| Jacob Mar Theophilos | |
|---|---|
| 1st Metropolitan Tiruvalla Eparchy of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church | |
| Church | Syro-Malankara Catholic Church |
| See | Tiruvalla (India) |
| In Office | 1930–1956 |
| Predecessor | None (seat created) |
| Successor | Zacharias Mar Athanasios |
| Personal details | |
| Born | February 21, 1891 Olassa, Kottayam, Kerala |
| Died | June 27, 1956 (aged 65) Tiruvalla, Kerala |
Jacob Mar Theophilos (born February 21, 1891, Olassa, Kottayam, Kerala - died 27 June 1956, Tiruvalla, Kerala) was the first bishop of Eparchy of Tiruvalla of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.
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Jacob (Yakob) Mar Theophilos was born as the first son of Abraham Tharakan and Achama of Kulapurackalveedu. After primary education from a nearby school, he completed matriculation from MD High School, Kottayam, where he later became a teacher. He longed to lead a life of priesthood by his own religious tradition and by the inspiration of MA Achan (Fr. P. T. Geevarghese Panikerveettil, later Archbishop Mar Ivanios), who was then Principal of the MD High School. Mar Theophilos received his sacred order of the Diconate from Metropolitan Vattasseril Mar Divannasios. MA Achan took Mar Theophilos, his deacon, to Serampore when he (MA Achan) took up an assignment as Professor of the Serampore University.
Deacon Yakob stood with Archbishop Mar Ivanios in the founding of Bethany Ashram and later in embracing the Catholic Communion through the Re-union Movement. One of the first members of the Bethany Congregation was Fr. Yakob. He was the Guru(Master) of the Novices. He was ordained priest in 1924 and was elected and ordained Bishop after the name Yakob Mar Theophilos.
Mar Theophilos gave full support to Mar Ivanios in all his pioneering endeavours especially of the Reunion Movement. Though other Bishops backtracked from the decision of the Synod of Parumala held in 1926, Mar Theophilos endorsed it with full conviction and commitment. Thus he became one among the first five members of the Re-union Movement on September 20, 1930.
When the Syro-Malankara Catholic Hierarchy was established in 1932, he was appointed the first Metropolitan of Tiruvalla. His Aramana (Bishop's residence) was a small two storied building named Cherupushpagiri, situated in the place where now stands the Pushpagiri Medical College. In 1933 Mar Theophilos visited Rome and paid his respects to Pope Pius XI.
Jacob Mar Theophilos blessed the new Bishop’s house on 24 November 1934. Many churches, schools and the St. Joseph’s press were started by him. With the mission to spread the faith and to strengthen the Re-union Movement, he formed “Sakshyasangam” ("Group of Witnesses").
Due to ill health, he handed over the administration of the Eparchy to Mar Severios and took rest. Mar Theophilos died on 27 June 1956, aged 65. His remains are entombed in St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla.