MUSCAT: HH Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Indian Orthodox (Malankara) Metropolitan, presented the first Thanal Charity Award instituted in the name of HG Dr Stephanos Mar Theodosius (1924-2007) to Fr Davis Chiramel, Chairman, of the Kerala-based Kidney Federation of India.
The award was supposed to be presented at the valedictory of Thanal Charity Project on March 27, Friday, at St Thomas parish, Ruwi, had to be put off for the next day.
Fr Davis is an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic Church priest and founder of Accident Care and Transport Service (ACTS) and Kidney Federation of India. Well-known as ‘Kidney Priest’, he set an example for universal brotherhood and compassion by donating his kidney to a Hindu man. Muscat Mar Gregorios Orthodox Maha Edavaka had launched the Thanal charity project for 2014-15 in aid of kidney patients called ‘Rays of Hope’ to help the needy kidney patients.
The Primate in his inaugural address at the valedictory, said the Thanal project showcases ‘Gospel in Action’ with an apt title meaning to provide ‘shade’ to trees. “Charity projects are compared as the Liturgy after the liturgy for the Orthodox community,” he added.
On behalf of the Indian Orthodox, the Catholicos prayed for the long health of His Majesty Sultan Qaboos who has won the hearts of many and is an inspiration and model for many world leaders.
In his address as chief guest, Indian Ambassador to the Sultanate HE J S Mukul, hailed the contribution of the 42-year-old church towards various charitable works and called upon the community and the church to march ahead with such innovative schemes for the poor. The Ambassador was presented with a memento by the Catholicos.
Felicitations were also delivered by Rt Rev Gregorios Mar Stephanos, Episcopa of Kunnamkulam-Malabar Diocese, from Marthoma Syrian Church, Dr K S Manoj, Ex-MP from Alapuzha and P K Koshy, Sabha Managing Committee member.
Fr Joji George delivered the presidential address and introduced the Mar Theodosius Thanal Charity Award to the audience.Boban M Thomas read the exhaustive report of Thanal 2014-15 with the outlay and the number of beneficiaries from the project.
Earlier the programme began with a prayer by Fr Kuriakose Varghese, Associate Vicar, Jacobs Kuriakose, Hon Trustee, gave the welcome address. Mathew K A, Hon Secretary was also present. John P Luke, Hon Secretary, proposed a vote of thanks. Programme compering was by Biju Parumala and Jessy Koshy.
