Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

For Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, located in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, currently Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous archdiocese within the church, under the authority...

(1975–1996), see Baselios Paulose II

Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II (born K. I. Paul on 30 August 1946) is the 91st reigning Catholicos 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...

and 21st reigning Malankara Metropolitan and as such, Supreme Head of 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...

. He was enthroned Catholicos of the East

Catholicos of the East

& Malankara Metropolitan

Catholicos of the East

of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 1 November 2010 at Parumala

Parumala

Parumala is a small village and island on the Pampa River in Pathanamthitta district in Kerala, India.Parumala is renowned for the presence of the Tomb of St. Gregorios , the Greatest Saint of India belonging to the Indian Orthodox Church and Syriac Orthodox Church, so it is a pilgrimage site...

, Kerala. He succeeded Baselios Thoma Didymos I. At the time of his election as Catholicos, Paulos had been Metropolitan Bishop

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 Kunnamkulam

Kunnamkulam

Kunnamkulam is a municipal town situated in the Thrissur District of Kerala in India, spread over an area of 6.96 km2. It is an old commercial town, with a history of more than 300 years, famous for its printing and book binding industry...

. 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 got enthroned as the Catholicos of the East

Catholicos of the East

for Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 1 November 2010 at Parumala Seminary

Parumala Seminary

The Parumala Seminary is a Syrian Christian religious school located in Parumala, Thiruvalla, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India. It was established in by the late St. Gregorios, the first Indian to be elevated as a Saint by the Syriac Orthodox Church....

. He is the 91st Catholicos

Catholicos

Catholicos, plural Catholicoi, is a title used for the head of certain churches in some Eastern Christian traditions. The title implies autocephaly and in some cases is borne by the designated head of an autonomous church, in which case the holder might have other titles such as Patriarch...

and 21st Malankara Metropolitan in the lineage of Catholicoi and Malankara Metropolitans respectively.

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

Pazhanji

-Demographics: India census, Pazhanji had a population of 13339 with 6352 males and 6987 females.Pazhanji is well known for Arecanut Market. This market is a hub of daily activity from Monday through Saturday. This is where local arecanut sellers sell their product to authorised arecanut merchants....

in Kerala, India. His mother Kunjeetty belongs to Pulikkottil family. He was named as Paul after his grand father and was baptized in Pazhanji

Pazhanji

. He did his preliminary education at the Magad 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 Dianasisus II. Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at an young age. In 1963 he completed his SSLC

SSLC

The Secondary School Leaving Certificate is a certification obtained by a student on successful completion of an examination at the end of study at the secondary schooling level in India.- Relevance of the 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

St. Thomas College, Thrissur

St. Thomas College, Thrissur is located in Thrissur city, the cultural capital of Kerala State, India. Founded by Mar Adolph Medlycott in 1889, this college played a very important role in the development of Kerala. It gave birth to the thoughts of the communist leader and Kerala's first chief...

. 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

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...

for his theological studies under the discipleship of Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios, Fr. Abraham, and Fr. Koruthu Malapan. He completed theological studies in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary and BD from Seramboor University.

In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of deaconate 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 Basalios Mar Thoma Mathews I. He is the first Metropolitan after parumala Thirumeni who was ordained Bishop below age of 40. Four other Bishops, Mathews Mar Epiphanios, Philppose Mar Eusabius, Geevarghese Mar Ivanios and Thomas Mar Athanisios 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 head quarters or any Aramana. Initially the new Metropolitan lived in an annexed room of Arthat Church. With a determined hard efforts and cooperation of his fellow believers of his diocese he could 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 His Grace 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. His Grace Thomas Mar Athanasius

Thomas Mar Athanasius-Chengannur

H.G. Thomas Mar Athanasius was consecrated as a bishop of Malanakara Orthodox Syrian Church on 15 May 1985 by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I...

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 launches 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.

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 to the Catholicos 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...

(2006–2010)
His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II , Catholicos 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...

and Malankara Metropolitan (2010 – present)

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