Baselios Yeldo

St. Baselios Yeldo
Maphrian of the Syriac Orthodox Church

Holy Tomb of Yeldo Mar Baselious
Church Syriac Orthodox Church
See Mosul and Nineveh
In office 1678–1684
Predecessor Baselios Habeeb II
Successor Baselios George I
Orders
Consecration 1678
by Ignatius Abded Mshiho I
Rank Maphrian
Personal details
Birth name Yeldo
Born 1593
Bakhdida, Ottoman Empire
Died 29 September 1685
Marthoma Cheriapally Kothamangalam
Sainthood
Feast day 2 October
Venerated in Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church
Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Canonized 2 November 1947
20 October 1987
by Baselios Geevarghese II
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

Saint Baselios Yeldo 1593 – 29 September, 1685) also known as Yeldo Bava, was the Maphrian of the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church, from 1678 until his resignation in 1684.

Early life

Yeldo was born in 1593 in the village of Bakhdida near Mosul and at a young age, he joined the Monastery of Mar Behnam and become a monk. In 1678, he was consecrated maphrian by the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Abded Mshiho I.

Malankara Church

From 1665 to 1681, Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, metropolitan bishop of Jerusalem, reorganised the Malankara Syrian Church and established ties between the church and the Syriac Orthodox Church. However, his death in 1681 allowed greater Portuguese interference into church affairs, prompting Mar Thoma II, metropolitan bishop of Malankara to appeal for assistance from the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Abded Mshiho I.

The situation was discussed by Ignatius Abded Mshiho I and Yeldo amongst other prelates at the Monastery of Mor Hananyo in 1684. In response, Yeldo resigned his position as Maphrian and volunteered to travel to India, despite the concerns from fellow prelates over his age and health. Yeldo then returned to Monastery of Mor Mattai to make preparations for the journey to India. Yeldo was joined by his brother Jamma, Ivanios Hidayat Allah and other two monks, Joea and Matthew of the monasteries, Monastery of Mor Mattai and Monastery of Mor Behnam respectively.

Yeldo and his entourage travelled south to Basra and sailed to Surat, arriving in mid 1685, from which they proceeded south towards the Malabar Coast. Fearing Portuguese persecution, they were forced to travel secretly and arrived at Kothamangalam on 14 September 1685.[1] Whilst travelling, the group encountered a tiger which was repulsed by Yeldho when he made the sign of the cross in its direction, forcing it to run away.

Upon arriving, Yeldo ordained Evanios Hidayat Allah as metropolitan and helped Mar Thoma II to reorganise the church and preach amongst locals. However, Yeldho died on 29 September and was buried the following day.

Sainthood

Baselios Yeldo was proclaimed a saint by Baselios Geevarghese II of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, on 2 November 1947. Later, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas also declared him as a saint on 20 October 1987.

Yeldo & Basil

The name Yelda (East Syriac) / Yeldo (West Syriac) means Christmas. Yelda/Yeldo lent (Nativity lent) starts on December 1 till December 25. Various spellings are used to write Yeldo (യെൽദൊ) in English viz. Yeldho, Eldho, Eldo. Basil is the short form for Baselios which mean King or Emperor. This name originally is from Greek Basileus. Many people come and pray at the Tomb of Yeldo and promise that if they were blessed with a baby, they would name their baby as 'Yeldo' or 'Basil'. It is believed that people having these names are more than one lakh nowadays.

See also

References

  1. ↑ "About St. Baselios Yeldo, our Patron Saint, St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, Cleveland, Ohio". Baselios.org. Archived from the original on 6 February 2016. Retrieved 2016-02-02.
Preceded by
Baselios Habeeb II		 Syriac Orthodox Maphrian of the East
1678–1684 		Succeeded by
Baselios George I
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