The Catholicate

The word ‘Catholicos’ means “the general head” or “general bishop”. It can be considered as equivalent to “universal Bishop”. This title and rank is much more ancient than the title Patriarch in the church. In India the position and authority of the catholicose is the great development in the history of the Church throughout the past centuries.

The first stage of the apostolic ministry in the Malankara Church is from the time of St.Thomas till the middle of the fourth century when the authority of the Church was vested in the hands of the Archdeacon. The second stage is the period of the reign of the Arcdeacons which started from the middle of the fourth century and lasted till the sixteenth century. The third stage started when the archdeacon was elevated to the position of a Bishop by the community with the name Marthoma I in 1653.

Since then the head of the community was the Marthoma Methrans and later the position was developed to Malankara Metropolitan with more recognition. When in a religious turmoil the Patriarch of Antioch interfered and suspended then Malankara Metropolitan demanding complete surrender, the Church consecrated the senior Metropolitan as the Catholicose and head of the Church in 1912.

In 1934, through the meeting of the Malankara Association the authority and powers of the Malankara Metropolitan was entrusted to the Catholicose. Thus both the spiritual and temporal authorities of the Church was vested in one person who is the Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan. The development of authority in that direction was completed.

The Catholicose

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan (the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India) on Friday, 15th October 2021. His Holiness is the 92nd Primate on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

His Holiness was born on 12 February 1949 to Mr Cherian Anthrayos of Mattathil family, being a member of St Peters Church, Vazhoor. After his school education, he joined Kerala University and passed his BSc Chemistry. After his BSc, he joined Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, and had his GST degree. His Holiness took his BD degree from the Serampore University and did his higher studies in Theology at Theological Academy, Leningrad, Russia. Thereupon he joined Oriental Institute, Rome, and took his MTh and PhD from there. His Holiness was ordained a deacon in 1976 and a priest in 1978 by HH Baselios Mathews I. His Holiness was escalated to the post of an Episcopa on 30 April 1991 at a function at Parumala, and metropolitan in 1993. He is a well-known teacher and a faculty member of the Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam. A philanthropist, he works relentlessly for the uplift of the poor, especially women. He has started many ventures to help give employment opportunities to women from the economically backward classes. His Holiness was also served the Holy Episcopal Synod as its secretary.

Malankara Orthodox Church

Catholicate Palace,
Devalokam P.O.,
(Via.)Muttambalam,
Kottayam – 686 004
Kerala , India

Tel No : +91 481-2578500, 2578499

Principal Secretary of His Holiness The Catholicos :+91 8086 696900

Personal Secretary of His Holiness The Catholicos :+91 95623 69696

Email of the office of H. H. The Catholicos: catholicos@mosc.in

Public Relations Officer: pro@mosc.in

Catholicate Aramana
Devalokam P.O, Kottayam
Kerala, India

Tel: 04812578499, 04812578500

Email: catholicos@mosc.in
Facebook: www.facebook.com/CatholicosBaseliosMarthomaMathewsIII

H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III
The Ninth Catholicos of the East in Malankara