St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, Cleveland, Ohio

St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, Cleveland, Ohio is the only Jacobite Church serving Ohio, Western Pennsylvania, Western New York State and Northeast Indiana and Northwest West Virginia. This church is part of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America and is in communion with Oriental Orthodox Churches and enjoys partial communion with Catholic Church. His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho is the Archbishop & Patriarchal Vicar. The Archdiocese is under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch & All The East and the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. The Church services are primarily conducted in Malayalam. The liturgy is interspersed with English and Syriac language, a dialect of Aramaic spoken by Lord Jesus. What is special about Syriac Orthodox Church? - video produced by BBC

July 22-25, 2010, Somerset, NJ
www.MalankaraConvention.org

Baselios Church participated in a big way in this year's convention. Teams from our church competed in the Cultural Competition and in Choir Competition. We got a coveted spot in the historic 25-inmel qurbana. Our church members were the active members who served many injured and sick as part of the Emergency Medical Team. The official webmaster for the convention was our member and people could not say enough about the website. And the list goes on and on...

Silver Jubilee Convention is over. And what a convention it was! It was historic in every sense of the word. And Baselios Church, Cleveland was an active participant.

Our church was the only church from about half dozen churches that started in the archdiocese that actively participated in every aspect of the convention - from top leadership, to sponsorship, to participating in both the choir and cultural competitions. They were all capped by participation in the historic 25-inmel qurbana. Dr. Jacob Mathew was the altar assistant in altar #11. (This was a very coveted spot in the qurbana as everyone from the big churches, some with more than a quarter century of experience serving in the altar wanted to get a role out of the 25 available ones and were left standing at the steps of the altar platform. To make it more interesting (although I didn't know it at that time), Dr. Mathew was given the left most altar in the row. Our church gives big importance to the left side. The senior most occupies this coveted spot and the junior most occupies the right most slot. Most of the altars in front were manned by Rev. Deacons who come higher in spiritual hierarchy.) God indeed works in mysterious ways. There is more to this story. ....

Next Service: Holy Qurbana

Up Coming Services

Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 9:00 AM

Holy Qurbana.
Rev. Fr. Roy Paul will conduct the service.

Please note the location. Same new location we had our service on July 18.

Location:

Epiphany Lutheran Church
10503 Valley view Road,
Northfield, OH 44067
Directions

(Lower Level. Use leftmost door (west) when you face the building. Note: The service is not in the sanctuary.)

Park in the main Parking lot (West Entrance). The service will be on the Parking lot level at the west side of the Hall.

Contact for more information:

Dr. Jacob Mathew, Secretary, 330-656-3264
Robin Roy, Treasurer, 440-821-4856

Next Service: Sunday, August 22, 2010

Sunday, August 8, 2010 at 9:00 AM
Holy Qurbana

Sunday, August 22, 2010
Holy Qurbana and Onam Lunch

Church Day Feast (Kanni Perunnal)
Saturday, October 2, 2010 Church Day

Christmas Services - 2009

Christmas Services started at about 10:15 AM on Friday, December 25. The late start was to enable our members from Columbus area to attend the service. Rev. Fr. Roy Paul, vicar, conducted the service.

After the morning service, the congregation marched to the Fire-pit with lighted candles. The fire-pit symbolizes the divine light that fell on shepherds who were the first to receive the news about the birth of our Savior. After the bible readings, the congregation went back to the church in procession to attend the sleeba akhoshanam (veneration of the cross.) This part of the liturgy symbolizes the descent of the son of God to the earth.

This was followed by qurbana. The Christmas Greeting from His Holiness Zakka 1 Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and the Supreme Pontiff of the Universal Syriac Church was read. Then the Kalpana from His Eminence Yeldo Mor Titus was read appointing Rev. Fr. Stephen Philip as the new vicar of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church when the current vicar Rev. Fr. Roy Paul returns to Kerala to take charge as Vicar of Cherai church in Cochin Diocese. A love fest organized by Dr. Shila Mathew, Sherly Mathew, Aji Mathew, and Mrs. Roy Paul, Kochamma followed.

During the sermon, Fr. Roy Paul described the importance of Christmas and its role in the plan of God to save humanity from the fall of mankind due to the sin of Adam. He described at length of the legend of the fourth Magi; how he was to join the other three in coming and seeing the son of God. However he was delayed due to taking time to take care of a sick person he met on the way. By the time he reached the location where he was to meet the other three, they already had left. Later he went to Bethlehem; but by then Jesus was already gone to Egypt. He gets a glace of Jesus at the time of crucifixion; but all the three jewels, viz., diamond, ruby and sapphire, he brought as presents fro baby Jesus was already spent in taking care of people he met on the way who had a pressing need. Roy achen stressed the importance of giving as opposed to receiving as the most important message of Christmas. Our gifts become meaningful only when we give them unconditionally to those in need.

A brief public meeting followed to thank achen for his valuable service to the church. Kochamma was also fondly remembered for her active role in the church. Dr. Jacob Mathew stated that achen was chosen by God to start a new church in America, an honor very very few visiting priests, if any, can claim.

Later elections were held as per the kalpana of the archbishop. Robin Roy assumed the position of Treasurer and Dr. Jacob Mathew assumed the position as Secretary. The managing committee includes two members from Columbus, who is vary active in the church. The full list of office bearers can be seen here.

Church Dedication and Inauguration

Sunday, Nov 8, 2009 is listed as Hoodosh Etho in the Church Lectionary. It is the day for dedication of the church. The previous Sunday is known as Koodosh Etho - it is the day for purification and the beginning of the church year. It was only appropriate that on the day officially designated for dedication of church, we have a dedicated a new church, St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, in Cleveland to cater to all the faithful in Cleveland and nearby areas. The church will be known as Baselios Church and was dedicated in the name of St. Yeldho Mar Baselios who is laid to rest in Kothamangalam Cheria pally.

Photos of Church Inauguration/Dedication

Church Inauguration and Dedication - November 8, 2009 More Photos of Inauguration Ceremony

See More Photos in our Photo Album | More News

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