H.H BASELIOS MARTHOMA MATHEW II
H.H Baselios Marthoma
Mathews II (January 30, 1915 - January 26, 2006) was the Supreme head of Indian
Orthodox Church, also known as Malankara Orthodox Church. He was the 89th
successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Catholicos of the East
and Malankara Metropolitan.He was born at Perinad in Kollam district of Kerala, and had
his religious training at Old Seminary Kottayam and also at Basil Dayara,
Pathanamthitta. Later he joined Bishop's College, Calcutta for his B. D.
Degree, and studied Theology at the General Theological Seminary, New York.He
was ordained as deacon in 1938 then as priest in 1941. Baselios Geevarghese II
took special interest in the activities of Father Mathews.
On May 15, 1953 he was ordained as a bishop of the Indian
Orthodox church at the age of 38. While he was Metropolitan of the Diocese of
Kollam the number of parishes almost doubled within a short period. Several
monasteries and convents were started. A large number of educational
institutions and hospitals were established. Several Colleges, Schools,
Hospitals and other service institutions were established and administered
under his direct control and leadership. He travelled in various countries
including the United States, Canada, Europe, Malaya, Singapore and Gulf
countries, and attended various international meetings and conferences. In 1980
he was unanimously elected by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association as
Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan. A Civil Service Academy was
started at Thiruvananthapuram, 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 Catholicos Mathews I abdicated his position due to ill health,
Thirumeni was elevated to the throne of St Thomas as Baselious Marthoma Mathews
II on 29th April 1991, becoming the Sixth Catholicos of Malankara and 89th
Successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas.
He was President of the Ecumenical committee in Kerala and
also on various other Inter-Church Committees. Due to ill health and old age he
resigned his position as the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church on 29
October 2005.He died on Thursday, January 26, 2006, and was buried in Mount
Horeb Chapel, in Sasthamkotta on 28th.
Prof. John Kurakar
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