Valiya Bava Thirumeni
His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I Born on October 29, 1921, in Mavelikara in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala as the son of the late Mulamootil Ittyavirah Thomas and the late Chiramel Sosamma.
He was ordained as Koruyo on March 11, 1942, and as Deacon on May 22, 1947. On January 25, 1950, H. H. the Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II ordained D. C. T. Thomas as priest. Fr. C. T. Thomas continued his studies and earned B.A., M.A. and L.T. degrees. A farsighted educationalist, Fr. C. T. Thomas served as Vice Principal of St. Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram.
A strict ascetic, he was professed as Ramban (Monk) on May 16, 1965, by H. H. Baselios Augen I. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association held at M. D. Seminary, Kottayam, on December 28, 1965, chose him to be elevated to the rank of Episcopa. On August 24, 1966, H. H. Baselios Augen I consecrated C. T. Thomas Ramban as bishop with the name Thomas Mar Themothios. On September 10, 1992, Mar Themothios was elected as Assistant and Successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association. On October 29, 2005, Mar Themothios took over as the Malankara Metropolitan from his illustrious predecessor Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II. On Monday, October 31, 2005, at the hallowed precincts of Parumala Seminary, he was consecrated as the 7th Catholicos of the throne of St. Thomas in India and the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, with the name Baselios Marthoma Didymus I. His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (Valiya Bava),On November 1st,2010 Officially retired from duties.
Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan
H. H. BASELIOS MAR THOMA PAULOSE II
In a small village called Mangad near Kunnamkulam Paul was born on 30th Aug 1946 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Kollannur to K. I. Ipe and Kunjeetty. He had his secondary education at Govt. H. S, Pazhanji, Paul moved to the city of Trissur for his pre-university and undergraduate studies at St. Thomas college, Trissur from where Paul passed in flying colours. He had his postgraduate studies in sociology at CMS College, Kottayam.
From his childhood Paul showed keen interest in spiritual matters. His parish church, St. Marys Orthodox church was the nerve centre of his spiritual growth. Young Paul joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary from where he secured GST and took BD from the Serampore University.
H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios, Metropolitan of Kochi diocese ordained him as sub deacon at Parumala seminary on 8th April 1972 and as deacon at Sion seminary, Koratty on 31st May 1973. He was ordained as priest by H G the late Yuhanon Mar Severios at Sion Seminary, Koratty on 2nd June 1973. Fr K I Paul celebrated his fist Holy Qurbana at Mar Gregorius Orthodox Chapel Mangad.
The malankara Syrian Christian association held at MGM Thiruvalla on December 28th 1982 elected Fr Paul as metropolitan. H G the late Mathews Mar Coorilos (later H H Moran Mar Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II) professed him Ramban on 14 May 1983 at Parumala Seminary. On 15th May 1985 H H Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews I consecrated Paul ramban as Episcopa with the name Paulose Mar Milithios.
H G Paulose Mar Milithios had the privileged of becoming the first bishop of newly formed Kunnamkulam diociese on 1st August 1985. The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated His Grace as the successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 27 Sep 2006.On November 1st , 2010 at the hallowed precincts of Parumala Seminary, he was consecrated as the 8th Catholicos of the throne of St. Thomas in India and the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Church, with the name H. H. Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II
Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese
His Grace Dr.Joseph Mar Dionysius
H. G. Joseph Mar Dionysius Metropolitan was born on 15th June 1956 as the son of Mr. T. V. Mathai and Mrs. Aleyamma Mathai of Thekkil Kandathil family in Valanjavattom, Thiruvalla. His Grace is a member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Valanjavattom in Niranam Diocese. His Grace became a member of Mount Thabor Ashram on 15th July 1971. His Grace stood first in the Master’s Degree Exam of Madras University and won the “Chithanass” award and the gold medal in 1981. His Grace took the M. Phil, Ph. D. Degrees from the University of Kerala and his B.D. degree from the University of Serampore. His Grace was ordained deacon in July 1980. He was ordained as a priest on 4th December 1985. He got training in Christian leadership from the Haggai International Institute Singapore in 2005.
His Grace had been teaching in the Dept. of Zoology at St. Stephen’s College Pathanapuram. From 2000 His Grace had been the director of the research department of Zoology. His Grace won the “Man of the year” award from American Biographical Institute in 2003 and St. Berchman’s award for the Best University Teacher in 2008. His Grace is ever active as a guide and mentor in meditation, preacher, researcher and ecological theologian. His Grace became ordained as a Ramban at Parumala of 4th December 2008.
Address:
H.G. Dr. Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius
Metropolitan of the Diocese of Calcutta
St. Thomas Mission Centre,
Kailash Nagar, Bhilai, Chattisgarh 490 001.