Yuhanon Mor Philexinos
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Mor Philexinos Yuhanon ( born John Jacob on 5 December 1941) is a Syriac Orthodox bishop. He currently, is the metropolitan of Malabar Diocese, newly formed Kozhikode Diocese and Malabar Region Simhasana Churches.
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[edit] Early years
John Jacob was born in the famous Elappanal Family of Pampady on 5 December 1941. In 1964, at the age of 23, he was ordained deacon by Mor Philaxinos Poulose (then Catholicose Mor Baselios Paulose II) and Kassisho in 1969 by Mor Baselios Augen I.
[edit] Education
Jacob had his primary and high school education at Pampady. Later he joined Baselios College (Kottayam) where he received a BA in Economics. After that he obtained a MA in Economics at the Sri Venkateswara University (Thirupathi). His basic theological training was at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam from graduated in Sacred Theology. Jacob showed very interest in the learning faiths and doctrines of the Holy Church. Thus Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, Archbishop of Canada, sponsored Jacob for his higher studies in the United States. Jacob joined therefore the New York Theological College and obtained there his STM degree. Subsequently, he took his ThD degree from Logos Graduate School of Theology in New York and DD degree from Orlando International Seminary in Florida. Jacob is the only bishop in Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church with two doctorates. Besides that he has also did a Clinical Pastoral Education in New York. After becoming a bishop also, Jacob continued studying by joined Dakshin Bharath Hindi Prachar Sabha (a deemed to be university and a center of excellence under Govt. of India) and secured Hindi Bhooshan and Hindi Praveen.
[edit] As a Priest
When Jacob was studying in USA, he served as the vicar in many Jacobite churches in Staten Island, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Augusta. Also he performed volunteer's work for the Holy Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.
[edit] As a Metropolitan
After 17 January 1985, when the then Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese, Mor Philaxinos Samuel died, the Holy Episcopal Synod selected Jacob as the new metropolitan to the diocese. On 12 September 1985 Mor Baselios Paulose II consecrated Jacob as the new metropolitan of Malabar, with the title Mor Philaxinos, at St.Peter's & St.Paul's Cathedral Church in Meenangadi (one of the biggest churches in Malankara).
The history of the Malabar Diocese is closely related to Yuhanon Mor Philexinos. When Yuhanon Mor Philexinos took the charge of Malabar, the Diocese area was in a high state of deterioration. He therfore co-ordinated the works in the diocese and constructed many new churches through out the diocese. A lot of them are built in Nilgiri District of Tamil Nadu, Kozhikode and Malappuram Districts of Kerala.
The current metropolitan is well known in the field of Ecumenism too. Some of the institutions started by him are:
- Mor Alias Snehabhavan
- Mor Philexinos Memorial Press
- Mor Gregorios Teachers Training College
- St.Peter's & St.Paul's EHS School
- Aramana Chappel
- Mor Basil Day Care
- Mor Philexinos Foundation
The present Bishop's Palace is built by the effort of the metropolitan as well.
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[edit] See Also
Syriac Orthodox Church
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
[edit] References
- www.syriacchristianity.org
- Athmadeepam
- Viswasasamrakshakan
