Press Releases12 Jun 09

Indian Orthodox Metropolitan Visits Armagh

Metropolitans Exchange Greetings

The Most Revd Dr Mathews Mar Thimothios, Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church's Diocese of Europe and Africa, visited Armagh on Thursday 11 June 2009 where he and other clergy and members of the Indian Orthodox Church in Ireland were met by the Most Revd Alan Harper, OBE, Archbishop of Armagh and Primate of All Ireland.

Dr Mathews was joined by Father Koshy Vaidyan, the Vicar and President in Dublin; Father T George from Drogheda, Jason Poovathur from the Belfast congregation and Mr John Matthew, Secretary of the Dublin Parish of St Thomas. Archbishop Harper and Dr Mathews and his group spent time together in discussion and exchanged both cordial greetings from the two Churches and token gifts at Church House, Armagh. The visitors were also given a tour of St Patrick's Cathedral, Armagh and Armagh Public Library.

The Indian Orthodox Church has congregations in Belfast, Cork, Waterford, Sligo, Drogheda, Galway and Dublin, where it meets in St George and St Thomas' Church of Ireland Parish Church, Cathal Brugha Street -- appropriately as the Indian Orthodox Church traces its roots to Christ's disciple, St Thomas' establishment of Christianity in India in 52 AD.

ENDS