August 4, 2011

Sorry that my posts have not been regular. Maintaining internet service is more difficult than we thought. Mostly though I’ve not posted because the last three days have been terrible. I can now say that I’m a world statistic. I am among the 20-50% of travelers who get sick in the first week of travel. Sathi and Prema warned us about what you could eat and what you couldn’t eat. I thought I’d paid close attention but apparently something slipped by and boy have I been sick! I was bedridden two days ago and am again today. The fever increased dramatically last night and so through the graciousness of Bishop George I was taken to the local clinic today (the clinic is supported by the dioceses) and reexamined by a doctor who’d just returned from a medical conference in San Diego. He add a few meds to ones I’d received in Kerala. My diet has been reduced to rice, yogurt, and peeled apples. Okay, enough about my gastronomic adventure.

Once again, I have to say how humbled I am by the hospitality we continue to receive.

Yesterday we visited Malankara Syrian Orthodox Seminary. The Syrian Orthodox Church is one of the oldest Christian Churches. Tradition tells us that St. Thomas founded it in 52 C.E. We also visited St Mary’s Pilgrimage Centre and St Gregarious Cathedral where a relic of St. Thomas is maintained.

At the seminary we received an audience with the Catholicos (similar to a bishop), one of whom oversees all the Syrian Christians throughout the world (I never fully understood if he would be considered the head bishop or if he had a different title). He answers to the Syrian Orthodox Patriarch in Antioch. We gathered in their chapel and had a Q&A session. One student asked whether we believed integration of the Christian faith could happen. It became an interesting point of discussion. Part of the issue is what is meant by “integration?” A question posed by one of the Wesley delegation was, “What do you believe the Syrian Orthodox Church can teach us?” one student immediately responded, “the importance of liturgy.” The Syrian Orthodox Church maintains the oldest living liturgy, the liturgy of St. James. Understandably in the Syrian church there is great emphasis on liturgy. They sing their liturgies and prayers, one of which was easily 10 minutes long, beautiful, and very meaningful. I have no idea what the words were but the singing conveyed all that needed to be known.

It has been a great treat to talk with many of the priests. One I’ve become more familiar with is Father Nebo, a young Syrian priest and also the secretary to Bishop. He serves a small church outside of Thiruvalla. They describe their parishes by family not members. At St. Gregarious Cathedral Bishop George said that it had 1000 families. To accommodate all the people, they’ve added open air pavilions on either side of the sanctuary and installed flat-screen TVs and speakers.

One last point to share, the Syrian Orthodox Church traditionally has not focused on social justice issues, but that appears to be changing. Bishop George is passionate about mission to those in need. The day-trip everyone is on, but me—sick in bed, is to a Theerum, a mission project for differently-abled children and adults. A new generation of bishops may lead the Syrian Orthodox Church into becoming more focused on the needs of the poor and oppressed in Indian society. I pray it be so.

Blessings everyone,

Perry