Tomb of the Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Opened and Canonical Recognition Conducted

The tomb of the Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Panikkaruveettil was opened by the team appointed by His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos, Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, as per the permission and instruction received from the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome. The mortal remains were canonically recognised and an inventory was made. They were later placed in a special casket in the Cathedral for the faithful to view it. The mortal remains were then taken back and entombed in the evening by 6 o’clock.

The tomb opening ceremony was preceeded by a concelebrated Holy Qurbono led by His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos with all the Bishops of the Malankara Catholic Church and of priests. A Large gathering of faithful including Rev. Sisters and Seminarians were present for the Holy Qurbono.

After the Holy Qurbono, began the canonical session of the Exhumation. His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, the Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop Catholicos of Trivandrum presided over the session. After a few words of introduction, His Beatitude exhorted the members of the Board constituted for the canonical work to carry out their functions faithfully. His Beatitude also called upon the 119 invitees to witness the function with prayer. Thereafter, the Postulator of the Cause, Most Rev. Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC read out petition submitted by him to the Catholicos for the Exhumation. Rev. Fr. Koshy Chirakkarott, Chancellor of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum read out the petition sent by the Catholicos to the Congregation for the Causes of Saints in Rome asking for the permission of the Holy See to do the Exhumation and the Canonical Recognition of the Mortal Remains of the Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios. The Rescript and Instructions of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints permitting the exhumation, canonical recognition of the Mortal Remains in its original Latin was read out by Rt Rev. Mannikarott Corepiscopo Geevarghese, the Syncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum and its English translation by Most Rev. Samuel Mar Irenios, Protosyncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. The Petition of the Postulator to the Catholicos to execute the Rescript of the Congregation for the Causes of Saints read out by the Vice Postulator of the Cause, Rev. Dr Sr Sandra SIC. The Decree of the Catholicos constituting the Board for the Exhumation was read out Rt Rev. Msgr Mathew Manakkarakavil, the Syncellus of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. Thereafter, all the members of the Board took the oath to carry out their obligations faithfully. The witnesses were questioned by the Episcopal Delegate and they identified the tomb of the Servant of God. After the prayers led by His Beatitude the Catholicos, the work for opening the tomb began.

The Helpers took about an hour to open the tomb. The mortal remains were taken out and examined by the Medical Experts. Thanks the divine providence, after 61 years, the skeketal parts remained intact. The Medical Assistants arranged the Mortal Remains in a special casket. The Bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church led by the Major Archbishop Catholicos took the Mortal Remains to the Cathedral. A large number of the Faithful who thronged the vicinity of the Cathedral to have glimpse of the mortal remains made a procession to the Cathedral. His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos who led the whole process officiated the reburial liturgy.

Mr Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister of Kerala, Mr G. Karthikeyan, the Speaker of the Legislative Assembly, Mr N. Sakthan, the Deputy Speaker, Ministers Mr K.C Joseph, Mr V S Sivakumar, Mr P J Joseph and Mr Anoop Jacob and MLAs Mr Palode Ravi, Mr K Muraleedharan, Mr Mons Joseph, Mr V. Sivankutty, Mr M A Wahid and R Selvaraj and the Mayor of the Corporation of Trivandrum Adv. K Chandrika visited the Cathedral and paid homage to the Servant of God.

The Members of the Board consisted of Rev. Fr Michael Vattappalam, the Episcopal Delegate, Rev. Fr. Saju Augusin Kuthodiputhenpurayil CST, the Promotor of Justice, Rev. Fr. Koshy Chirakkarottu, the Notary, Rev. Fr Sheen Thankalayam, the Adjutant Notary, Dr George Andrews, Dr Nelson Chandy, Dr Abraham Varghese Vattasseril, the Medical Experts, Dr Sr Athulya SIC, Dr Sr Ancelet DM, Dr Ms Deepthy Ann Mathews, the Medical Assistants, besides Mr K J Peter, the Architect, Mr Shibu Varghese Puthukkery, the Contrator, Mr John N, the Technician and Mr Binu D, G Augustine, Jose J and Rajendran J, the Helpers, Mr Thomas Mathew, the Photographer and Mr Sujith Kumar, the Videographer. The witnesses of the funeral service of the Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, Rt. Rev. Samuel Mannil Ramban and Rev. Fr Augustine Kailath OIC were the Witnesses in the Board.

Rev. Dr Kuriakose Thadathil, the MC of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Rev. Dr Isaac Parappillil, the Secretary of the Synodal Commission for Liturgy, Rev. Dr John Kochuthundil and Rev. Fr Daniel Poovannathil, gave leadership to the spiritual milieu of the process. Rev. Fr James Paravila, Rev. Fr John Vilayil, Rev. Fr Wilson Thattaruthundil, Rev. Fr Joshua Kanneeleth, Rev. Fr Joseph Chavadimuruppel, Rev. Fr Nelson Valiyaveettil, Rev. Fr Bovas Mathew, Rev. Fr Joshua Kochuvilayil, Rev. Fr Bosco Chalarakkal, Rev. Fr Anoop Thomson, Rev. Fr Jobin Karukayil, Rev. Sr Adarsha SIC and the Parish Council of St Mary’s Cathedral gave leadership to the various amenities organised for the occasion.

Most Rev. Dr Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC, the Postulator of the Cause of Canonization and Rev. Dr Sr Sandra SIC, the Vice- Postulator, co-ordinated the canonical process.

The canonical process took place in an atmosphere of prayer. Thousands of Faithful came to see the Mortal Remains of the Servant of God.