PONTIFICAL EQUESTRIAN ORDER OF SAINT GREGORY THE GREAT ON PROF. GEORGE MENACHERY THRISSUR [Palayur] – Archbishop Mar Andrews Thazhath on behalf of Pope Benedict XVI knighted Prof. George Menachery and the playwright C. L. Jose with The Equestrian Order of Saint Gregory the Great on Sunday March 9, at the ancient Palayur church during the Palayur Maha Theerthadanam in honour of St. Thomas the Apostle of Christ attended by more than 55000 faithful followed by the Eucharistic Celebration. While Mar Thazhath decorated Prof. Menachery with the official insignia of the Pontifical Order, the inscription of the Secretary of State was presented by Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy and a laudatory speech was made by Catholicos Mar Cleemis, Archbishop of Trivandrum. The investiture comes at the end of a yearlong celebration honoring the 70th birth anniversary or Sapthathi of Prof. George Menachery. Prof. Menachery made a suitable response.

Prof. George Menachery is a freelance Indian Journalist and Editor of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India and the Indian Church History Classics. After teaching university classes for thirty years, he gave up the job as Head of the Department of Post-Graduate Teaching in order to concentrate on research and publication. SARAS (South Asia Research Assistance Services) provides information and research assistance for topics dealing with India in particular and South Asia in general. He has to his credit a large number of publications, research papers, articles, radio talks and TV programmes. His research activities and lectures have taken him to more than 20 countries in 4 continents.

Prof. George Menachery is an esteemed author of Light of Life from its inception. There are many well read and distinguished Articles in the Archieves of the Light of Life Magazine.