H.B. Mar Aprem Visits Mar Timotheus Charitable Hospital

His Beatitude Dr Mar Aprem, Metropolitan of India, has presented the Mar Timotheus Charitable Hospital with funds from a generous Australian donor.

Visiting the hospital on 25 January, His Beatitude presented the donation to Mr K.A. John, the secretary of the hospital and the elder brother of His Grace the late Dr Paulose Mar Paulose, Bishop of India.

During the visit, His Beatitude surveyed the operations of the hospital and its services including general practitioner consultations, x-ray and surgery facilities. At present, the hospital treats 40 patients a day and has a capacity of 50 beds.

The foundation stone for the hospital was laid in 1986 by the chief minister of Kerala, Hon. Shri. K. Karunakaran, under the auspices of His Beatitude the late Mar Timotheus, Metropolitan of the Church of the East.

After its construction, the hospital was inaugurated by His Holiness Mar Dinkha IV, Catholicos Patriarch of the Holy Apostolic Catholic Assyrian Church of the East on 13 January 1991.

Much of the funds for the hospital’s initial construction came from Assyrian churches and individual donations from around the world.

Following the hospital tour, His Beatitude also visited the Dr Santhosham Home for the Aged, a facility run by the Church of the East in India for approximately 25 elderly individuals over the age of 60.

The facility also happens to be the location where the agreement for the unity of two calendar groups in India took place in November 1995 with the presence of His Beatitude the late Mar Narsai De Baz, and the current Metropolitan of Australia, New Zealand and Lebanon, His Beatitude Mar Meelis Zaia AM.

A new building entitled the Silver Jubilee Block has also been constructed adjacent to the existing home and will accommodate 14 new elderly residents in the near future.