Kakkanad: The Syro-Malabar Church will solemnly observe Saint Thomas Day and celebrate Syro-Malabar Church Day on Thursday, July 3, at its headquarters in Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad. This day commemorates the martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle, the founding father of Indian Christianity and patron of the Syro-Malabar faithful.
The celebrations will begin at 9 a.m. with a grand Raza Qurbana (Solemn Holy Mass) led by Major Archbishop Mar Raphael Thattil, the head of the Syro-Malabar Church. Following the liturgical service, a public meeting will commence at 11 a.m. as part of the Church Day observance.
Priests, religious, and lay representatives from various Syro-Malabar dioceses will participate in the event. The gathering will also honor renowned cardiologist and Padma Bhushan awardee Dr. Jose Chacko Periappuram, a member of the Syro-Malabar Church, for his exceptional contributions to the medical field.
As the Syro-Malabar Church observes 2026 as the Year of Community Empowerment, the event will also feature the introduction of new empowerment initiatives to strengthen and unify the faithful. The twin celebrations aim to reflect the vibrant spiritual legacy of the St. Thomas Christians and their commitment to ecclesial unity and communal upliftment.
Preparations are in full swing to mark the day as both a remembrance of apostolic heritage and an expression of collective identity within the Syro-Malabar Church.