Thiruvananthapuram, Saturday 13 March 2010: Four priests of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church will be consecrated as bishops at a ceremony at the Mar Ivanios College ground here today.

Mar Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of the Church, will lead the rites. Vincent Kulappuravilai, Samuel Kattukallil, Sthephanos Thottathil and Antony Valiavilayil are the bishop candidates. After the consecration, the bishops will take on new names.

Patriarch of the Melkite Greek Catholic Church, Gregory III Laham, and the Patriarchal Vicar of the Syrian Catholic Patriarchate at Antioch, Archbishop Denys Raboula Antoine Beylouni, would be among the senior prelates who would participate in the rites.

Newly consecrated bishops would not just be in charge of the followers of the Catholic Church in their respective dioceses but they would be in charge of the development of that entire region. They should work for the betterment of all people in that region. This was the vision of the Malankara Catholic Church.

Union Minister of State for External Affairs Shashi Tharoor and Leader of the Opposition Oommen Chandy would be among those who would address a public function to be held at the venue after the consecration rites.