Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Catholicos enters eternal abode

Central Chronicle News
Bhilai, Jul 12: His Holiness, Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, passed away at 02:35 hrs on Monday. His Holines was the 91st reigning Catholicos of the East. The funeral services will be held on Tuesday at the Catholicate Palace chapel in Devalokam in Kottayam, Kerala from 15:00 hrs. The Catholicos had been ailing for quite some time from lung cancer. Though His Holiness had recovered from Covid in February, 2021, was on continued treatment for post Covid health issues and in the past few days on ventilator support.
On the sad demise of His Holiness, Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Prime Minister of India Narendra Modi presented his deep condolence on tweeter and said that “I am feeling very sad. His holiness left the service and compassion behind him. My condolences are with the members of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.” Rahul Gandhi also presented his condolence by tweeter and said about His Holiness, Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II that along with his contributions as religious head, he will be remembered for his humanitarian work for the homeless. Chief Minister of Chhattisgarh Bhupesh Baghel presented his condolence and said on tweeter that, “My deepest condolence on the demise of the head of Orthodox Church of India. His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II has left void in hearts of all of us. Home minister Tamradhawaj Sahu also presented his deep condolence and said that “May god give him rest in peace.”
A much-loved personality, Bava Thirumeni, as His Holiness was known to all, was a great source of support to the destitute and the poor for whom he executed many a service scheme. He had given the ancestral property for building houses for the homeless. A great humanitarian, the Catholicos was a votary of social justice and equality. This was amply evident when the Malankara Metropolitan broke age-old traditions by allowing women equal participation in the administration of the church and the community too. His Holiness went a step ahead in 2011 by granting them voting rights along with their male counterparts in all parishes of the Church. The Catholicos was a symbol of change with his contemporary moves and courage of conviction. The adorable Primate had also authored 5 enlightening books.
His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on the Holy Apostolic See of St Thomas on 1 November 2010. Prior to that, starting in 1985, as HG Paulose Mar Militheos, His Holiness was the Metropolitan of Kunnamkulam Diocese, and later, in 2006, as Catholicos Designate of the Church. His Holiness was ordained as a Priest in 1973. The Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52. The Church now consists of about 2.5 million members, who are spread all over the world, though the majority reside in Kerala in South West India.
The Headquarters of the Diocese of Calcutta ( one of the Dioceses of Indian Orthodox Church) and St Thomas Mission at Bhilai was blessed by three Apostolic Visits of His Holiness, who was also the patron of MGM. group of institutions, which consists of 32 schools and three colleges including St Thomas College Bhilai, Christian College of Engineering and Technology, Bhilai, MGM Sr Sec School Bhilai, MGM Public School Bhilai, Mar Baselios Vidhya Bhava Bhilai, MGM HSS, Gayatri Nagar Raipur, MGM Model School Naya Raipur. MGM Public School Tatibandh, Raipur, MGM Public School Rajnandgaon, MGM Public School Bilaspur, MGM HSS, Bhartiya Nagar Bilaspur, MGM HSS, Balco Korba, MGM School Kamilini Korba, MGM HSS Jagdalpur in Chhattisgarh apart from those in Madhya Pradesh, Jharkhand, Orissa, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Arunachal Pradesh and Nagaland. With profound grief, His Grace Dr Joseph Mar Dionysius Metropolitan along with all the priests, office bearers and believers of the Diocese of Calcutta, office bearers of St Thomas Mission Bhilai and MGM Group of institutions expressed heartfelt condolences and prayers for the Holy Father.