Mar Ivanios declared "Servant of God"

Thiruvananthapuram, July 14 (UNI) Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, the first Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church, was today declared ''Servant of God,'' the first major step towards sainthood.

The declaration was made by Major Archbishop Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, head of the Church, midway through a holy mass held at the Pattom St Mary's Basilica where Mar Ivanios lay entombed.

A large number of the faithful drawn from the six dioceses of the Church attended the solemn ceremony held on the occasion of the 54th death anniversary of Mar Ivanios, who was also the founder of the Bethany Congregation.

UNI