L K Advani hails services of Mar Thoma Church

Kottayam: Senior BJP leader  L.K. Advani has hailed the support  offered by the Mar Thoma Church against the declaration of the internal emergency by the then prime minister Indira  Gandhi in 1975. Mr Advani was inaugurating the birth centenary celebrations of Philipose Mar Chrysostum Valiya Metropolitan at Thiruvalla on Thursday. "The Mar Thoma Church  follows  the Indian tradition firmly rooted in faith. The services being rendered by the Church for society are laudable,” Mr Advani said.

Mr Advani  had inaugurated the ninetieth birthday celebrations of the metropolitan  10 years ago. He  had  then offered to be present for the centenary celebrations also. Mar Chrysostum, in his speech,  said that man should learn to live as man.  “Human beings should be able to see God in others,” he said.

A special postal cover released as part of the birth centenary celebrations was released by Chief Post- Master General Anjaly Anand to Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan of the Church. Mar Cleemis Daniel, Archbishop of Beirut and the representative of the Patriarch of Antioch, cardinal Baselios Mar Cleemis of Malankara Catholic Church and Rajya deputy chairman P.J. Kurian were present.