KOCHI: Thousands of people from different walks of life paid homage to Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil, head of Syro-Malabar Church, when his body was kept for public viewing at the St Mary's Cathedral Basilica on Saturday.
The funeral services began on Saturday morning. The body, which was kept at the Little Flower Hospital, Angamaly, was taken to Redemptorist Monastery, at Matoor, near Angamaly, in the morning. Redemptorist Order Fr Joy Poonoli led the prayers at the monastery.
From there, the body was brought to St George Basilica, Angamaly, where the prayer was led by Bishop Thomas Chakiath. The body was then brought to SyroMalabar Church headquarters, Mount St Thomas, at Kakkanad, in a special vehicle which was escorted by various other vehicles. Curia Bishop Mar Bosco Puthoor received the body at Mount St Thomas. All Bishops of SyroMalabar Church paid homage to the Cardinal. Archbishop Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy was the main celebrant at the Holy Mass held at Mount St Thomas. Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil led the first part of the funeral services.
The body was taken at 1 p.m. to Ernakulam major Archbishop's house, where the body was received by Auxiliary Bishops Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath and Thomas Chakiath at Bishop's House. Then the body was taken to St Mary's Basilica for the public to pay homage.
Former Prime Minister H D Devegowda, former Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan, Union Minister of state for Energy K C Venugopal, Minister Benoy Viswom, CPM state secretary Pinarayi Vijayan, NSU(I) national president and UDF candidate in Ernakulam Hibi Eden, Justice Pius C Kuriakose and Justice Thomas P Joseph and other prominent persons paid their respects. The burial services will begin at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. The public can pay respects till 1.45 p.m. Archbishop Mar George Valiyamattom will lead the burial services and Mar Bosco Puthoor will be the main celebrant at the Holy Mass.
