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Baselios Marthoma Mathews II | |
|---|---|
| Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church | |
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| Church | Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church |
| See | Holy Apostolic see of Saint Thomas |
| Installed | 29 April 1991 |
| Term ended | 25 October 2005 |
| Predecessor | Baselios Marthoma Mathews I |
| Successor | Baselios Marthoma Didymos I |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1941 |
| Consecration | 15 May 1953 |
| Rank | Catholicos |
| Personal details | |
| Born | (1915-01-30)30 January 1915 |
| Died | 26 January 2006(2006-01-26) (aged 90) Kottayam, Kerala, India |
| Buried | Mount Horeb Chapel,Sasthamkotta, Kollam |
| Alma mater | |
Baselios Marthoma Mathews II (30 January 1915 – 26 January 2006) was the primate of theMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church.[1] He was 19thMalankara Metropolitan 6thCatholicos of Malankara Church.
He was born atPerinad inKollam district ofKerala, and had his theological education at Old Seminary Kottayam and also at Basil Dayara,Pathanamthitta. Later he joinedBishop's College, Calcutta, for his B. D. degree, and studied theology at theGeneral Theological Seminary, New York.
He wasordained asdeacon in 1938 then aspriest in 1941.Baselios Geevarghese II took special interest in the activities of Father Mathews. As a monk, Fr. Mathews stayed at St. George Dayara, Othara and led a prayerful life. The faithful members of the Church were attracted by the purity of life and refulgent smile of Fr. Mathews, and affectionately referred to him as"Angel Achen" (Malayalam: എയ്ഞ്ചെൽ അച്ചൻ, meaning 'angelic priest').
On 15 May 1953 he was ordained asbishop Mathews Mar Coorilose at the age of 38 by the Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II. Mar Coorilose was appointed by the Catholicose to assist Metropolitan Alexios Mar Theodosius ofKollam Diocese. While he wasMetropolitan of the Diocese of Kollam, the number of parishes almost doubled within a short period. Several monasteries and convents were established. A large number of educational institutions and hospitals were also established. In addition. several colleges, schools, hospitals and other service institutions were established and administered under his direct control and leadership. He traveled in various countries, including the United States, Canada, Europe,Malaya, Singapore andGulf countries, and attended various international meetings and conferences.
In 1980 he was unanimously elected by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association (the general assembly of representatives of the Church's parishes) as the successor-designate to theCatholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.
A civil service academy was started atThiruvananthapuram, to give proper training for candidates appearing for I. A. S.; I. P. S.; I. F. S. and other Central Service Examinations. With a view to provide shelter for the poor, a House Building Assistance project was started. When CatholicosBaselios Marthoma Mathews I abdicated the throne due to ill health, Coorilose was elevated to the throne of St Thomas as Baselious Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 29 April 1991, becoming the Sixth Catholicos in Malankara and 89th Successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas.
He served as the president of the ecumenical committee in Kerala and also on various other inter-church committees. In 2002, Supreme Court declared him as the legitimate Malankara Metropolitan based on the Malankara Association decision conducted as per the supreme court order. However the patriarch faction didn't participate the association instead they formed a new church namedJacobite Syrian Christian Church and they declared that they are officially got separated from Malankara Orthodox Church.Mathews II as the head of the Episcopal Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church canonizedDionysius VI on the 69th feast day of the saint (24 February 2003). Dionysius is the second Indian saint to be canonized by theMalankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Due to ill health from old age, Mathews II resigned his position as the supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church on 29 October 2005. He died on 26 January 2006, and was interred at Mount Horeb Chapel, in Sasthamkotta on 28 January.
| Oriental Orthodox titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Baselios Marthoma Mathews I 1975-1991 | Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan 1991–2005 | Succeeded by Baselios Marthoma Didymos I 2005-2010 |
| Preceded by Alexios Mar Theodosius | Metropolitan ofKollam Diocese 1953–1991 | Succeeded by Mathews Mar Epiphanios |
Eastern Christiancommunion ofautocephalouschurches fromArmenia,Egypt,Eritrea,Ethiopia,Sudan and parts of theMiddle East, andIndia | ||
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