Metropolitans

H.G. Mor Timotheos Thomas was ordained the Metropolitan of the Outside Kerala Diocese on 3rd January 1991 by Late lamented Catholicos of the East Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II. His Grace was born on 2nd May 1950 in the Muriyankal family of the Lakkattoor village (Kottayam District, Kerala, India) to Mr. Kurian Kuruvilla and Mrs. Annamma Kuruvilla, as the sixth of their eight children.

Born on - 2 May 1950
Family Name - Muriyankal family of Veloor, Kottayam

Education -
Masters in English literature from CMS College, Kottayam;
Pandalam NSS Training College;
Erbangen-Nuremburg University, Germany;
Syriac patristic studies from Goettingen University, Germany.

Theological Studies -
Majanikkara Dayro
B.D. and M.Th in Theology, United Theological College, Bangalore

Deacon - 1964 (ordained by H.G. Mor Philoxenos Paulose [Catholicose Paulose II])
Kassisso - 1975 (ordained by H.B. Catholicose Baselios Paulose II)
Metropolitan - 3 January 1991 (ordained by H.B. Catholicose Baselios Paulose II)

Current Responsibilities
1. Metropolitan of Kottayam diocese
2. Metropolitan of ArchDiocese of Greater India (churches outside Kerala)

H.G. had his initial primary education in the village CMS (the Anglican Church Missionary Society) School. Middle School and High School education were completed at the Amayannoor High School. In 1964, while in the ninth grade, Thomas was ordained Korooyo by Mor Philoxenos Paulose (later Catholicose Baselios Paulose II) who was then Metropolitan of the Kottayam diocese. His parish priest, Corepiscopus V. Rev. Thomas Mattathil, imparted early instruction in Syriac and liturgical rites. Having completed the Secondary School Leaving Certificate (SSLC) examination in 1965, Dn. Thomas joined the Baselios College, Kottayam, for the Pre-Degree course. Subsequently, he joined the CMS college, Kottayam, where he continued till 1972, graduating with a Bachelors and Masters degrees in English literature.

In 1973, Dn. Thomas joined the Old Seminary, Kottayam for theological studies. He could study there only for a year due to the then erupting volatile situation in the Malankara Church, which had its echoes on the Seminary too. Finding it difficult to continue, Dn. Thomas joined the Manjanikkara Dayro for Syriac Studies and priestly formation. Under the spiritual guidance of V. Rev. Jacob Madapattu Rabban (later Metropolitan H.G. Mor Yulius Ya`qub), he completed liturgical studies. During the one year stay at the monastery, he completed Bachelor of Education degree at the NSS Training College, Pandalam. While at the seminary, late Metropolitan of Kottayam diocese, H.G. Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpilly Thirumeni) ordained him shamshono (full deacon). In 1975, H.G. Mor Philoxenos Paulose (later Catholicose) ordained him Kassisso (priest). Thereupon Fr. Thomas began to assist the vicar of his parish. Later he began to teach at the T.M. High School, Perumpilavu near Kunnamkulam. While teaching there, he assisted Rev. Fr. K.V. Kuriakose (H.G. Mor Yulius Kuriakose), at the Simhasana Church, Kunnamkulam. When late Mor Philoxenos Paulose was consecrated Catholicose of the East, His Beatitude invited Fr. Thomas to assist him at the Muvattupuzha Aramana. After a few months, Fr. Thomas was appointed vicar of the St. Mary's Church, Bangalore. This became a turning point in his life. He served in this capacity for eight years until 1984. During this period, along with his pastoral duties, Fr. Thomas completed the Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology degrees from the United Theological College, Bangalore. The St. Mary's Church in Bangalore was built during this period.

In 1984, Fr. Thomas became the vicar of St. Peter's Church, New Delhi. He served there for two years organizing the parish. In 1986, he left for Germany for higher studies and joined the Erbangen-Nuremburg University. After completing studies in German language, he moved to the Goettingen University in 1987 to pursue Syriac patristic studies. He returned to India in 1990, after being elected to the bishopric of the Outside Kerala diocese. On 3rd January, 1991, Fr. Thomas was ordained Mor Timotheos Thomas to assist the then Metropolitan of the Outside Kerala diocese H.G. Mor Theophilos Thomas who had advanced in age. On 12th January 1992, H.G. Theophilos Thomas passed away and Mor Timotheos assumed full responsibility for the diocese.

The Metropolitan established his administrative office at Mulund, Bombay. A new publication, "The Vision" was started thereafter and continues to be published as a bilingual monthly. In 1993, when a severe earthquake occurred in the Latur District, His Grace launched a rehabilitation program with the support of the entire Church. A Gram Jyothi Social Welfare Centre was established at the Harangul village in Latur which serves three villages with health clinics and educational programmes. A mission centre was organized at Anagalpura near Bangalore city and the centre has started functioning along with the St. George's School.

In 1999, when the late Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese, H.G. Gregorios Geevarghese fell ill, Mor Timotheos Thomas assumed responsibility of the Kottayam diocese. After His Grace passed away on February 22nd, 1999, full responsibility for the diocese was entrusted to Mor Timotheos. In addition, His Grace assumed responsibilities as Assistant Metropolitan for the Southern Kerala Dioceses of Thumpamon, Niranam and Quilon for a short period. His Grace also served as the President of the Youth League of the Malankara Church.

His Grace Mor Timotheos Thomas participated in the Vienna Consultations--the dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. H.G. represented the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the eighth assembly of the World Council of Churches, held at Zimbabwe in 1998. H.G. is a regular participant in forums hosted by the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and served for fours years a the President of NCCI Unit I. Mor Timotheos has also been a key participant in the dialogue between the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church which produced breakthroughs in controversial issues such as inter-confessional marriages. His Grace is presently the president of the Bible Society of India, Kerala Auxiliary.

Source :Syriac Orthodox Resources Homepage.

H.G. Mor Gregorios Joseph was born as the youngest of four children to Srambickal Pallathitta Geevarghese and Saramma on 10 Nov 1960 in Perumpally, Mulanthuruthy. He is the Grand child of the cousin of St.Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil. He pursued his primary education at Perumpally Primary School and Mulanthuruthy High School. At a young age of 13 he was ordained deacon by Mor Gregorios Geevarghese at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjanikkara on 25 March 1974. Subsequently Dn. Joseph served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for a very long period.

Dn. Joseph completed his Pre-degree and Degree courses from Maharajas College, Ernakulam and joined for his theological studies at Mor Julios Seminary, Perumpally. Later, Mor Baselios Paulose II, Catholicose of the East ordained Dn.Joseph Kassiso at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy on 25 March 1984. Fr.Joseph joined the University of Wublil, Ireland for his Masters in Philosophy and left for USA for higher studies in Theology. While in USA, he served as the vicar of many churches. He served as the vicar of St.Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church, London for four years during his studies in England.

Due to old age, the then Metropolitan of Cochin Diocese Mor Osthatheos Thomas retired from his temporal duties of serving the diocese. Fr. Joseph was ordained Ramban by H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch at Damascus on 14 January 1994. On 16 January 1994, Rev. Joseph Ramban was consecrated Metropolitan by the name Mor Gregorios Joseph by H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch at Damascus. Mor Gregorios Joseph assumed the office of the Metropolitan of Cochin Diocese on 23 January 1994 at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam.

Mor Gregorios currently serves as the secretary to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Church in India and is the Manager of the Educational Trust of the church. The Gregorian Public School at Ernakulam was founded by Mor Gregorios.