THRISSUR: In a solemn ceremony attended by a large number of priests and faithful, the international head of the Church of the East Moran Mar Dinkha-IV consecrated archdeacons - Joju Anto and Saju Poulose - of the Church as Bishops on Sunday. On consecration, they were given Biblical names. Joju Anto was renamed Mar Yohannan Joseph, while Saju Poulose was called as Mar Augin Kuriakose. The Church sources said that the consecration of the bishops would go down in the annals of the Church of the East in India as it was for the first time in the history of the Indian Church, the consecration of bishops is held in India.
The late Metropolitan Mar Themi t i ous wa s the last archdeacon elevated as Bishop in 1971 at Baghdad.
The ceremony, held at a temporarily-erected altar, began at 7 am Sunday in the midst of a solemn High Mass said in Syrian language. The two archdeacons after making their oath, signed the paper declaring their commitment to the Church and the faithful. After blessing them, the Dinkha handed over the authority letters, the sceptre, mitre and the ring of Episcopal authority.
Later in the afternoon, Dinkha-IV and other bishops attending the Synod were given a public reception, which was inaugurated by Union Minister of State for Agriculture K V Thomas.