Catholicos

The historic office of the canonical Catholicate of the East Syrian Orthodox Church within the Antiochean Patriarchate came to be later known as Maphryono (Anglicized as Maphrian; meaning Fructifier) in Syriac after the division in the Church of the East due to Nestorian schism. Historically, the Maphryono ranks second in hierarchy of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church after the Patriarch of Antioch.

At least seven of the Maphryonos have later been elevated as the Supreme head of the Syrian Church in the Apostolic See of St. Peter as the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East. This historic office of 'Maphryono' came to an end in a council of all the Syrian Orthodox Metropolitans presided over by the then Patriarch of Antioch and all the East in 1861.

His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East consecrating His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I

His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East consecrating His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I

His Beatitude The Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I submitting the 'SALMUSA' to the supreme head of the Holy Church, His Holiness Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East

Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, the spiritual head of the Syrian Christians of India