Chrysostum sets off on a spiritual drive

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: If accolades and praises could energise an old man into a passionate mission and overdrive, Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostum will never fail hopes and prayers of his well-wishers. Coming out of a memorable fete organised on his 95th birthday at various places the other day and after celebrating a Holy Mass on Friday, the ‘bishop of humour ‘ launched his year-long Global Prayer and Sadbhavana rally from Kanyakumari to Chicago, at a modest function held here on Friday evening. Rolling on the rare initiative of the Valiya Metropolitan, Uthradom Thirunal Marthanda Varma recited from the Bhagavad Gita, while expressing his abundant joy on the former’s initiative. “A purposeful tour which has been planned by the spiritual leader is for the well-being and prosperity of the whole world. We are living in a world of visuals and not sound. Visiting places to share words of wisdom will definitely lead to a remarkable transformation all around the world,” he hoped. The scion of the Travancore royalty presented a collection of framed images, which he had clicked while travelling to Paris, London and the Vatican in his global jaunts, to Mar Chrysostum. “In this ‘Kaliyugam’ what people all over want is peace for themselves even when the unhappiness of others didn’t bother them,” he added.  Archbishop Mar Baselios Clemis Catholicos, who presided over the meet, observed that the life which the Valiya Metropolitan had been leading proved that even at the age of 95 filled with ailments and other difficulties, nothing is impossible.