CATHOLICOS OF THE EAST & MALANKARA METROPOLITAN

HH Baselius Marthoma Paulose II

On October 29, 2010, in a special session of the Holy Episcopal Synod at the Catholicate Palace, Devalokam, the Pontiff who decided to abdicate, consecrated his successor, Catholicos Elect Metropolitan Paulose Mar Milithios, on November 1 during the annual feast of St Gregorios of Parumala.

He is the 8th Catholicos in Malankara after the establishment of the Catholicate here in 1912 and the 21st Malankara Metropolitan.

Three score years ago in a small village called Mangad near Kunnamkulam was born Paul on 30th Aug 1946 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Kollannur to K. I. Ipe and Kunjeetty. Paul’s mother hails from the famous family of Pulikkottil and Paul was baptized at St. mary’s orthodox church, pazhanj. Groomed by his parents and grand parents, Paul had his LP and UP education at Mangad schools.

He had his secondary education at Govt. H. S, Pazhanji, Paul moved to the city of Trissur for his pre-university and undergraduate studies at St. Thomas college, Trissur from where Paul passed in flying colours. He had his postgraduate studies in sociology at CMS College, Kottayam.

From his childhood Paul showed keen interest in spiritual matters. His parish church, St. Marys Orthodox church was the nerve centre of his spiritual growth. At the age of 13, he was selected by his parish priest to be vast in the ‘washing of feat’ service celebrated by H G Paulose Mar Severios Metropolitan. This marked a turning point in the life of young Paul when the metropolitan invited him to the priesthood. The influence of his parents especially that of his mother who hails from the famous Pulikkottil family played a great role in moulding his early life. Even from his childhood, he use to learn Syriac chants and prayers and was very keen in attending the church service. Young Paul joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary from where he secured GST and took BD from the Serampore University.

H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios, Metropolitan of Kochi diocese ordained him as sub deacon at Parumala seminary on 8th April 1972 and as deacon at Sion seminary, Koratty on 31st May 1973. He was ordained as priest by H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios at Sion Seminary, Koratty on 2nd June 1973. Fr K I Paul celebrated his fist Holy Qurbana at Mar Gregorius Orthodox Chapel Mangad.

Fr Paul served as a model shepherd of St. Marys Orthodox Church Ernakulam, Moolepat Orthodox church Pazhanji, St. Marys Magdalene Convent Adappotty, Kummanmkulam and Medical College Chapel Kottayam. The malankara Syrian Christian association held at MGM Thiruvalla on December 28th 1982 elected Fr Paul as metropolitan. H G the late Mathews Mar Coorilos (later H H Moran Mar Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II) professed him Ramban on 14 May 1983 at Parumala Seminary. On 15th May 1985 H H Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews I consecrated Paul ramban as Episcopa with the name Paulose Mar Milithios.

H G Paulose Mar Milithios had the privileged of becoming the first bishop of newly formed Kunnamkulam diociese on 1st August 1985. His Grace was elevated as Metropolitan on 25th Oct 1991. besides shepherding the kunnamkulam dioceses His Grace serves as the president of orthodox Syrian Sunday school association of the east (OSSAE), MBCH Mannapra Vadavucode, Pulikottil Mar Divannasius Bhavan Kottapady. His Grace is the vice president of Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement of India, MMM hospital, Kunnamkulam and manager of M. D. college Pazhanji. His grace has also served as the president of the Orthodox Youth Movement.

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I was catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan is the 90th prelate seated on The Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas. He is the 7th Catholicos in Malankara after the establishment of the Catholicate here in 1912 and the 20th Malankara Metropolitan.

Born on October 29, 1921, in Mavelikara in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala as the son of the late Mulamootil Ittyavirah Thomas and the late Chiramel Sosamma, the boy C. T. Thomas had his early education in a local school. At the age of 17, he became a member of the Mount Tabor Dayara (Monastery), Pathanapuram, where he completed his high school education and was initiated to a strict monastic life. As a disciple of His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius, C. T. Thomas began his monastic training and theological studies at Tabor Dayara, and later, continued his training under the able guidance of H. H. the Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II and H. H. Baselios Augen I. He was ordained as Koruyo on March 11, 1942, and as Deacon on May 22, 1947. On January

25, 1950, H. H. the Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II ordained D. C. T. Thomas as priest. Fr. C. T. Thomas continued his studies and earned B.A., M.A. and L.T. degrees. A farsighted educationalist, Fr. C. T. Thomas served as Vice Principal of St. Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram.

A strict ascetic, he was professed as Ramban (Monk) on May 16, 1965, by H. H. Baselios Augen I. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association held at M. D. Seminary, Kottayam, on December 28, 1965, chose him to be elevated to the rank of Episcopa. On August 24, 1966, H. H. Baselios Augen I consecrated C. T. Thomas Ramban as bishop with the name Thomas Mar Themothios. He took charge of the Malabar Diocese where he served the Church for 39 years, at first as the Assistant bishop and then as Metropolitan. On September 10, 1992, Mar Themothios was elected as Assistant and Successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association.

On October 29, 2005, Mar Themothios took over as the Malankara Metropolitan from his illustrious predecessor Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II. On Monday, October 31, 2005, at the hallowed precincts of Parumala Seminary, he was consecrated as the 7th Catholicos of the throne of St. Thomas in India and the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, with the name Baselios Marthoma Didymus I. His Holiness continues to serve God and humanity with the grace and humility and self abnegation of a true ascetic.