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Orthodox patriarch makes historic first visit to Spokane parish
Head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church stops in Spokane on way to Canada
By Caleb McGever | FaVS News Reporter
Main Points
SPOKANE, Wash. – Orthodox and Catholic church leaders and worshipers came together Wednesday night to celebrate Holy Qurbana with the head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III.
The celebration was held at St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, which hosted him during a multi-day visit to Spokane while he travelled to perform leadership duties for the recently-formed Diocese of Canada.
During the Holy Qurbana (Eucharistic liturgy), the patriarch stood at the altar in black robes to lead the packed congregation through the liturgy before giving a message about the night’s text: the annunciation story in Luke’s Gospel.
He spoke about Mary’s predicament – that she did now know what was going to happen – as well as her choice to obey God.
“Nothing is impossible to God,” he said. He later continued, “God has a meaning, God has an intention.”
He encouraged the congregation to consider Mary’s obedience in the face of change and to see the ways change can lead to stronger faith.
“All things that happen in our life, whether positive or negative, are for the strengthening of our faith,” he said.
He concluded the sermon and proceeded to participate in the Trinitarian censer blessing, recitations of the creed and prayers, and communion.
After the Holy Qurbana, he addressed the crowd and congratulated the church for its work and growth in the community.
“We have a very believing and vital community of the Malankara Orthodoxes here in Spokane,” he said. “We are very glad to announce this in the church and in other parts of the world, this living witness of the Malakrarans.”
Afterwards, congregants celebrated his visit by singing Malamayam, Ethiopian and Coptic songs to him. Before dismissing the crowd to attend a Feast of Agape downstairs, the assistant vicar read aloud a letter from Spokane’s mayor welcoming the Patriarch to the City.
The service was also attended by the Rev. Luke Thompson, who came on behalf of Bishop Thomas Daley from the Catholic Diocese of Spokane, Rev. Gilbert Sunhera, who is the superior of the Della Strada Jesuit community, and Rev. JK Adams, who is the chaplain at Gonzaga Preparatory School.
The Patriarch comes to Spokane
The Catholicos’s visit lasted three days, beginning the day before the Holy Qurbana. Baselios Marthoma Matthews III arrived at the Spokane Airport and was received by a gathering of Syrian Orthodox and Coptic Christians. He lives in India.
“I’m having a hard time finding the word to describe having the successor to St. Thomas come to Spokane, Washington, to our little Mission parish,” said Ephrem Elete, who attends St. Gregorios and helped greet the Patriarch at the airport.
“We believe it’s important because we trace our lineage from the apostles to the early martyrs all the way back to Christ. And with the Catholicos coming, he’s sort of representing Christ in a sense because he’s the successor to the apostles,” Elete explained.
Other St. Gregorios members at the airport also spoke to the honor of the visit to Spokane.
“The fact that the head of our church is coming to see our parish, see the work we’re doing in it, participating and leading the liturgy as we normally do – it’s amazing,” Joel Thomas, an altar servant at St. Gregorios said.
Elain Snider, who is studying to become a Malankara Orthodox monastic nun in Spokane, said the Patriarch’s visit was “inspirational.”
“It’s sort of like if Pope Leo visited Gonzaga” she said.
A quick stop on the way to Canada
The Catholicos’s visit to Spokane was a short stop on his travels to Canada, where he is performing the duties of bishop while the region waits to receive one.
The Rev. George Hatcher, the assistant vicar at St. Gregorios, said he was grateful the patriarch had availability to make the visit during his trip.
“We’re a small parish compared to the majority of places where a patriarch might go,” he said. “It’s the first time that a sitting patriarch has ever come to Spokane from any of the original apostolic churches.”
Hatcher said that in addition to the Wednesday night events, they planned to see if the patriarch could join them for the church’s ministry events out in the streets of Spokane.
“He’s very familiar with our work in Spokane and abroad, he’s been very supportive,” Hatcher said.
Hatcher said he was excited representatives from other apostolic churches in town were participating in celebrations of the Patriarch’s visit.
“That’s what we call the true ecumenism, which keeps the ancient and timeless ways of the church,” he said. “It’s always a sign of love, it’s always a sign that the church will continue, by God’s grace.”
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