Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II

His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Church	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
See	Apostolic See of St. Thomas in the East
Installed	1 November 2010
Term ended	Incumbent
Predecessor	Baselios Thoma Didymos I
Other posts	Metropolitan of Kunnamkulam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Orders
Ordination	21 June 1973
Consecration	15 May 1985 St Mary's Cathedral, Puthiyacavu
Personal details
Birth name	K. I. Paul
Born	(1946-08-30) 30 August 1946 Mangad, Thrissur, Kerala
Nationality	Indian
Denomination	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Residence	Devalokam Catholicate Aramana, Kottayam
Parents	K. I. Iype and Kunjeetty
Alma mater	University of Calicut

Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II (Malayalam: ബസേലിയോസ് മാര്‍ത്തോമ്മാ പൗലോസ്‌ ദ്വിതിയന്‍) (born K. I. Paul on 30 August 1946)^[1] is the 91st reigning Catholicos of the East and 21st reigning Malankara Metropolitan and as such, Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church. He was enthroned Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 1 November 2010 at Parumala, Kerala.^[2][3] He succeeded Baselios Thoma Didymos I. At the time of his election as Catholicos, Paulos had been Metropolitan Bishop of Kunnamkulam. He is also known by his traditional episcopal name, Paulos Mar Milithios. Born on 30 August 1946 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Kollannur to K I Ipe and Kunjeetty at Mangad. His mother, Kunjeetty hails from the famous family of Pulikkottil and he was baptized at St Mary’s Orthodox Church Pazhanji. Metropolitan Paulose Mar Milithios was unanimously elected as Catholicos designate by Malankara Syrian Christian Association on 12 October 2006. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East for Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 1 November 2010 at Parumala Seminary. He is the 91st Catholicos and 21st Malankara Metropolitan in the lineage of Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitans respectively. He is officially styled as Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.

Life and career

Early life and ordination

Paulose Mar Milithios was born on 30 August 1946 as the second son of K. I. Iype of Kollannoor house, Mangad near Pazhanji in Kerala, India. His mother Kunjeetty belongs to Pulikkottil family. He was named as Paul after his grand father and was baptized in Pazhanji.^[1] He did his preliminary education at the Mangad Church School till his 7th standard. His high school education was conducted at the Pazhanji Government High School, which was established by Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysisus II. Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at an young age. In 1963 he completed his SSLC. His uncle Iyyukkutty also had inspired him for the priestly services. The affection bestowed by him encouraged Paul and inspired him to dedicate himself for clergical services. Paul studied for pre-university and B.Sc. in Physics at St. Thomas College. His call was strengthened while studying for the degree. Paul was an active member of MGOCSM unit in his church. In 1969, Paul enrolled at the Theological Seminary in Kottayam for his theological studies under the discipleship of Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios, Fr. T J Abraham Malpan, and Fr. Koruthu Malapan. He completed theological studies in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary and BD from Seramboor University.^[1]

In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of diaconate in Parumala Seminary. He was ordained as a full deacon at Koratty Seheyon Seminary. On 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained as a priest. Fr. Paul celebrated the first Holy Qurbana at Mangad St. Gregorious Church, served the Mooleppat Mar Basalios Mar Gregorios Church for a short while.

Bishop

On 15 May 1985 Ramban Paul was ordained as a Bishop with title Paulose Mar Milithios at the age of 38 at Puthiyacavu St. Mary's Church by Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I. He is the first Metropolitan after Parumala Thirumeni and Puthenkavil Geevarghese Mar Philexinos to be ordained to Bishopric below age of 40. Four other Bishops, Mathews Mar Epiphanios, Philppose Mar Eusabius, Geevarghese Mar Ivanios and Thomas Mar Athanisius were also ordained along with Mar Milithios. A new diocese for the Church, Kunnamkulam was formed on 14 April 1985 with some of the churches of Talappally Taluk of Kochi diocese and some neighboring churches. The newly ordained Bishop Mar Milithios was appointed as the diocesan Metropolitan of the newly formed diocese of Kunnamkulam. When he took over the charge on 1 Aug 1985, there was no diocesan headquarters or any Aramana. Initially the new Metropolitan lived in an annexed room of Arthat Church. With determined efforts and cooperation of his fellow believers of his diocese he was able to construct a beautiful diocesan centre with a chapel in the vicinity of Arthat church for Kunnamkulam diocese within five years span.

Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan

The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated him as the successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 27 Sep 2006. Paulose Mar Milithios was enthroned as the new Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan at a solemn ceremony at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's church at Parumala on Monday, 1 November 2010. Thomas Mar Athanasius was the chief celebrant for the Holy Qurbana of the ceremony. He succeeds Baselius Mar Thoma Didymus I who abdicated office at the age of 90. He is the eighth Catholicos of the East since the establishment of the Catholicate in India in 1912 and the 21st Malankara Metropolitan. The enthronement came almost a year before the Church officially launched the centenary celebrations of the establishment of the Catholicate in India (in 1912), an assertion of the Church's nationality, autonomy and autocephaly.

said the Principal of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Fr. Dr. K.M. George.^[4][5][6][7]

Styles and titles

• K. I. Paul (1946–1972)
• Dn. K. I. Paul (1972–1973)
• Rev. Father K. I. Paul (1973–1983)
• Very Rev. K. I. Paul Ramban (1983–1985)
• His Grace Paulose Mar Milithios Metropolitan (1985–2006)
• His Beatitude Paulose Mar Milithios, Assistant and Successor-designate to the Catholicos of the East (2006–2010)
• His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (2010 – present)

References