Chinese Fishing Nets, Kochi

Many cities require a geographic genius to identify them from just one photo, but exceptions like Paris, famously known for its Eiffel Tower, exist. Kochi, Kerala is not as renowned as Paris, yet this iconic and rustic image is recognizable to millions of people living there. Chinese fishing nets, also known as Cheenavala, are aContinue reading “Chinese Fishing Nets, Kochi”

Martin Luther King (MLK) Day January 16 – How MKL contrasts with Black Lives Matter, Malcolm X and Kanye West

Martin Luther King Jr and Malcolm X were two of the most influential civil rights activists in the United States during the 20th century. They both advocated for the rights of Black Americans and fought for racial equality, but their approaches to achieving these goals were quite different. Martin Luther King Jr was an advocateContinue reading “Martin Luther King (MLK) Day January 16 – How MKL contrasts with Black Lives Matter, Malcolm X and Kanye West”

Thanksgiving Day 2018

“Be cheerful no matter what; pray all the time; thank God no matter what happens. This is the way God wants you who belong to Christ Jesus to live.” ‭‭1 Thessalonians‬ ‭5:16-18‬ ‭MSG‬‬ http://bible.com/97/1th.5.16-18.msg “in everything give thanks; for this is the will of God in Christ Jesus for you.” ‭‭I Thessalonians‬ ‭5:18‬ ‭NKJV‬‬ http://bible.com/114/1th.5.18.nkjvContinue reading “Thanksgiving Day 2018”

Call to action – Flood

Can I propose a fund in the name of Chathothvallamkulamfamily and dispersed through Kaviyoor Sleeba Church towards flood relief and renewal activities in and around Vallamkulam? I’m sure everyone would have participated in some volunteering or done some donations already. But it is a good gesture to support the ancestral village in a collective way.Continue reading “Call to action – Flood”

Christians or Atheists

Pastor of our church, known for his provocative witticisms, once mentioned this rejoinder in the middle of one  of his sermons.The pastor had invited an atheist to his church, which the atheist declined, saying, “they are a bunch of hypocrites”, whereupon the witty pastor retorted, “there is always room for one more”. Ha, ha, ha,Continue reading “Christians or Atheists”

Bleeding Cross of St. Thomas at Chennai- Origin of Mar Thoma Sleeba

Near Guindy, Chennai, South India, is the hilltop church famously known after St. Thomas, but actually dedicated to Holy Mary. The hillock itself is named after St.Thomas and the nearby railway station is called St.Thomas Mount Railway Station. Legend has it that St. Thomas used to live here and was martyred in AD 72 whileContinue reading “Bleeding Cross of St. Thomas at Chennai- Origin of Mar Thoma Sleeba”

The symbol of Syrian Christians and how the Kaviyoor Sleeba Church was named

Here is a Syriac- Malayalam-English statement. “Mar Thoma Sleeha brought Mar Thoma Sleeba.” Here is what Mar Thoma purportedly brought –  small stone cross of the design in the pictures below.  Probably he also brought a small picture of Holy Mary and a copy of the bible. The picture is an actual photograph of the bleeding crossContinue reading “The symbol of Syrian Christians and how the Kaviyoor Sleeba Church was named”