Sri Sri Accorded The ‘Order of St. George’ Award

May 3, 2019, Bengaluru: As part of Kottayam’s Puthupally Pally,  St.  George Orthodox Church’s Commemorative Feast, the 462-year-old church will award Gurudev Sri Sri Ravi Shankar, global humanitarian and spiritual leader who founded The Art of Living, with ‘Order of St. George’ Award at an open event on 5th May which will be attended by church leaders and prominent members of the society.

Gurudev has spearheaded an unprecedented worldwide movement for a stress-free, violence-free society. Through a myriad of programs and teachings, a network of organizations including the Art of Living and the International Association for Human Values, and a rapidly growing presence across 155 countries, Sri Sri has reached an estimated 450 million people. Through a number of service initiatives, the organisation has worked to provide trauma relief in conflict zones and in natural disasters, apart from running over 618 free schools in far-flung areas of the country educating 70,000 children, 90% of whom are first generation learners. The organisation has worked towards rejuvenating 41 dried up rivers in four states, increasing availability and conservatory of water.

The  supreme head of the church,  H.  H.  Baselius Marthoma Paulose II the Catholicos of the East and Metropolitans of the church, will lead the various programmes connected with the Commemorative Feast.

The church,  which is considered the Georgian Pilgrim Centre of the East, is known for several traditional rituals such as flag hoisting,  fireworks, feeding rice to children for the first time,  mass luncheon, ceremonial processions and fireworks,  family unions,  etc., during the annual Feast.  Special Holy Communions will be held on May 6th and 7th.

The installation of the golden cross at the main sacrificial altar will also take place on May 6th. This year,  it is estimated that 10,001 kgs of rice will be cooked for feeding those who attend the Commemorative Feast.

The martyrdom day of St.Geevarghese Sahada was on April 23rd.  The annual convention in connection with the Commemmorative Feast, commenced on April 30th and will conclude on May 5th.