Russia Bestows Order of Friendship on Baselios Marthoma Mathews III

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Russia Extends Order of Friendship to Supreme Head of Malankara Orthodox Church

By Ayanangsha Maitra

New Delhi, December 12: The Russian Embassy on Thursday hosted a reception on the occasion of bestowing the Order of Friendship on Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.

During the auspicious ceremony, Denis Alipov, Ambassador of Russia to India, underscored the immense efforts of the Catholicos dedicated to the promotion of dialogue between the sisterly Russian and Malankara Syrian Orthodox Churches.

Ahead of Christmas, Russia extended ‘Order of Friendship’ to supreme head of Malankara Orthodox Church. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, received Russia’s esteemed Order of Friendship at the Russian Embassy in New Delhi on Thursday.

“This recognition inspires us to rededicate us to peace and reconciliation,” said Mathews III after receiving the honour from the Russian ambassador.

Alipov, the Russian ambassador, noted that the occasion reflects Russia’s respect to all faith. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III studied theology in Leningrad during 1977-1979. The occasion also witnessed spiritual exchanges between both community in Russia and India.

Alipov also noted the humanitarian and philanthropic endeavours of the church such as the launch of cooperation between the Central Clinical Hospital of St Alexis, Metropolitan of Moscow, and St George’s Hospital in Kerala.

The audience was also addressed by H.G. Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios, Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

Among the guests were Mikhail Kasko, ambassador of Belarus, Sardor Rustambaev, ambassador of Uzbekistan, Kamel Zayed Galal, ambassador of Egypt, Ganbold Dambajav, ambassador of Mongolia, representatives of the friendly diplomatic corps, including foreign missions of Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan, local business, social and religious circles, cultural community, mass media, Russian compatriots.

The performance of Antonio Vivaldi’s Gloria by the Delhi Chamber Choir set a bright decoration for the evening.

Baselios Marthoma Mathews III is the present Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Church. He is serving as its primate. Mathews III was enthroned as the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan in 2021.

He has also been a teacher at Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam since 1984 while also teaching Christology at the graduate and post-graduate levels.

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