Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I, the spiritual head
of the Syrian Christians of India, was born in the Cheruvillil
family of Vadayambadi, Puthenkuriz to Mathai and
Kunjamma on 22nd July 1929. Early part of his life was going
through lot of sufferings. Though he belonged to an
aristocratic family, by the time he was born the family had
seen bad days. As a child he had frequent bouts of illness
which affected his education.
His mother used to take the
young boy frequently to the nearby Malecuriz Dayro where
the relics of late Patriarch St. Ignatius Elias-III and Saint
Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni) had been
interred. One night, as his mother prayed with the young boy on her lap, she had a vision which
prompted her to dedicate the boy to the service of the church. Within days, the boy's illness was entirely
cured. God was with him, guiding him and shaping him.
His priestly formation was under the guidance of Mor Philoxenos Paulose
(late Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose-II) who ordained him 'Korooyo' in
1952 and 'Shamshono' at Kadamattom Church in 1957. In August 1958, C
M Thomas was ordained 'Kassisso' (full priest) by Mor Yulius Elias at
the Majanikkara Dayro.
In 1959 he was appointed as the vicar of St.Peter's
church, Puthencuriz. Later he served the churches at Vellathooval,
Keezhumuri, Fort Cochin, Valamboor, Calcutta and Thrissur. For a period
of seven years from 1967, he was the organizing secretary of Kolenchery
Medical Mission Hospital.
He also served as the Chief organizer of the
North Indian mission at Bhilai in 1970's and as the secretary of the Pourasthaya Suvishesha
Samajam in 1974. He was well known as a great revivalist preacher and was also recognized as an
excellent organizer.
In January 1974, Fr. C M Thomas was elected to the episcopate by the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association convened at the Karingachira St. George Church and was consecrated Metropolitan with the title ‘Mor Dionysius’ by H.H. Mor Ignatius Ya`qub-III on 24th February 1974 at Damascus, Syria. He was entrusted with the charge of Angamali diocese, the largest of all the Syrian Orthodox dioceses which has a membership of more than half a million
The untiring efforts of Mor Dionysius in those days had helped a lot to revive the confidence of not merely the faithful of the diocese, but the entire Malankara Church. Metropolitans Mor Dionysius, Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (late) and Mor Koorilos Kuriakose (late) together were a great support to the (late) Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose-II, the then Chief of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church. As the Metropolitan of Angamali Mor Dionysius had successfully initiated many welfare programs and also reorganized the diocesan administration. In 1978 Mor Baselios Medical Mission Hospital at Kothamangalam was started under his patron-ship.
Following the demise of Mor Baselios Paulose-II in 1996, Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpally Thirumeni) become the President of the Episcopal Synod of the Church in India. After the passing away of Mor Gregorios Geevarghese in February 1999, Mor Dionysius assumed the Presidency of the Malankara Church Synod. On 27th December 2000, His Excellency was chosen as the Catholicos-designate by the Holy Episcopal Synod. The Church delegates meeting held at Puthencuriz on the same day, unanimously approved this decision. H.H the Patriarch, however, waited for two more years in expectation of a peaceful settlement to the longstanding dispute between the two factions of Malankara Church. But as it became clearer that the chance for reconciliation is remote because of the insincerity on the part of the opposite faction; a crucial convention was convened at Puthencuriz, Kerala on 6th July 2002 in which delegates from all the parishes participated and they approved a new constitution for the effective administration of the Indian Church, with the consent of the supreme head, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East. H.E. Mor Dionysius Thomas was elected as the Catholicos and the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church at this historic Church Association. The election was later ratified by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church on 22nd July 2002.
On Friday the 26th July 2002, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East, consecrated the 73-year old Mor Dionysius Thomas as the CATHOLICOS with the title 'BASELIOS THOMAS I' at a solemn function held at the St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral in Mor Ephrem Monastery, Ma`arat Sayyidnaya, near Damascus. Thus, fulfilling the wishes of multitude of faithful, the Malankara Church received a Catholicos after a gap of six years (Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II died in 1996). In the Syrian Orthodox Church hierarchy, the Catholicos is second in rank to the supreme spiritual head, the Patriarch of Antioch.
Fourteen Syrian Orthodox Bishops, from India, Syria, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Turkey and Australia attended the enthronement ceremony as the cocelebrants. Thirty-five Rambans, many Nuns of the Church and lay people were also present on the occasion to participate in the historical ceremony. Representatives from Government of Syria & India attended the consecration ceremony as special guests. Besides the three Metropolitans who were the co-celebrants, the Church in India was represented by Very Rev Eraalil Geevarghese Ramban (Kerala), Rev. Fr. Prince Mookkanottil (Vicar Mor Ignatius Syrian Orthodox Church Dubai), Rev. Fr. Eldho Valiyaparambil (Vicar-St.George Abu Dhabi), Rev. Fr. Kurian Maliyil (Vicar Sharjah), Rev.Fr. Mathews (Muscat) and Rev. Fr. Varghese Maikkulangara (Kerala). The consecration ceremony started with the celebration of Holy Qurbono at 8 AM by His Holiness the Patriarch, followed by enthronement ceremony, signing of 'SUSTHATHIKON' (Agreement) and 'OKSIOS' (Rising and Declaration). The ceremonial Services ended with the completion of the Holy Qurbono by the newly consecrated Catholicos.
After the enthronement ceremony a reception was given to the Catholicos His Beatitude Mor Baselios Thomas the First. During the speech delivered on the occasion, His Holiness emphasized the commitment of the Holy See to the Church in India. Replying to the congratulatory messages, His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I reiterated that he like his predecessors, will always take great care in the continuance of the faith and traditions of the Syrian Church
On 31st July 2002, the Sunthroniso of Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I Bava was held at the Kothamangalam Marthoma Cheriapally. H.E. Mor Julius Kuriakose, the first secretary to the Patriarch of Antioch read the Susthathicon, the Patriarchal Bull, proclaiming the enthronement of the new Catholicos for the Church in India.
As the head of the Church in India the Catholicos presides over the Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara Church which includes all the Metropolitans of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India. His Beatitude is also the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association.
The Catholicate office of His Beatitude Baselios Thomas I functions at the Patriarchal centre in Puthencuriz near Kochi, which is also the headquarters of the Syrian Orthodox Church in India
Catholicate Office:
Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Centre
(Patriarchal centre)
Puthencuriz - 682 308
Ernakulam, Kerala, INDIA.
Tel: 0484 - 2732804
Fax: 0484 - 2732804
Catholicate Residence:
Catholicate Aramana Mount Sinai
College P.O., Kothamangalam - 686 691
Kerala, INDIA
Tel: 0485 - 2822485
Fax: 0485 - 2822101
| Date of Birth | 22nd July 1929 |
| Ordained 'Korooyo' & 'Shamshono' by Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II | 1957 |
| Ordained 'Kassisso' by Mor Yulius Elias (Patriarchal delegate) | 21st September 1958 |
| Ordained Metropolitan by Patriarch Ignatius Yakoob III | 24th February 1974 |
| Elected President of Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara | 23rd February 1999 |
| Chosen as the Catholicos-designate | 27th December 2000 |
| Malankara Church accepting the new constitution | 06th July 2002 |
| Consecrated as CATHOLICOS | 26th July 2002 |
Published by the Sunday School Magazine
2021 June 27
The family concluded the conference
2016 October 14,15,16
MSOT Seminary
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Vettickal P.O.
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