Orthodox Liturgy Celebrated after a gap of 59 years at the Historic Mission field of Metropolitan Alvares Julius : Mission in Dindigul Revamped
OCP News Service- 30/7/14
“Dindigul/Tamil Nadu/India: It was a golden moment in the history of the Indian Malankara Orthodox church as well as churches with the Apostolic Succession of MAR JULIUS I (Arch bishop of Goa, Ceylon and India excluding Malabar) when Orthodox Liturgy was served by the prelates of the Chennai Diocese of the Indian Orthodox Malankara Church on 29th July 2014 at the historic Mission field in Dindigul after a gap of 59 year. (In 1889 July 29 Fr. AFX Alvares Ramban was consecrated as the Arch bishop and primate of Independent catholic mission (Latin rite of Church of Malabar) at old Seminary Kottayam by HE Mar Joseph Dionysious, HG Mar Paul Athanasious, HG George Ivanious and HG St.Gregorious)
The historic event of 125th anniversary was celebrated on a joint initiative by the Madras diocese of Indian Malankara Orthodox Church (IMOC) and Orthodoxy Cognate Page (OCP) society in Dindigul, Tamil Nadu, India on 29th July 2014.
IMOC & OCP have now officially revamped the Dindigul Orthodox Mission of Saintly Metropolitan Alvares Julius I after a gap 57 years by holding holy liturgy. The chief celebrant is Fr. Sam (Vicar Padi Church, Chennai) in the presence Metropolitan Diascoros (Primate of the Chennai Diocese of IMOC). The OCP Society was represented by Ajeh T Phillip (Chief Project Coordinator – MARP). It was Ajesh who rediscovered the lost community of St Gregorious in Dindigul as well as the Independent Catholic Church in Sempatty.”
>>Read the full article with more photographs (website of the OCP Media Network)
Mar Julius I Alvarez was the consecrator of Prince-Abbot Joseph III and one of the first members and Patrons of the Order of the Crown of Thorns. The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi is among the churches with Apostolic Succession of Mar Julius I as referred to in the first paragraph above.
Grand Prior contributes to publication
H.E. Dr. Norbert Wójtowicz, Grand Prior of Continental Europe for the San Luigi Orders, has contributed an article on “Freemasons in the Church” to this recent Polish language publication.
Members of the San Luigi Orders: Prince Hugo-Jose Tomassini Paterno
H.I.H. Prince don Hugo-José Tomassini Paternò (1927-) is a Knight Grand Cross of the Orders of the Crown of Thorns and of the Lion and the Black Cross, being so appointed by Prince-Abbot Edmond I of San Luigi. His father don Tullio was also a member of the San Luigi Orders.
The Prince is the head of the line of the Dynastic House of Leopardi of Constantinople (Tomassi/Tomassini) and a pretender to the throne of the Eastern Roman Empire by virtue of his descent from the Justinian and Heraclian dynasties.
During the latter years of the Second World War, the young Prince, who was a devoted follower of Mussolini, fought as a junior officer in the Italian Social Republic (RSI) Black Brigades. He participated alongside the Waffen SS in combat against the Russians in the eastern theatre and against the British and Americans in northern Italy. For his service he was honoured with the Medaglia d’Argento al Valore Militare R.S.I., the Croce al Merito di Guerra R.S.I., the Medaglia d’Argento al Valore Arditi d’Italia, the Croce Nera del’Ardito di Guerra and the German Iron Cross 2nd Class. During the war, his family property in Fermo was invaded and looted and many books, documents and possessions of a historical nature were lost or destroyed.
The recovery of this property occupied much time and effort for the Prince, and eventually the surviving part of his family library (around 20,000 volumes) was re-organized in 1955 and joined with the Academy that had been founded by the Tomassini Paternò family in 1939. In 1951, the Prince had adopted for his Academy the symbol of the white phoenix, representing the reclamation of the family heritage. This united entity was registered with the National Agency for Popular and Scholarly Libraries under the supervision of the Ministry of Public Education as the “Biblioteca Popolare e Scolastica dell’Accademia Universitaria Internazionale di Fermo del Piceno” (Reg.n.7957), and also referred to simply as the “Historical File”. The Very Revd. Canon Piegallina Guido, Director of the Historical Archives of the Archbishop of Fermo and chaplain of the Tomassini Paterno family, was appointed as the Independent Director of the archive. The Academy made contacts overseas, and in 1952 was joined to the American International Academy which had been founded in 1898. Cultural events were organized in New York among other cities, and a monthly newsletter was initiated and circulated. Among the collaborating institutions in America was the Augustan Society, whose co-founder Archbishop Forest Barber received honours from the Prince.
In peacetime, the Prince devoted himself to the study of history (particularly that of Ancient Rome) and heraldry. He produced a major work, “Universal Encyclopaedia of Knighthood Orders and Decorations” with over 3,000 historical notes. The San Luigi Orders were included in this book. He produced other works on the subject of chivalry, including the study “La Caballeria a través del tiempo” (FF.AA.C., Caracas, 1961).
