Baselios Thoma Didymos I

His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymus I Catholicos of The East and Malankara Metropolitan
Catholicos of the East
Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I
Church	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
See	Catholicos of the East
Enthroned	31 October 2005
Reign ended	1 November 2010
Predecessor	Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II
Successor	Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II
Personal details
Born	29 October 1920 (1920-10-29) (age 91)
Nationality	Indian
Denomination	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Parents	Ittyavira Thomas and Sosamma

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (born 29 October 1920) was enthroned Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan (Malankara Orthodox Church) on 31 October 2005. HH Didymos I was consecrated as Bishop on 24 August 1966 and has been serving as Metropolitan of the Malabar Diocese of the church. He is the seventh Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India and 111th in the lineage of Catholicose of the East in the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas. HH is also the 19th Malankara Metropolitan of the Church.

Early life and education

HH Didymus is the son of Ittyavira Thomas of Chiramel-Mulamootil House in Nedumbram near Thiruvalla and Sosamma of Chiramel House in Mavelikara. HH joined the Tabor Dayara in Pathanapuram in 1939 where he completed his high school education. HH passed his Intermediate from C.M.S College, Kottayam in 1945, his B.A from National College, Tiruchirapalli in 1951, his B.T from Maston Training College, Chennai in 1954, and his M.A from Christ Church College, Kanpur in 1961. HH completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of Thoma Mar Dionysius and Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East. Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East awarded him the order of Korooyo on 11 March 1942, full deaconship on 22 May 1947 and priesthood on 25 January 1950.

HH started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. HH was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of Niranam.

Career

HH served as headmaster of Ponnayya High School, Thiruchirapalli and St. Stephen's High School, Pathanapuram, as Professor of English in St. Stephens College Pathanapuram, and as President of the Orthodox Youth Movement.

On 16 May 1965, HH Moran Mar Baselios Ougen I made him Ramban.^{[clarification needed]} The Malankara Syrian Christian Association elected him to the office of Metropolitan in 1965.

The church had a tradition of selecting bishops from the monastic ranks. On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry, Baselios Ougen Bava consecrated him as Metropolitan Thomas Mar Timotheos.

HH became the Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese on 11 November 1966. He continues to serve as the General Superior of Mount Tabor Dayara and Convent in Pathanapuram. On 10 September 1992, the Malankara Association, which met at Parumala, elected him as successor-designate to the Malankara Metropolitan and Catholicos of the East. He was the first Catholicos to preside over an official church secretariat, which administers to the affairs of the church. He has encouraged unity in worship and discipline in all parishes.^{[citation needed]} He visited the church's diaspora, tending to his flock in other regions.^[1]

References

1. ^ Apostolic visits

Preceded by H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II

Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan 2005–2010

Succeeded by Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II

Persondata
Name	Didymos, Baselios Thoma, I
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Date of birth	29 October 1920
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