MUSCAT: Hosanna, Hosanna in the Highest, as HH Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East, and Malankara Metropolitan, led the Palm Sunday (Hosanna) service at St Thomas Church, Ruwi, on April 9 evening.
His Holiness based his sermon on Jesus’ triumphal entry into Jerusalem and into the temple from the Gospels. The Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church called upon the faithful to follow a life of piety and humble just like the life of Jesus Christ.
“His triumphal entry into Jerusalem riding on a donkey reveals this character and took place in the days before the Last Supper, marking the beginning of his Passion, his time of suffering, death, and resurrection celebrated during Holy Week.”
The Catholicos further said riding a lowly animal denotes a symbol of peace.
“When horses are mentioned in the Bible they are almost always in relation to kings and war, while donkeys are mentioned in relation to common people,” His Holiness mentioned.
He recalled from the Holy Bible when Jesus arrived in Jerusalem, some of them spread their cloaks on the road for Jesus to ride on, while others cut branches from the palm trees and spread them on the road or waved them for Jesus.
Palm Sunday marked the sixth and last Sunday of the Holy month of Lent and the beginning of Holy week.
Muscat, MGOME Vicar/President Fr Varughese Tiju Ipe, Associate Vicar Fr Abey Chacko and Fr Baiju, Personal Secretary to His Holiness, also took part in the Hosanna services.