By Our Religious Correspondent
Kochi: The great shepherd of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church , Cathoicose Mar Baselios Thomas I passed away at a private hospital here last night following old-age illness. He was 95, Church sources said.
He was undergoing treatment for old-age illness for some time. The body would be interred at Puthancruz Mar Athnesious Cathedral on Nov 02 at 1500 hours, the sources added. He had boldly led the Church for establishing its just rights when it was at its crucial crisis.
He was born at Puthancruz near here on July 29, 1929 to Cheruvillil Matthews and Kunjhaama couple as sixth children of total eight children to them.
He was ordained priest as Thomas Chervillil on Sept 21, 1958 and elevated to the Metropolitan of the Angamaly Fiha Church on Oct 11, 1973. In 2002 he was elevated to the Catholicose f the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church headquartered at Puthancruz.
He had started his career an Anchal runner ( to run with mail bag from one office to another daily) of the Indian Posts an telegraph and humility and lowliness were his façade. He maintained these qualities of his character even when he adorned the position of the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church as Catholicos.
He had established several Churches ,hospitals, seminaries and orphanages . Following long litigation between the Malankara Orthodox Church and Jacobite Church, the latter lost about 60 churches and the Catholicose reminded the believers that the traditional faithfulness was the important factor and not the judgment of the Supreme Court of India and he went ahead with the missionary work of the Church and stood firm.
Several eminent persons from various walks of life condoled over the Catholicose’ death. The Major Archbishop and head of the Syro Malabar Church, Mar Raphael Thattil said in his condolence message that Catholicose was ready even to give his life for the existence and progress of the church.
He may rightly be described as an “Emperor of humility and lowliness” as he strictly shown sympathy and empathy towards the downtrodden and destitutes of the society.
