Pettamma Marannalum | Kester Malayalam Christian Song l Musical evening

Pettamma Marannalum Kester Malayalam Christian Song l Musical evening l Golden Jubilee Finale Celebration - 28/12/2018 H.H. Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Kester l St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Cathedral - Dubai Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, who celebrated Christmas with workers in a labour accommodation in Dubai on Tuesday, attended the valedictory function of the 50th anniversary celebrations of St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral today. Dubai Orthodox church has cut down on its golden jubilee celebrations and donated Rs10million (Dh542,643) to the flood-ravaged south Indian state of Kerala, church officials said on Wednesday. Announcing the details of the valedictory function of the 50th-anniversary celebrations of St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral scheduled on Friday, church officials said many programmes in the year-long celebrations were called off to divert the money for flood relief. Worshippers, the majority of who hail from Kerala, also generously contributed to the church’s management which donated Rs200,000 to the state Chief Minister’s Distress Relief Fund and directly helped 130 families affected by the deluge in August. “In total, we have spent Rs10million for Kerala flood relief,” said vicar Fr Ninan Philip Panackamattom. Most of the beneficiaries had suffered massive destruction to their houses, he said. 3000 families are part of the St Thomas Orthodox Cathedral in Dubai This was one of the various charitable activities that the church has done in line with the ethos of tolerance and generosity held high by Dubai government, the vicar said. “We had also organised a mass blood donation camp to mark the Year of Zayed.” On January 4, the church will organise another event to donate hair for cancer patients. The main highlight of Friday’s day-long official event will be the presence of Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church, who celebrated Christmas with workers at a labor accommodation in Dubai on Tuesday. Major General Abdullah Khalifa Al Merri, commander-in-chief of Dubai Police, will be the chief guest at the public meeting in the evening. Apart from heads of some congregations from India, Malayalam film actors and Indian parliamentarians Innocent and Suresh Gopi will also be present. A devotional concert by singer Kester and cultural programmes including traditional Malayali Christian dance form of Margam Kali by 50 women and girls will also be held. The cathedral in Dubai’s Oud Mehta area is the Mother Parish of all the Orthodox churches across six emirates. The congregation in Dubai, which began with four families in 1958 and grew to 35 families when it officially became the congregation of Orthodox faithful in 1968, now has more than 3,000 families.