Baselios Joseph I
 |
His Beatitude Aboon Mor Mor Baselios Joseph | |
|---|---|
| Catholicos of India | |
 Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| See | Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church |
| In office | 2025-Present |
| Predecessor | Baselios Thomas I |
| Other post(s) | Malankara Metropolitan, Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 March 1984 by Baselios Paulose II |
| Consecration | 16 January 1994 by Ignatius Zakka I |
| Personal details | |
| Born | November 10, 1960 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Denomination | Jacobite Orthodox |
| Education | M.Phil. from Trinity College Dublin, B.D from St Patrick's College, Dublin, Ireland, |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala |
Mor Baselios Joseph (Syr: ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂; Mal: മോർ ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ്; Born 10 November 1960) is the current Catholicos of India(Maphrian) of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church.[1][2][3]
He also serves as the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese.
He was elevated to the position of Catholicos on March 25, 2025 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon in a service presided by Ignatius Aphrem II .[4]
Early years
[edit]Joseph "Jose" was born in Perumpilly, Kerala as the youngest of four children to Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma.[5] Joseph had his primary education at Perumpally Primary School and his high school education from Mulanthuruthy High School.[5]
Early Service
[edit]On 25 March 1974, at the age of 13, Joseph was ordained a deacon by Mor Gregorios Geevarghese of Perumpally at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjinikkara.[5] He later served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for several years. He pursued pre-degree and undergraduate studies at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, before joining Mor Julius Seminary, Perumpally, for theological studies.[5]
On 25 March 1984, Joseph was ordained a priest at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy, by Mor Baselios Paulose II.[5] He went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin, and pursued further theological studies in the United States, where he also served as the vicar of multiple churches.[5] He was ordained as Dayroyo by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in Damascus on 15 January 1994.[5]
Metropolitan of Kochi
[edit]On 16 January 1994, Fr. Joseph Ramban was consecrated as Mor Gregorios Joseph, the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese, by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at Damascus.[5] He formally assumed the office after the Sunthroniso (enthronement) ceremony at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam, on 23 January 1994.
Joseph served as the President of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association (MJSSA) from 1996 to 2002.[6] He was also instrumental in initiating several orphanages and educational projects. In 2019, he was elected as the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association, following the resignation of Catholicos Baselios Thomas I from administrative duties.[7]
In 2023, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II bestowed upon him the title of Malankara Metropolitan.[8] He also served as Catholicos Assistant to Baselios Thomas I until his passing in 2024.[9]
Catholicos of India
[edit]Following the passing away of Baselios Thomas I, Gregorios Joseph was unanimously elected as the Catholicos of India.[8] He was elevated as Catholicos of India by Ignatius Aphrem II on 25 March 2025, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon with the name Baselios Joseph.[8] He was enthroned on 30 March 2025, at Mar Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencruz.[10]
References
[edit]- ^ "Joseph Mor Gregorios elected Metropolitan Trustee of Jacobite Church by secret ballot". The New Indian Express.
- ^ "Joseph Gregorios declared Malankara metropolitan". The Hindu. 2024-02-04. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-02-05.
- ^ "Bearing legacy of an illustrious tradition". The Hindu. 2024-12-08. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2024-12-09.
- ^ "Joseph Mor Gregorios new Catholicos". The Times of India. 2025-01-27. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-01-27.
- ^ a b c d e f g h "BIOGRAPHY". www.syriacchristianity.in. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ SyriacPress (2024-12-12). "Bishop Mor Gregorios Joseph appointed as new Catholicos of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India". Syriac Press. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ "Mor Baselios Joseph Enthroned as the Catholicos (Maphryono) of Syriac Orthodox Church in India". Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE. 2025-03-25. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ a b c "Mor Gregorios Joseph is new Catholicos of Jacobite Church". The Times of India. 2025-03-26. ISSN 0971-8257. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
- ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2024-02-04). "Joseph Gregorios declared Malankara metropolitan". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-03-29.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help) - ^ Bureau, The Hindu (2025-03-30). "Baselios Joseph installed as Catholicos of Jacobite Syrian Church". The Hindu. ISSN 0971-751X. Retrieved 2025-03-30.
{{cite news}}:|last=has generic name (help)