Cyril Mar Baselios
Encyclopedia
Major Archbishop
Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholcios Bava O.I.C.
(August 16, 1935 – January 18, 2007) was the Major Archbishop
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
based in Trivandrum, Kerala
. He was the first Major Archbishop-Catholicos Bava of the Church, elevated by Pope John Paul II
.
He had ecumenical relations with the Indian Orthodox Church
, Syriac Orthodox Church
, Mar Thoma Church
and other St. Thomas churches
.
He was born in Pandalam
, Kerala
.
Baselios was ordained priest in 1960 by Aboon Benedict Mar Gregorios. He received a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University
in Rome in 1965, after taking a master's degree
in psychology
from St. John's University
in New York City
. He taught at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Kottayam
and St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute, Mangalapuzha, Aluva
.
Baselios became the Bishop of the Diocese of Bathery in 1978 and was made the metropolitan archbishop and head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 1995. He received the pallium
from the Pope John Paul II on January 9, 1996 in Vatican City
.
Baselios died suddenly of a heart attack on January 18, 2007, in Trivandrum.
Major Archbishop
right|200 px|thumb|Archbishop [[Sviatoslav Shevchuk]], Major Archbishop of Kyiv-HalychIn the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop is a title for an hierarch to whose archiepiscopal see is granted the same jurisdiction in his autonomous particular Church that an Eastern patriarch has in...
Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholcios Bava O.I.C.
Order of the Imitation of Christ
The Order of the Imitation of Christ , also known as Bethany Ashram, is a monastic order in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.-External links:*...
(August 16, 1935 – January 18, 2007) was the Major Archbishop
Major Archbishop
right|200 px|thumb|Archbishop [[Sviatoslav Shevchuk]], Major Archbishop of Kyiv-HalychIn the Eastern Catholic Churches, major archbishop is a title for an hierarch to whose archiepiscopal see is granted the same jurisdiction in his autonomous particular Church that an Eastern patriarch has in...
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...
based in Trivandrum, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. He was the first Major Archbishop-Catholicos Bava of the Church, elevated by Pope John Paul II
Pope John Paul II
Blessed Pope John Paul II , born Karol Józef Wojtyła , reigned as Pope of the Catholic Church and Sovereign of Vatican City from 16 October 1978 until his death on 2 April 2005, at of age. His was the second-longest documented pontificate, which lasted ; only Pope Pius IX ...
.
He had ecumenical relations with the Indian 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...
, Syriac Orthodox Church
Syriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
, Mar Thoma Church
Mar Thoma Church
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...
and other St. Thomas churches
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians are an ancient body of Christians from Kerala, India, who trace their origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are also known as "Nasranis" because they are followers of "Jesus of Nazareth". The term "Nasrani" is still used by St...
.
He was born in Pandalam
Pandalam
Pandalam is one among the fastest growing towns in Kerala, India. Known far and wide for its legendary connection with Lord Ayyappa and Sabarimala, Pandalam is considered to be a holy town...
, Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
.
Baselios was ordained priest in 1960 by Aboon Benedict Mar Gregorios. He received a doctorate in canon law from the Pontifical Gregorian University
Pontifical Gregorian University
The Pontifical Gregorian University is a pontifical university located in Rome, Italy.Heir of the Roman College founded by Saint Ignatius of Loyola over 460 years ago, the Gregorian University was the first university founded by the Jesuits...
in Rome in 1965, after taking a master's degree
Master's degree
A master's is an academic degree granted to individuals who have undergone study demonstrating a mastery or high-order overview of a specific field of study or area of professional practice...
in psychology
Psychology
Psychology is the study of the mind and behavior. Its immediate goal is to understand individuals and groups by both establishing general principles and researching specific cases. For many, the ultimate goal of psychology is to benefit society...
from St. John's University
St. John's University (New York City)
St. John's University is a private, Roman Catholic, coeducational university located in New York City, United States. Founded by the Congregation of the Mission in 1870, the school was originally located in the borough of Brooklyn in the neighborhood of Bedford–Stuyvesant...
in New York City
New York City
New York is the most populous city in the United States and the center of the New York Metropolitan Area, one of the most populous metropolitan areas in the world. New York exerts a significant impact upon global commerce, finance, media, art, fashion, research, technology, education, and...
. He taught at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in 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...
and St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute, Mangalapuzha, Aluva
Mangalapuzha Seminary
St. Joseph Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva, Kerala, India is the largest major seminary of the Syro-Malabar Church of the St. Thomas Christians and one of the largest major seminaries in the world. It has a history of more than 500 years and could be considered as the continuation of...
.
Baselios became the Bishop of the Diocese of Bathery in 1978 and was made the metropolitan archbishop and head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 1995. He received the pallium
Pallium
The pallium is an ecclesiastical vestment in the Roman Catholic Church, originally peculiar to the Pope, but for many centuries bestowed by him on metropolitans and primates as a symbol of the jurisdiction delegated to them by the Holy See. In that context it has always remained unambiguously...
from the Pope John Paul II on January 9, 1996 in Vatican City
Vatican City
Vatican City , or Vatican City State, in Italian officially Stato della Città del Vaticano , which translates literally as State of the City of the Vatican, is a landlocked sovereign city-state whose territory consists of a walled enclave within the city of Rome, Italy. It has an area of...
.
Baselios died suddenly of a heart attack on January 18, 2007, in Trivandrum.