hardships in this alien country
and culture silently, but rush to spiritually nurture the faithful,
would work tirelessly for the church and the faith, even to the
point of self denial. Their kochammas would stand by them through
thick and thin. Note that these were initiatives of their own by
selfless individuals and not any organised effort from the church HQ
from Kottayam, well not in the begining atleast.
As this diocese prospers(and surely, we have a long way to go)
spreading the gospel and glorifying God the right way, as taught by
our father St. Thomas 2000 years ago, we should spare a moment to
remember the sacrifices of these achens and Kochammas for our
diocese.
I was fortunate enough to experience this year's Passion Week and
Easter service with one such achen -- Very Rev. Thomas Mundukuzhy,
CorEpiscopa. I am now witness to the genuine love and affection the
little community in Syracuse and Albany shares with this great
shepherd of the church.
Many thanks to people like him and their families for the pain and
sufferings for our sake.
Let us keep all our beloved shepherds in prayers and pray for
strength to them to guide us and the church. Let us thank God for
the selfless dedicated souls God sent us to establish the roots of
the Indian Orthodox Church on American soil.
Regards,
Mathew Samuel,
Albany,NY
http://groups.yahoo.com/group/IndianOrthodox/message/9831
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