Bishop Mar George Alancherry was on Sunday installed as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese at a solemn ceremony held at the St. Mary’s Cathedral Baslica at Cochin.
Church Administrator and Curia Bishop Bosco Puthur led the ceremony, which lasted for more than an hour. The Major Archbishop was brought to the church in a procession from the parish hall. The vicar of the Basilica welcomed Geroge Alanchery by presenting him a candle.
The ceremony started with Apostolic Nuncio to India Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio reading out the felicitation message of Pope Benedict XVI. Bosco Puthur later led the Major Archbishop to his throne. After the installation, the new Major Archbishop presided over the rest of the Holy Mass.
Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis of Malankara Church, Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI) and the 44 bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church were present at the ceremony.
Several Ministers, MPs, MLAs and leaders of various community, social and cultural organisations as well as representatives of priests and laity of Syro-Malabar dioceses from all over Kerala and outside participated in the ceremony.
George Alancherry, who was serving as bishop of Thuckalay diocese in Kanyakumari district of Tamil Nadu, was elected as Major Archbishop on May 26 by the Synod of Bishops.
The 66-year-old Major Archbishop succeeds Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil, who died on April 1 after a prolonged heart ailment.
George Alancherry is the first head to be elected by the Church’s synod. The election is part of the new administrative system put in place within the Syro-Malabar Church after Pope John Paul II made it a Major Archiepiscopal Church in 1992.
a very learned and excellent orator, best selection, may God bless him
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