Yakub Mar Elias Elected President of Brahmavar Orthodox Konkani Community

Media Release

Abu Dhabi, Nov 19: The newly-formed Brahmavar Orthodox Konkani Community of UAE held its first meeting with Yakub Mar Elias, the Brahmavar Diocesan Metropolitan at St George Orthodox Cathedral here recently.

The Community provides an oppurtunity for the Konkani community who share orthodox faith to unite. This was for the first time in the history of the church that members of different orthodox parishes in and around Brahmavar came together in the United Arab Emirates.

The meeting began with prayers in Konkani in the presence of the Diocesan Metropolitan and the parish priest Fr Johnson Daniel.

The Diocesan Metropolitan in his address stressed upon the need to keep up the orthodox faith and to unite under the orthodox belief and assured his full support and cooperation to the Brahmavar Orthodox Konkani Community.

Later in the meeting it was unanimously decided to form an organization under the banner of Brahmavar Orthodox Konkani Community, UAE and the following were selected as its office-bearers for the year 2010-11:

Yakub Mar Elias – president
Stanly Banz - vice-president
Selvin Lewis - secretary
Vanisha D’Almeida - joint secretary

Members of the Community Prasan Suaris, Robby Rodrigues, Sunil G Lewis, Naveen Suaris, John D’Almeida, Anil Rodrigues, Milton D’Souza, Venet Milton Olivera, Elyas D’Souza, Antony D’Almeida, Steevan Sunil Dias, Praveen Lewis, Valerian Lewis, Steephan Lewis and Jakline S Banz were present.

It was unanimously decided to convene the next meeting in the month of January 2011 at Dubai to decide the future course of action.
 
Selvin Lewis proposed the vote of thanks and the meeting concluded with a recitation of Konkani hymns in vespers in the cathedral.