Moran mor Baselios Cleemis
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| Denomination | Catholic |
|---|---|
| Senior posting | |
| See | Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Trivandrum, India |
| Title | Major Archbishop Catholicos of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church |
| Period in office | 2007-Present |
| Predecessor | Moran Mor Cyril Mar Baselios |
| Successor | Incumbent |
| Religious career | |
| Priestly ordination | June 11, 1986 |
| Previous post | Apostolic Visitor to North America and Europe (2001-2003), Metropolitan Bishop of Tiruvalla (2003-2006), Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla (2006-2007) |
| Personal | |
| Date of birth | 15 June 1959 |
| Place of birth | Tirumoola, Kerala |
Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos is the Major Archbishop Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.
Cleemis was born on June 15, 1959 at Tirumoola, Kerala, India. The baptismal name was Isaac. He had his Minor Seminary Formation in Tiruvalla (1976-1979), obtained a B.Phil. degree from St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye (1979-1982) and a B.Th. degree from Papal Seminary, Pune (1983-1986). Bro. Isaac Thottunkal was ordained priest on June 11, 1986. And he had his studies in Master of Theology in Dharmaram College, Bangalore (1986-1989). Fr. Isaac Thottunkal had his doctorate in Ecumenical Theology from St. Thomas Aquinas University (Angelicum), Rome in 1997. On his return from Rome he became the Vicar General (Proto Syncellus) of the Eparchy of Bathery. The Holy Father John Paul II nominated Very Rev. Fr. Isaac Thottunkal, as Apostolic Visitor and the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum on 18 June 2001 for the Syro-Malankarites residing in North America and Europe. He was consecrated on 15 August 2001 at Tirumoolapuram, (Tiruvalla) and he assumed the name Isaac Mar Cleemis.The Holy See appointed Most Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Cleemis as sixth Bishop of the Eparchy of Thiruvalla on September 11, 2003.His Grace Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis was installed as the first Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla on June 10, 2006. His Grace Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis was elected the Second Major Archbishop Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church through the first Holy Episcopal Synod of election of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church convoked on 7 -10 February 2007 at Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Trivandrum.His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI approved the election on 9 February and it was announced on 10 February at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis was enthroned the Second Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on 5 March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. A large number of ecclesiastical and political dignitaries including Cardinal Telesphore Toppo (the President of the CBCI), Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil (Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church) and Sri. V. S. Achuthanandan (the Chief Minister of Kerala) participated in the installation ceremony.
Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos visited the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI on 28 May 2007 at Vatican and received ecclesiastical Communion. The Congregation for the Oriental Churches in Rome gave a warm reception to His Beatitude on his first visit to the Holy See.
[edit] Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, the Person
'A profound love for God and for the fellow human beings' - this is the shortest characterization possible about the personality of Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. The Catholicos has deep faith in God and in the loving providence God that sustains the whole universe. He has the deep conviction that whatever happens in his life is part of the loving plan of god for him and for the world. Mar Cleemis belongs to a Church. He loves his Church. He respects the traditions of his Church. But his love transcends the limits of his Church, of its traditions and of its denomination and it extends to the whole community. The very motto he selected as a bishop is 'that all may be one'. He believes in the dynamic nature of history, in the constant intervention of the Spirit of god in history. The fundamental openness to this Spirit is a dominant aspect of the personality of the Catholicos. One of the most attractive features of the personality of the Catholicos is his authentic love for the human person. The human person is a great value for him. He believes in the basic goodness of all human beings. The reason for this is his conviction that the core of the Christian faith is love for the human person. He always appreciates human companionship and nearness. He is deeply concerned about the pains and sorrows of his fellow human beings and he goes out of his way in his attempt to alleviate their sufferings. All his social involvement is ultimately aimed at providing his brothers and sisters a more dignified human existence. There is a personal, existential aspect to all that the Catholicos says and does. A superficial and merely formal relationship and style of action does not suit his nature. He has a special capacity for entering into a very deep personal relationship with others and for nurturing this relationship. He can understand their situation and respond creatively to their needs. He takes interest even in seemingly very insignificant matters of their life. God has gifted him with an exceptional memory power, which enables him to remember persons and events with minute details. Mar Cleemis' sense of responsibility is admirable. He always tries to fulfill the tasks that are given to him with an exemplary sense of responsibility and efficiency. He makes it a point to gather the maximum cooperation of others in the exercise of his duties. He is very particular that nobody should be neglected or sidelined. He always tries to make others happy through his words, deeds and presence. His loving presence and his style of speaking, which is often marked by a fine sense of humour can enrich his surroundings. This is an aspect of his basic nature. It is this aspect of his character that has enabled him to win so many good friends in India and abroad. In short, in the person of Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis we have a reliable and inspiring spiritual leader who can guide us according to the need of the times. Mar Cleemis has a deep faith. His approach is genuinely human. There is a certainty in his decisions. He is bold enough to tell the truth. There is love in his heart. In his dealings, there is cordiality, transparency, simplicity and humour. There is sincerity, openness and depth in his relationships. He looks at his responsibilities with seriousness. In the exercise of his responsibilities, there is efficiency, order and a scientific nature. He is always ready to learn from others.
