Paulose II (Indian Orthodox Church)

Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (born K. I. Paul; 30 August 1946)[2] is the primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 1 November 2010,[3][4][5] succeeding Didymos I.[6][7][8]


Baselios Marthoma Paulose II
Catholicos of the East, Malankara Metropolitan and Malankara Mooppen(Elder)
ChurchMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church
DioceseMalankara Metropolitan , Kottayam, Kunnamkulam
SeeHoly Apostolic See of the Saint Thomas
Elected27 September 2006
In office1 November 2010 - present
PredecessorDidymos I
SuccessorIncumbent
Orders
Ordination1973
Consecration1 November 2010
by Didymos I
RankCatholicos
Personal details
Birth nameK. I. Paul
Born (1946-08-30) 30 August 1946
Nationality Indian
DenominationMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church
ResidenceCatholicate Palace in Kottayam, India
ParentsK. I. Iype and Kunjeetty
Alma materSt. Thomas College (BS)
Orthodox Theological Seminary (GST)
Serampore University (BD)
C.M.S College (MA)[1]

Early years

K. I. Paul 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 given the name Paul after his grandfather. He was baptized in Pazhanji.[2]

He completed his preliminary education at the Mangad Church School until his 7th standard. He completed his high school studies at the Pazhanji Government High School, which was established by the late Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II.

As a child, Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at a young age. At 13, he was selected by his parish priest to be a part of the Order of the Washing of the Feet which is done on Maundy Thursday by H.G Paulose Mar Severios.[9] In 1963, he completed his SSLC.

Education

Paul studied for pre-university and obtained a Bachelor of Science degree in Physics from St. Thomas College. During this time, he was an active member of the MGOCSM at his church. His spiritual calling was strengthened while studying for his degree.

In 1969, Paul enrolled at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam for his theological studies under the discipleship of Paulos Gregorios, T J Abraham Malpan, and N.K Koruthu Malpan. He received his GST degree from Orthodox Theological Seminary and bachelor's degree from Serampore University. After that, he received a Master of Arts degree in Sociology from C.M.S College, Kottayam.[2]

Priesthood

In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of diaconate in Parumala Seminary. He was ordained a full deacon as Dn. K.I Paul at Koratty Zion Seminary. On 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained a priest as K.I Paul. Paul celebrated the first Holy Qurbana at Mangad St. Gregorios Church, and served as vicar in the Mooleppat Mar Baselios Mar Gregorios Church for a short while. In 1983, Paul was ordained a Monk Priest (Ramban) as K.I Paulose.

Episcopate

On 15 May 1985, at the age of 38, K I Paulose Ramban was ordained as a bishop and was given the name "Paulose Mar Milithios" at Puthiyakavu St. Mary's Church by Mathews I. He was the first Metropolitan after Geevarghese Mar Gregorios and Puthenkavil Geevarghese Mar Philexinos to be ordained to the bishopric below the age of 40. Four other bishops, Mathews Epiphanios, Philipose Eusebius, Geevarghese Ivanios and Thomas Athanasius were also ordained with "Paulose Milithios". A new diocese for the Church, named to be Kunnamkulam was formed on 14 April 1985 by dividing a small part of the Kochi diocese and churches nearby to form the diocese. The newly ordained Paulose Milithios was appointed as the diocesan metropolitan of the newly formed diocese. The diocesan center and diocesan chapel are part of his contributions.

Enthronement as Catholicos of Malankara and Malankara Metropolitan

The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated him as the successor to the Catholicos of the East on 27 September 2006.[10] Paulose Mar Milithios was enthroned as the new Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan at a ceremony at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's church at Parumala on 1 November 2010, succeeding Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, who abdicated at the age of 90. Thomas Mar Athanasius was the chief celebrant for the Holy Qurbana of the ceremony. He is the eighth Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The enthronement came almost a year before the Church officially launched the centenary celebrations of the 1912 establishment of the Catholicate in India. At the inception of Catholicate on behalf of the Metran Kakshi who were against the Patriarch, 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, K.M. George.[11][12][13][14]

Meeting with the British Orthodox Church

In 2013, during his Apostolic European maiden voyage, the Catholicos historically celebrated Holy Qurbana, 80 years since the first celebration of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Qurbana in the Chapel of King's College, London; 75 years since H.H Mar Baselios Geeverghese II's visit in 1937.[15]

Meeting with Pope Francis of Rome

In 2013, the Catholicos met with the head of the Roman Catholic church, Pope Francis to congratulate him on his new papacy.[16] Pope Francis thanked the Malankara Church and Catholicos saying:

The Apostle Thomas exclaimed, "My Lord and my God!" (Jn 2:28) with one of the most beautiful confessions of faith in Christ handed down by the Gospels, a faith which proclaims the divinity of Christ, his lordship in our lives, and his victory over sin and death through his resurrection. This event is so real that Saint Thomas is invited to touch for himself the actual marks of the crucified and risen Jesus (cf. Jn 20:27). It is precisely in this faith that we meet each other; it is this faith that unites us, even if we cannot yet share the Eucharistic table; and it is this faith which urges us to continue and intensify the commitment to ecumenism, encounter and dialogue towards full communion. With deep affection I welcome Your Holiness and the members of your delegation and I ask you to convey my cordial greetings to the Bishops, clergy and faithful of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

Pope Francis, ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS POPE FRANCIS

