Bishop Thomas Mar Koorilos Elevated as Archbishop of Tiruvalla

Bishop Thomas Mar Koorilos, of the Muvattupuzha Diocese, was installed as the second Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla at a ceremony held at St. John’s Cathedral in Tiruvalla on Wednesday. He was appointed as the Archbishop of Tiruvalla on 26th March, 2007.

Major Archbishop Baselios Cleemis Catholicos was the principal celebrant of the installation ceremony. The installation service was held amidst the holy Eucharist celebrated by the Catholicos, assisted by Bishops Geevarghese Mar Divanyasios, Joshua Mar Ignatios, Joseph Mar Thomas, Youhanon Mar Chrysostum, Geevarghese Mar Timothios and Yakoob Mar Barnabas.

Hundreds of faithful thronged the cathedral premises to witness the installation ceremony. The holy Eucharist began at 8.15 a.m. and the installation ceremony at 9.45 a.m.

The order of the Catholicos appointing Mar Koorilos the Archbishop of Tiruvalla was read out by Chancellor of Thiruvananthapuram Archdiocese Fr. Antony Valiyavilayil. The new Archbishop, seated in a chair, was lifted thrice amidst loud chants of `Oxios,’ a Greek word meant `that he is worthy.’ The Catholicos blessed the new Archbishop and handed over the pastoral staff to him, later, marking the culmination of the installation ceremony.