In 1953, the Prince instituted an order of merit, the Ordine della Guardia d’Onore di Santa Sofia. Other orders of his house included the Ordine Imperiale della Corona Eracliana di Costantinopli. On 15 April 1967, a Bull of Mar Joannes Maria I (Jan Frederik Nico Blom van Assendelft-Altland) (1923-2008), Patriarch of the Eglise Catholique Apostolique Primitive d’Antioche Orthodoxe et de Tradition Syro-Byzantine, recognized the Prince as the 
legitimate successor of the Justinian and Heraclian dynasties of the Eastern Roman Empire and head of the house of Leopardi of Constantinople Tomasi Tomassini Paternò. Mar Joannes Maria had been consecrated bishop on 20 March 1955 by Archbishop Harold Nicholson and would eventually (as Anba Marcos) become Metropolitan of Europe in the Coptic Orthodox Church. The present Prince-Abbot of San Luigi stands in the fifth generation of episcopal succession from him.
The Prince had a close relationship with the government of Venezuela, to which he acted as a heraldic advisor, and received several appointments of attaché and commissioner. He was awarded honours and decorations from around the world, including the Papal Lateran Cross, as well as the Order of the White Eagle, the Order of Polonia Restituta and the Gold Cross of Merit from the Polish Government in Exile. In 1975, he became Grand Protector of one of the branches of the Order of St John.
In 1971, there was an exchange of correspondence between the Prince and Prince-Abbot Edmond II of San Luigi. The Prince wrote that he had been a very good friend of the late Prince-Abbot Edmond I as well as having corresponded with the Count de l’Estrange (erstwhile Chancellor of the Orders). During the post-war years the Prince had lived in Los Angeles and in due course had moved to Miami Beach, Florida.
The Prince succeeded his father on the latter’s abdication on 20 November 1950. He married Donna Margherita-Andreana Caneparo-Carotti.
>>A rare book owned by the Prince
>>The Prince in the uniform of the Black Brigades (links to the website of Abraxas Books)
>>Website of the Historical File (in Italian)
New portrait of Mar Julius I Alvares unveiled
Members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have commemorated Mar Julius I Alvares with a new portrait. Mar Julius I Alvares was the consecrator of Prince-Abbot Joseph III and one of the first members of the refounded Order of the Crown of Thorns in 1891.
Article source: http://marthoman.tv/?p=24623
Click on the image to see full size picture (links to Malankara news site)
“Niranam, India, July 27, 2014, – The Niranam St. Mary’s Orthodox Valiyapally, one of the few churches found by St. Thomas the apostle; commemorated the blessed memory of Metropolitan Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios of India, Goa and Ceylon on Sunday the 27th of July 2014. To mark the 125th year of his consecration of metropolitan, Fr. C. V. Oomman, vicar, unveiled a portrait of Alvares Mar Yoolios. Prominent historian Dr. M. Kurian Thomas delivered the key-note address.
Fr. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares, Roman Catholic priest from Goa, a born philanthropist and nationalist, inspired by the true Christian doctrines and motivated by the Indian nationality spirit, embrace the Malankara Church, the only church in India that follows the true apostolic doctrines and with the true nationalist background. He joined the Malankara Orthodox Church in 1889 that he found fit to his dreams and several thousand Roman Catholic Christians throughout British India who really wants to get rid of their European dominion.
On 29 July, 1889, Fr. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares was consecrated as the Metropolitan Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios. He was enthroned as the Metropolitan of the newly formed Latin archdiocese of India, Goa and Ceylon of the Malankara Church at Old Seminary, Kottayam, India. He was consecrated by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Gregarious of Niranam (later canonized as St. Gregarious of Parumala), H. G. Paulose Mar Ivanios of Kandanad (later H.H. Mar Baselius Paulose I, Catholicos of the East), and H. G. Paulose Mar Athanasius of Kottayam & Angamaly by the order of H. B. Mar Dionysius V, Pulikoottil, Malankara Metropolitan.
Earlier, he was elevated as a monk (Remban) according to the West Syriac tradition by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Gregarious of Niranam on 27 July, 1889 at the Old Seminary, Kottayam.
“We, the Niranam church, one of the very few churches with St. Thomas origin, privileged to starts the jubilee calibrations of Mar Alvares Yoolios, the most zealot Indian missionary” said Fr. Ommen on the occasion. Cor-Episcopa Thomas Kurian presided over the meeting. Fr. John K. Varghese, lay trustee M. V. Abraham and the church secretary K. B. Mathew gave the felicitations.
