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Dimapur, July 13 (EMN): Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, passed away on July 12. He was the 91st reigning Catholicos of the East.
An update from Fr. Dr. PS Varghese, vicar of MGOS church, Dimapur, informed that the funeral service was conducted in the Catholicate Palace Church in Devalokam in Kottayam, Kerala, on July 13. He was suffering from lung cancer.
Describing him as an ardent supporter of the poor and destitute, who also conducted several charitable programmes, it stated that he gave away his ancestral property for the construction of homes for the homeless.
“A great humanitarian, the Catholicos was a supporter of social justice and equality. This was evident when the Malankara Metropolitan abolished age-old traditions and welcomed women into the administration of the church and the community. His Holiness went a step further in 2011 by giving them the right to vote along with their male peers in every parish. He was a symbol of change with his contemporary moves and convictions. Also, the adorable primate authored five enlightening books,” the statement read.
He assumed his role as Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan over the Holy Apostolic See of St. Thomas on November 1, 2010. He was ordained as a priest in 1973.
In 52, St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, came to India and founded the Orthodox Syrian Church of India (Malankara). Currently, there are about 3 million members, spread throughout the world, but the majority live in Kerala, in South West India.
Meanwhile, all the priests, office bearers, and believers of the Diocese of Calcutta, the office bearers of Saint Thomas Mission Bhilai, and board members of the MGM Group of institutions have condoled his demise.
Special prayers were held at Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church in Midland, Dimapur, on July 12 and 13.