Patriarch Mar Awa III arrives on five-day visit

Thrissur: Patriarch Mar Awa III, global head of the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East, arrived here on Wednesday from Iraq for a five-day visit to India. This is his second visit to India. He will lead a Holy Qurbana to be held at Marth Mariam Big Church Cathedral, Thrissur, on Friday morning, which will also serve as a joint memorial for all departed Bishops in India.The Patriarch was accompanied by bishop Mar Benyamin Elya, the synod secretary and bishop of Victoria and New Zealand, as well as Mar Paulus Benjamin, the bishop of Eastern USA. The Patriarch was given a warm reception by Metropolitan Mar Awgin Kuriakose, Mar Yohannan, members of the central board of trustees and priests of Chaldean Syrian Church at Marth Mariam Big church. During his speech at the church, the Patriarch said that in these times of war, frequent prayers helped him to reach safely to India.