The present Niranam church was consecrated by H. B. Mar Dionysius VI, Vattasseril, Malankara Metropolitan (later canonized as St. Dionysius of Malankara) along with H.G. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios Metropolitan on 2 Kumbham 1912 (15 February, 1912 – feast of Mayalatho – the presentation of Christ)”
New portrait of Mar Julius I Alvarez
Members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church have commemorated Mar Julius I Alvares with a new portrait. Mar Julius I Alvares was the consecrator of Prince-Abbot Joseph III and one of the first members of the refounded Order of the Crown of Thorns in 1891.
Article source: http://marthoman.tv/?p=24623
Click on the image to see full size picture (links to Malankara news site)
“Niranam, India, July 27, 2014, – The Niranam St. Mary’s Orthodox Valiyapally, one of the few churches found by St. Thomas the apostle; commemorated the blessed memory of Metropolitan Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios of India, Goa and Ceylon on Sunday the 27th of July 2014. To mark the 125th year of his consecration of metropolitan, Fr. C. V. Oomman, vicar, unveiled a portrait of Alvares Mar Yoolios. Prominent historian Dr. M. Kurian Thomas delivered the key-note address.
Fr. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares, Roman Catholic priest from Goa, a born philanthropist and nationalist, inspired by the true Christian doctrines and motivated by the Indian nationality spirit, embrace the Malankara Church, the only church in India that follows the true apostolic doctrines and with the true nationalist background. He joined the Malankara Orthodox Church in 1889 that he found fit to his dreams and several thousand Roman Catholic Christians throughout British India who really wants to get rid of their European dominion.
On 29 July, 1889, Fr. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares was consecrated as the Metropolitan Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios. He was enthroned as the Metropolitan of the newly formed Latin archdiocese of India, Goa and Ceylon of the Malankara Church at Old Seminary, Kottayam, India. He was consecrated by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Gregarious of Niranam (later canonized as St. Gregarious of Parumala), H. G. Paulose Mar Ivanios of Kandanad (later H.H. Mar Baselius Paulose I, Catholicos of the East), and H. G. Paulose Mar Athanasius of Kottayam & Angamaly by the order of H. B. Mar Dionysius V, Pulikoottil, Malankara Metropolitan.
Earlier, he was elevated as a monk (Remban) according to the West Syriac tradition by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Gregarious of Niranam on 27 July, 1889 at the Old Seminary, Kottayam.
“We, the Niranam church, one of the very few churches with St. Thomas origin, privileged to starts the jubilee calibrations of Mar Alvares Yoolios, the most zealot Indian missionary” said Fr. Ommen on the occasion. Cor-Episcopa Thomas Kurian presided over the meeting. Fr. John K. Varghese, lay trustee M. V. Abraham and the church secretary K. B. Mathew gave the felicitations.
The present Niranam church was consecrated by H. B. Mar Dionysius VI, Vattasseril, Malankara Metropolitan (later canonized as St. Dionysius of Malankara) along with H.G. Antonio Francisco Xavier Alvares Mar Yoolios Metropolitan on 2 Kumbham 1912 (15 February, 1912 – feast of Mayalatho – the presentation of Christ)”
Death of Mgr. Mael
The Abbey-Principality extends its condolences on the passing of Mgr. Mael (Paul-Edouard Fournier de Brescia), Primate of the Celtic Orthodox Church and Metropolitan of Dol. He was aged 91 years.
Mgr. Mael and his fellow clergy were responsible for restoring the monastery of Saint-Dolay that had been established by St Tugdual, progenitor of the Old Catholic Church of Great Britain (in which church the Prince-Abbot succeeded as Primate in August 2012). As a bishop of the Orthodox Church of the British Isles, which had been established by Mar Georgius of Glastonbury in 1969 representing the Ferrette succession from the Syrian Orthodox Church, he was part of the group of clergy who in 1994 disagreed with the decision of its Synod to unite with the Coptic Orthodox Church and who consequently formed the Celtic Orthodox Church. Mgr. Mael was elected Primate of the Celtic Orthodox Church in 1995 and thoroughly restructured the jurisdiction in the light of its changed circumstances and mission. In 1996, the Celtic Orthodox Church canonized St Tugdual and was also responsible for organizing the preservation of his relics.
Friendly relations have existed between the Celtic Orthodox Church and our intercommunion partner the Mission Gallicane d’Alsace, and in addition several former clergy of our own jurisdiction visited the monastery over the years and were warmly received there with sympathetic fellowship. The unique atmosphere of the monastery made a deep impression upon visitors and reflected an Orthodoxy that was born of an extensive and sincere inner spiritual conviction.
Memory Eternal!
The last communication from Prince-Abbot Joseph III
The last communication in our archive from Prince-Abbot Joseph III is this Easter card from 1929, sent to the future Prince-Abbot Edmond I – “my Very Dear Friend”. Prince-Abbot Joseph III passed away on 1 July 1929.
The Abbey-Principality of San Luigi 
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