In a function punctuated with solemnity and silent devotion, Mar George Alencherry was formally installed as the Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church and the Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly on Sunday.
At the ceremony held at St. Mary’s Cathedral Basilica, the cathedral church of the Major Archbishop, church administrator and Curia Bishop Mar Bosco led the rituals to install the successor of Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil.
Mar George Alencherry is the first Major Archbishop in the history of Syro-Malabar Church to be elected by the synod of bishops.
The hour-long ceremony began with the procession from the Parish Hall, and the new shepherd was led to the altar by bishops of the Church, Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India, Cardinal Telesfor Topo, the president of the Conference of the Catholic Bishops of India, and Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop.
Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio read the message of Pope Benedict XVI and presented Mar George Alencherry with a papal gift.
The elected head of the church then declared his affinity and allegiance to the Catholic Church and the Pope. As a symbol of the installation, Mar Bosco Puthur put the mitre on the head of Mar George Alencherry, presented him with the crosier and led him to the ceremonial chair.
All the bishops gathered for the ceremony congratulated him.
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Minor girl raped, then killed in UP
Age Correspondent
Lucknow
May 29: A minor girl was allegedly raped and later killed by unidentified persons in Safipur area in Unnao district.
The body of a 10-year-old girl, who had been missing since Friday night, was recovered from a field in Brahmna village on Sunday. The villagers alleged that the girl was raped and later killed.
The child’s body has been sent for post-mortem and a case for murder has been registered against unidentified persons.