IN THE NAME OF THE ETERNAL, DIVINE AND ALMIGHTY BEING

IGNATIUS ZAKKA I IWAS PATRIARCH OF THE APOSTOLIC SEE OF ANTIOCH AND ALL THE EAST, SUPREME HEAD OF THE UNIVERSAL SYRIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH

To His Eminence our brother Metropolitan Mor (Name of each metropolitan to whom the encyclical was addressed).

Prayer and greeting in the Lord:

We are sad to announce to you the passing away of His Eminence Mor Gregorios Geewargis, Metropolitan of Kottayam whom we had appointed Head of the Local Synod in India. He was stricken shortly before his passing away with an incurable disease. We had directed our brother His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Severius Ishak Saka during the 1998 Christmas season to visit him on our behalf. Later, we also asked our brother His Eminence Metropolitan Mor Yulius Kuryakos, the Patriarchal vicar for the church affairs in India, to visit him too, on our behalf. He visited him on Monday February 2, 1999. In the evening of the same day he passed away. On the next day a solemn funeral service was conducted for him. His Eminence Metropolitan Kuryakos represented us and read our letter of condolence for the Metropolitans, all the clergy of our Church in India and our blessed people there. Their Eminences most of our Metropolitans in India, and Metropolitan Mor Dioscoros Benyamin Atash, the Patriarchal Vicar in Sweden, who was there on the occasion of the Patriarchal Day, participated in the funeral service. Also were present, Metropolitans from sister churches and Government officials.

We will hold a memorial service for him next Sunday, February 28, 1999, which coincides with the feast of St. Ephrem and the Sunday of the Leper. May the Lord give him the portion of faithful and wise stewards and may He keep you in good health.

Abun d-bashmayo w-sharko (Our Father Who art in heaven ...)

Issued at our Patriarchal house in Damascus, Syria
on the 25^th day of February, in the year one thousand nine hundred and ninety nine which is the 19^th year of our Patriarchate.