TO HIS HOLINESS BASELIOS MARTHOMA PAULOSE II

CATHOLICOS OF THE MALANKARA ORTHODOX SYRIAN CHURCH

Meeting with Tikhon, Metropolitan of OCA

In 2015, the Malanakara Orthodox Church invited the Archbishop of Washington, Metropolitan of All America and Canada, Tikhon Mollard to speak at he bicentenary valedictory celebrations of the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, Kerala, India. In that same year, Tikhon and Paulose II met in Armenia for the 100th Anniversary of the Armenian Genocide.[17][18][19]

Meeting with Archbishop Michael

In 2017,[20] the Catholicos met Michael Dahulich, Archbishop of New York and the diocese of New York and New Jersey. While in Kerala, Michael visited various, churches, and seminaries. One of Michael's highlights of his visit to Kerala was visiting and venerating the relics of Thomas the Apostle[21]

Meeting with Patriarch Krill of Moscow

In 2019, the Catholicos met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to discuss forming a working committee.[22]

During the meeting between the two Church heads, an agreement was also reached to promote the study of iconography and liturgical music. Activities of youth organizations will be integrated and social activities are to be promoted, said the spokesperson. "It has also been decided to improve cooperation in academic and media fields", he said.

Express News Service, Fr. Johns Abraham Konat, The New Indian Express

Fraternal visits

2012 - In 2012, Paulose II, was invited to the enthronement service of the supreme head of the Coptic Orthodox Church, Pope Tawadros II in St. Mark's Cathedral, Cairo. Paulose II was present for the Holy Eucharist and offered his prayers and best wishes to the Pope.[23]

2013 - In 2013, Paulose II was invited to the enthronement service of the patriarch catholicos of Ethiopia, Abune Mathais. During a keynote meeting, Paulose II spoke on the importance of the cooperation between the Ethiopian and Indian Orthodox churches in theological education, and pastoral work.[24]

2015 - In 2015, Paulose II was invited by catholicos Aram I of the Armenian Orthodox Church to participate in the 100th anniversary of the Armenian Genocide. Earlier in 2010, Aram I was given the honorary award, Order of Saint Thomas.[25]

2017 - In 2017, Paulose II was invited by the Syrian patriarch Aphrem II, who was visiting India, to a peace talk. The Malankara Church declined the offer and requested that the Patriarch should initiate the process for the implementation of the Supreme Court's verdicts first.[26]

Health

In early 2020, it was announced that Paulose II was experiencing some minor sickness and undergoing treatments at Saint Gregorios Hospital in Parumala, Kerala, India.[27]

Official title

  • K. I. Paul (1946–1972)
  • Deacon K. I. Paul (1972–1973)
  • Rev. Fr. K. I. Paul (1973–1983)
  • Very Rev. Paulose Ramban (1983–1985)
  • His Grace Paulose Mor Milithios Metropolitan (1985–2006)
  • His Beatitude Paulose Milithios, Assistant to Malankara Metropolitan 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)[28]

References

  1. Eastern Christianity and Politics in the Twenty-First Century. (2014). United Kingdom: Taylor & Francis.
  2. "About Thirumeni". Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  3. "Catholicos consecration on Nov. 1". Mathrubhumi. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
  4. "New Catholicos to be installed today". AsianetIndia.com. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
  5. Alexander, George (2019). "St. Thomas & the Native Judeo-Dravidian Malankara Nasrani Church – A Brief Overview". SSRN Electronic Journal. doi:10.2139/ssrn.3333526. ISSN 1556-5068.
  6. "Indian Orthodox Church members welcome supreme head". gulfnews.com. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  7. "Holy Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church observes Catholicate Day | Mumbai News". The Times of India. 8 April 2014. Retrieved 21 December 2020.
  8. "Profiles". CNEWA. Retrieved 16 September 2020.
  9. "Malankara Orthodox Church, Bava, Bava Thirumeni, Baselios Paulose II, Mar Thoma Baselios Paulose II". St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church South Florida. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  10. "Catholicos of the East". www.neamericandiocese.org. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  11. "Orthodoxherald.com". www.orthodoxherald.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  12. "Latest News Headlines | newkerala.com". www.newkerala.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  13. "Enthronement of Baselios Marthoma Paulose II". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
  14. "Paulose II enthroned as Catholicos of the East". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 November 2010.
  15. "Historic visit of H.H. The Catholicos of the East - The British Orthodox Church". Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  16. "The Confluence of Love in Vatican |". mosc.in. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  17. Syosset, Ny. "Metropolitan Tikhon meets with Malankarese Catholicos". www.oca.org. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  18. Syosset, Ny. "Metropolitan Tikhon, seminary deans guests of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church". www.oca.org. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  19. "Dean Travels to India for Malankara Church Celebrations | St Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary". www.svots.edu. Retrieved 30 August 2020.
  20. "ARCHBISHOP MICHAEL: Visit to India". www.nynjoca.org. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  21. oia (29 March 2017). "Archbishop Michael Visits Kerala India". Orthodoxy in America. Retrieved 29 August 2020.
  22. "Russian and Malankara Orthodox churches form working committee". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  23. "In Egypt with the Message of Fraternity |". mosc.in. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  24. "The Shepherd of the Indian Church in Ethiopia |". mosc.in. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  25. PAGE, Orthodoxy Cognate (15 April 2015). "Catholicos Baselios Paulose II to particpate [sic] in the 100th anniversary of Armenian Genocide". News | Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  26. "Kerala: Patriarch visit from today; talks unlikely". Deccan Chronicle. 22 May 2018. Retrieved 4 September 2020.
  27. Nicholovos, Zachariah (3 January 2020). "CK No.1/2020" (PDF). Northeast American Diocese.
  28. "Kerala Gazette 2011" (PDF).
Preceded by
Baselios Thoma Didymos I
2005–2010
Current
Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan

2010–present
Succeeded by
Incumbent
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