The 64th Birthday of His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso was on 2nd February 2021. His Holiness was born on 1st February 1957, precisely at 12 midnight by touching this massive earth.
The followers of the Holy Apostle have been gathering since many years from various provinces of the country to spend that blessed midnight, the night of His Birth, at Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine, where His Holiness is still residing alive even today. It has to be mention that this glorious midnight, is a symbol of a little Christmas, with various innovations coming together every year.
The midnight on 1st February 2021 was a little Christmas to Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. Despite the fact that it was midnight, without considering any traveling difficulties in the middle of the night, the devotees, including mothers who cuddle their infants and the elderly who were even older than the Holy Apostle, gathered in the Shrine ground of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine.
No one forced them for such a gathering. It was purely because of the love lodged all of their hearts in reverence of His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso. The reason for that love is this Holy Apostle, who was born into the world in the midnight on the 1st February 64 years ago, taught them the Dhamma lovingly, took them on the right path, and still guiding them.
His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso has lived as an “Apostle” for 46 years, more than two-thirds of the 64 years He has lived. The time when this Holy Apostle was born into this world was not an easy time for the people to reach Him. His Holiness was born at 12 midnight, precisely at 12 midnight on1st February.
This Holy Apostle, who was born, at 12 midnight on the eve of a day and the dawn of a next new day of the world, resides in Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine. This year also people began to flock to the Shrine from around 10 in the night.
When it was getting closer to 12 midnight, devotees began to celebrate the 64th Birthday of His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso by lighting candles and incense sticks in front of the photograph of His Holiness, established in the Shrine ground of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine and offered their devotion to Him. Oil lamps were also lit to symbolize the number ’64’.
The Governing Board of the Shrine, which organized this birthday celebration, disconnected the electricity of the entire Shrine at 11.57 in the night on 1st February. Then, precisely at 12 midnight, the entire Shrine was re-illuminated with electricity. By doing so, they symbolized the Birth of an Apostle 64 years ago, who was born to enlighten people in Dhamma, since they are walking in the darkness of sin.
Shortly afterwards, His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso also visited the Holy Apostles’ Peter and Paul Garden. His presence among the devotees caused great joy to all. With His arrival, everyone started singing the ancient English song ‘Happy Birthday’ loudly.
These photographs show some highlights of the 64th Birthday celebration of His Holiness The Apostle Rohan Lalith Aponso, held in Holy Apostles’ Peter and Paul Garden of Our Lady of Katunayake’s Shrine
