New Metropolitan for Mar Thoma Christian community

Geevarghese Mar Theodosius has been made the Marthoma Metropolitan. He will succeed Joseph Marthoma who passed away in October this year.

Pathanamthitta (Kerala): Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, headquartered in Kerala, gets the new Church Suffragan Metropolitan (head) here, on Saturday. The installation ceremony of the new Suffragan Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, the supreme head of the Marthoma Church, was held here at the Church headquarters.

After the death of the previous Marthoma Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma in October this year, Geevarghese Mar Theodosius was to assume charge as the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Syrian Christian Church. The consecration ceremony was carried out in a magnificent stage complying with the COVID protocol. After the special prayers and services, the priests received and led the new Metropolitan designate Suffragan Dr Geevarghese Theodosius Mar Thoma to the stage. He received the signs of his position in the Church and took charge as the 22nd Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church after the installation ceremony.

Dr Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa led the prayers and services during the consecration ceremony at the Mar Thoma Church Head Quarters in Thiruvalla SCS premises. Senior Mar Thoma Metropolitan Dr Mar Chrysostom, who was staying away from priestly duties owing to ill health, had also participated in the installation ceremony.

After assuming charge and addressing the gathering, Theodosius Mar Thoma said that the Church can’t face away from the environmental issues. If the Church does not intervene in matters that demand humanitarian consideration, it would rot and degrade, he reminded. Saying that he would work towards the unification of Ecumenical Churches, Theodosius Mar Thoma said that those who are rich should not be enslaved to wealth. The loud cries of girls resonate in our land, said the new Metropolitan. The new Metropolitan said that the laws must not be weak to fail in protecting the ‘victims’.

The felicitation ceremony was inaugurated by Major Arch Bishop Cardinal Mar George Alanchery. Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II Catholica Bava and Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholic Bava participated in the installation ceremony. Politicians and social leaders including Ramesh Chennithala, Opposition Leader, Kerala Assembly, Prof P.J. Kurian, former Deputy Chairman, Rajya Sabha, MP Kodikkunnil Suresh, MLA Mathew T Thomas and MLA Raju Abraham participated in the ceremony.

The new Metropolitan has assumed the charge of the Church as the previous Mar Thoma Metropolitan passed away in October.