Panaji: The Syrian Orthodox Christians living in a town in Karnataka seem upbeat after they found a statue of a Goan saint floating in a nearby river.
Fr C A Isac, vicar general of St Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral in Brahmavar, described as “miraculous” the finding of the undamaged statue of Fr Roque Zeferino Noronha in a place nearer to their church ahead of his feast.
The priest’s recently-painted wooden statue along with another statue of St Lawrence was found on July 4 in the Sita River off a dockyard area of Hangarkatte, near Brahmavar. They were brought ashore the following day.
Brahmavar is preparing for Fr Noronha’s feast on July 23. “This death anniversary will be significant as it will be the first feast after he was declared blessed saint last year,” Fr Isac told The Times of India.
The Catholicos (supreme head) of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, on December 6, 2015, declared Fr Noronha and Bishop Antonio Francisco Alvares (Mar Julius), from Verna as saints at a function in Brahmavar in Karnataka, some 310 km south of Panaji, the Goa capital.
The event was reportedly a significant moment for Syrian Catholics and Goans.
According to Orthodox Church records, Fr Noronha’s family members had settled at Chorao and other places. He served as an assistant parish priest in Salvador do Mundo. Later, however, he joined the Syrian church at Brahmavar, about 10 km from Hangarkatte. He built St Mary’s Church on his own. He also endeared himself through his work for the poor as he promoted education for them.
The statue carved out of a single block of wood is about seven feet high. But the church and the laity in the town are baffled and trying to solve the puzzle. Did some artist carve it and later reject it?
A police complaint has been filed and the church is waiting for feedback.
For now, the statue has been kept in a special room. “In our church, there is no tradition of making statues,” Fr Isac said.