Orthodox to issue ID cards to bishops, priests

An official said such cards will be helpful when they travel abroad.

Kottayam:  In a first-of-its-kind move, the Kerala-based Malankara Orthodox Church has issued identity cards to its bishops.

According to the PRO of the church P C Elias, such cards will be helpful when they travel abroad.

The cards are made according to QR (Quick Response) code technology and all the details about the person will be stored in the card and linked to the church website.

The cards were distributed among the bishops during the Bishop Council meeting held here. The council meeting is held every six months and in the last meeting a committee headed by the metropolitan of the UK, Europe and Africa Mathews Mar Thimothios had suggested the need for identity cards.

The cards for the priests will be distributed through their respective dioceses, said Elias.

Sources said the ID cards will also help to differentiate the bishops and priests from those of other churches as their robes are almost the same.

Source: Times of India