Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I
Encyclopedia
His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (born 29 October 1920) was enthroned Catholicos of the East
& Malankara Metropolitan
(Malankara Orthodox Church
) on 31 October 2005. HH Didymos I was consecrated as Bishop on 24 August 1966 and has been serving as Metropolitan of the Malabar Diocese of the church. He is the seventh Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East
was relocated to India
and 111th in the lineage of Catholicose of the East in the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas. HH is also the 19th Malankara Metropolitan
of the Church.
in 1939 where he completed his high school education. HH passed his Intermediate from C.M.S College, Kottayam
in 1945, his B.A from National College
, Tiruchirapalli
in 1951, his B.T from Maston Training College, Chennai
in 1954, and his M.A from Christ Church College
, Kanpur in 1961.
HH completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of Thoma Mar Dionysius and Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East. Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East awarded him the order of Korooyo on 11 March 1942, full deaconship on 22 May 1947 and priesthood on 25 January 1950.
HH started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. HH was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of Niranam.
On 16 May 1965, HH Moran Mar Baselios Ougen I made him Ramban. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association elected him to the office of Metropolitan in 1965.
The church had a tradition of selecting bishops from the monastic ranks. On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry, Baselios Ougen Bava consecrated him as Metropolitan Thomas Mar Timotheos.
HH became the Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese
on 11 November 1966. He continues to serve as the General Superior of Mount Tabor Dayara and Convent in Pathanapuram. On 10 September 1992, the Malankara Association, which met at Parumala, elected him as successor-designate to the Malankara Metropolitan and Catholicos of the East. He was the first Catholicos to preside over an official church secretariat, which administers to the affairs of the church. He has encouraged unity in worship and discipline in all parishes. He visited the church's diaspora, tending to his flock in other regions.
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
& Malankara Metropolitan
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
(Malankara Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
) on 31 October 2005. HH Didymos I was consecrated as Bishop on 24 August 1966 and has been serving as Metropolitan of the Malabar Diocese of the church. He is the seventh Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East
Catholicos of the East
Catholicos of the East is an ecclesiastical title used historically by the Church of the East and the Syriac Orthodox Church, and now used in successor churches. The title Catholicos, or "universal leader", is used in several Eastern Christian churches and implies a degree of sovereignty and...
was relocated to India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
and 111th in the lineage of Catholicose of the East in the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas. HH is also the 19th Malankara Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
of the Church.
Early life and education
HH Didymus is the son of Ittyavira Thomas of Chiramel-Mulamootil House in Nedumbram near Thiruvalla and Sosamma of Chiramel House in Mavelikara. HH joined the Tabor Dayara in PathanapuramPathanapuram
Pathanapuram is an administrative division situated in the Western Ghats in the Kollam District of Kerala state of India. It is about 13 km from industrial town Punalur...
in 1939 where he completed his high school education. HH passed his Intermediate from C.M.S College, Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
in 1945, his B.A from National College
National College
The National College is an institution for higher education at Tiruchirapalli, Tamil Nadu, India. Established in 1919, the college provides education to economically and socially deprived students....
, Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirapalli
Tiruchirappalli ) , also called Tiruchi or Trichy , is a city in the Indian state of Tamil Nadu and the administrative headquarters of Tiruchirappalli District. It is the fourth largest municipal corporation in Tamil Nadu and also the fourth largest urban agglomeration in the state...
in 1951, his B.T from Maston Training College, Chennai
Chennai
Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...
in 1954, and his M.A from Christ Church College
Christ Church College, Kanpur
Christ Church College, Kanpur is a college established in 1866, affiliated with Kanpur University. Earlier in 1840, SPG Mission School was established to educated Christian students. Later its name turned to present one. It is managed by Church of North India...
, Kanpur in 1961.
HH completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of Thoma Mar Dionysius and Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East. Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East awarded him the order of Korooyo on 11 March 1942, full deaconship on 22 May 1947 and priesthood on 25 January 1950.
HH started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. HH was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of Niranam.
Career
HH served as headmaster of Ponnayya High School, Thiruchirapalli and St. Stephen's High School, Pathanapuram, as Professor of English in St. Stephens College Pathanapuram, and as President of the Orthodox Youth Movement.On 16 May 1965, HH Moran Mar Baselios Ougen I made him Ramban. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association elected him to the office of Metropolitan in 1965.
The church had a tradition of selecting bishops from the monastic ranks. On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry, Baselios Ougen Bava consecrated him as Metropolitan Thomas Mar Timotheos.
HH became the Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese
Malabar Diocese
History of DioceseThe Malabar Diocese, which has extended in the western districts of Kerala, was formed in 1953. Paulose Mar Sevarios and Pathrose Mar Osthathios have executed its administration at different times. From 11 November 1966 Thomas Mar Timotheos became the diocesan head and now...
on 11 November 1966. He continues to serve as the General Superior of Mount Tabor Dayara and Convent in Pathanapuram. On 10 September 1992, the Malankara Association, which met at Parumala, elected him as successor-designate to the Malankara Metropolitan and Catholicos of the East. He was the first Catholicos to preside over an official church secretariat, which administers to the affairs of the church. He has encouraged unity in worship and discipline in all parishes. He visited the church's diaspora, tending to his flock in other regions.