HRC Blessing
Syro-Malabar Heritage and
Research Centre Blessed at Mount St. Thomas
Kochi: The Heritage and Research
Centre (HRC) at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, established to preserve,
document, study, and transmit to future generations the faith tradition,
history, liturgical heritage, culture, and artistic heritage of the
Syro-Malabar Church, was blessed on Tuesday.
The
blessing ceremony was led by His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, Major
Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, in the presence of the bishops who
had gathered at Mount St. Thomas for the 34th Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church.
The bishops and other dignitaries participated in the ceremony.
The foundation
stone of the Heritage and Research Centre was laid by the former Major
Archbishop, Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, in the presence of bishops.
The Centre has been established with the objective of scientifically
documenting and preserving the rich historical memories and heritage of the
Syro-Malabar Church, while providing facilities for researchers, students, and
the faithful to study and explore the history and traditions of the Church.
A historical
library and a digital library have also been established at the Centre to
facilitate research and academic study. The Centre is equipped with modern
technological facilities for the documentation, preservation, and presentation
of historical records and heritage materials.
The St.
Thomas Heritage Museum, conceived and developed under the guidance of
museologist Dr. John Philippos, forms an important part of the Centre.
It is envisioned as a major institution for documenting, preserving, and
presenting the history and heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church with the help of
modern museum technology.
The
museum presents the history of the Syro-Malabar Church, beginning with the
evangelizing mission of St. Thomas the Apostle in India, and traces the
development of the Church through the centuries. Historical records, heritage
objects, ecclesiastical artifacts, documents, manuscripts, works of art, and
other objects connected with various stages of the faith and life of the St.
Thomas Christians are preserved and displayed here.
The
museum also features visual and audio-visual systems that present the history,
traditions, and heritage of the Church through photographs, digital displays,
documentaries, videos, and other multimedia resources. These facilities are
intended to provide visitors with an informative and engaging experience of the
history and heritage of the St. Thomas Christians and the Syro-Malabar Church.
Bishop
Mar Tony Neelankavil,
Chairman of the Heritage and Research Centre, and Rev. Dr. Jobin
Kanjirathinkal, Executive Director of the Centre, led the arrangements for
the blessing ceremony and related activities.
The official
inauguration of the St. Thomas Heritage Museum will be held at a later date.