Kottayam: Vice-President Venkaiah Naidu on Monday inaugurated the 101st birthday celebrations of Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan at Thiruvalla.
He also inaugurated the 60th anniversary of the ordination of Mar Chrysostom as a bishop at the Dr Alexander Mar Thoma Hall.
The Vice-President said the Metropolitan endeared himself to his devotees because he showered his blessings with good humour and pleasant demeanour.
"Dr Chrysostom has internalised the essence of Christianity and propagated its tenets through his words and actions," he said.
"I was very happy to note that when the Metropolitan completed 90 years the Church through the Navathy project reached out to the people in the margins and more than 25,0000 houses were gifted to them."
"I am told that he is also a champion of environmental projects and I understand that through the Maramon convention he is instrumental in taking up a large scale plantation project," he added.
Rajya Sabha deputy chairman P.J. Kurien, the state water resources minister Mathew T. Thomas, Anto Antony MP, former chief minister Oommen Chandy, Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan, Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan and others were present.
