Baselios Marthoma Paulose II

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His Holiness Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan

Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulos II (Malayalam: ബസേലിയോസ് മാർത്തോമ പൗലോസ്‌ ദ്വിതീയൻ കാതോലിക്ക; born K. I. Paul; 30 August 1946) is the 8th reigning Catholicos and 21st Malankara Metropolitan the Supreme Primate of the Malankara Church(Indian Orthodox Church). He was enthroned Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan on 1 November 2010 at Parumala, Kerala. He succeeded Baselios Thoma Didymos I. At the time of his election as Catholicos, Paulose had been Metropolitan Bishop of Kunnamkulam. He is also known by his traditional episcopal name, Paulose Mar Milithios.

Born on 30 August 1946 in the ancient Nasrani 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 Association on 12 October 2006. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East for Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church on 1 November 2010 at Parumala Seminary. He is the 91st Catholicos and 21st Malankara Metropolitan in the lineage of Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitans respectively. He is officially styled as His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan enthroned on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

Life and career

Early life and ordination

Paulose Mar Milithios was born on 30 August 1946 as the second son of K. I. Iype of Kollannur house, Mangad near Pazhanji in Kerala, India. His mother Kunjeetty belongs to Pulikkottil family. He was named as Paul after his grand father and was baptized in Pazhanji. He did his preliminary education at the Mangad 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 Dionysius II. Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at a young age. In 1963 he completed his 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 clergy services. Paul studied for pre-university and B.Sc. in Physics at St. Thomas College. 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 for his theological studies under the discipleship of Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios, Fr. T J Abraham Malpan, and Fr. Koruthu Malpan. He completed theological studies in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary and BD from Serampore University.After taking the holy orders, he joined C.M.S College, Kottayam and took his M.A in Sociology.

In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of diaconate in Parumala Seminary. He was ordained as a full deacon at Koratty Zion Seminary. On 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained as a priest. Fr. Paul celebrated the first Holy Qurbana at Mangad St. Gregorios Church, served the Mooleppat Mar Baselios 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 Puthiyakavu St. Mary's Church by Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. He is the first Metropolitan after Parumala Thirumeni and Puthenkavil Geevarghese Mar Philexinos to be ordained to Bishopric below age of 40. Four other Bishops, Mathews Mar Epiphanios, Philipose Mar Eusebius, Geevarghese Mar Ivanios and Thomas Mar Athanasius 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 headquarters or any Aramana. Initially the new Metropolitan lived in an annexed room of Arthat Church. With determined efforts and cooperation of his fellow believers of his diocese he was able to construct a beautiful diocesan centre with a chapel in the vicinity of Arthat church for Kunnamkulam diocese within five years.

Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan

The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated him 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. Thomas Mar Athanasius was the chief celebrant for the Holy Qurbana of the ceremony. He succeeds Baselius Marthoma 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 launched the centenary celebrations of the establishment of the Catholicate in India (in 1912), an assertion of the Church's nationality, autonomy and autocephaly.

At the inception of Catholicate in Malankara the first Catholicos was named as Paulose I. Now at the centenary of the Catholicate the Catholicos is again being called Paulose, precisely Paulose II. This is not a coincidence, but a great plan of God

said the Principal of Orthodox Theological Seminary, Fr. Dr. K.M. George.

Titles and styles

• K. I. Paul (1946–1972)
• Deacon K. I. Paul (1972–1973)
• Rev. Father K. I. Paul (1973–1983)
• Very Rev. Paulose Ramban (1983–1985)
• His Grace Paulose Mar Milithios Metropolitan (1985–2006)
• His Grace Paulose Mar Milithios, Assistant and Successor-designate to the Catholicos of the East (2006–2010)
• His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (2010 – present)