The pilgrim centre of the Jacobite Syrian Church at Manjanikkara near here turned into a sea of humanity with hundreds of believers thronging the small village on their annual pilgrimage to the tomb of the Syrian Patriarch, St Elias-III, at the Manjanikkara Mor Ignatius Diara Church on Friday.
At Cross Junction
The pilgrimage processions coming from different parts of the State converged at the Cross junction at Omalloor on Friday afternoon.
Archbishop Kuriakose Mar Savarios of the Knanaya Church; Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan, and Kuriakose Mar Ivanios Metropolitan received the pilgrimage processions at the Omalloor Cross.
The pilgrimage processions were greeted to a rousing reception with the accompaniments of splendid ceremonial umbrellas, traditional percussion, patriarchal flags, on their arrival at the Manjanikkara Diara premises, later.
Geevarghese Mar Athanaseus Metropolitan, chief of the Mor Ignatius Diara, received the pilgrimage processions at the diara premises, later.
Mor Diascorus Benyamin Athas, Archbishop of Sweden and representative of the Syrian Patriarch, and Catholicos Baselius Thomas-I, blessed the pilgrims.
The Patriarchal designate inaugurated the public meeting held at the diara premises in connection with the public reception to the pilgrimage processions to the saint’s tomb, later, at 6.30 p.m.
The Catholicos presided over the meeting.
All bishops attached to the Jacobite Syrian Church and various socio-political leaders also addressed the meet.
Holy Tri-mass
The Patriarchal designate will lead the holy Tri-mass to be held at the Mor Stephanos Cathedral at Manjanikkara diara premises at 8 a.m. on Saturday.
The annual church festival will come to a close with the holy raaza, later.