Paulose II (Indian Orthodox Church)
Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II ( Al so Know as Kottayam Catholica, Kanjikuzhi Thirumeni ) (born K. I. Paul; 30 August 1946)[1] is the primate of the Malankara Church. He became Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 1 November 2010,[2][3] succeeding Baselios Thoma Didymos I.
His Holiness Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II | |
|---|---|
| Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan | |
 Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II | |
| Church | Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church |
| Diocese | Malankara Metropolitan, Kottayam Orthodox Diocese, Kunnamkulam |
| Elected | 27 September 2010 |
| In office | 2010 - present |
| Predecessor | H. H. Moran Mar Baselios MarThoma Didymos I |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 1973 |
| Consecration | 1 November 2010 by H. H. Moran Mar Baselios MarThoma Didymos I |
| Rank | Catholicos |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | K. I. Paul |
| Born | 30 August 1946 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Denomination | Malankara Orthodox |
| Residence | Catholicate Palace in Kottayam,  |
| Parents | K. I. Iype and Kunjeetty |
| Education | BSc Physics from St. Thomas College Theological studies in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary |
| Alma mater | St. Thomas College, Thrissur Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam Serampore University C.M.S College |
Early years
K. I. Paul was born on 30 August 1946 as the second son of K. I. Iype of Kollannur house, Mangad near Pazhanji in Kerala, India. His mother Kunjeetty belongs to Pulikkottil family. He was named Paul after his grandfather, and was baptized in Pazhanji.[1] He did his preliminary education at the Mangad Church School till his 7th standard. His high school education was conducted at the Pazhanji Government High School, which was established by Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II. Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at a young age. In 1963 he completed his SSLC. As per his SSLC book he is born in jacobite syrian church.His uncle Iyyukkutty also had encouraged him to join the priesthood. Now he is tell himself .. I'm the chief minister of Malankara palli pidutha sabha .
Education
Paul studied for pre-university and BSc in Physics at St. Thomas College. During this time, Paul was an active member of the MGOCSM of his church. His spiritual calling was strengthened while studying for his degree. In 1969, Paul enrolled at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam for his theological studies under the discipleship of Paulose Gregorios, T J Abraham Malpan, and N.K Koruthu Malpan. He completed theological degree in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary and B.D. from Serampore University. After taking the holy orders, he joined C.M.S College, Kottayam and earned his M.A in Sociology.[1]
Priesthood
In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of diaconate in Parumala Seminary. He was ordained a full deacon as Dn. K.I Paul at Koratty Zion Seminary. On 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained a priest as K.I Paul. Paul celebrated the first Holy Qurbana at Mangad St. Gregorios Church, and served as vicar in the Mooleppat Mar Baselios Mar Gregorios Church for a short while. In 1983, Paul was ordained a Monk Priest (Ramban) as K.I Paulose.
Presbyterate
On 15 May 1985, at the age of 38, K.I Paulose Ramban was ordained bishop with title "His Grace Paulose Mar Milithios" at Puthiyakavu St. Mary's Church by Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. He was the first Metropolitan after Parumala Thirumeni and Puthenkavil Geevarghese Philexinos to be ordained to the bishopric below the age of 40. Four other bishops, Mathews Epiphanios, Philipose Eusebius, Geevarghese Ivanios and Thomas Athanasius were also ordained with "Paulose Milithios". A new diocese for the Church, Kunnamkulam was formed on 14 April 1985 with some of the churches of Talappally Taluk of Kochi diocese and some neighboring churches. The newly ordained Paulose Milithios was appointed as the diocesan Metropolitan of the newly formed diocese. When he took over the diocese on 1 Aug 1985, there was no diocesan headquarters or Aramana. Initially, the new Metropolitan lived in an annexed room of Arthat Church; within five years, with other members of the diocese, he constructed a diocesan center with a chapel in the vicinity of Arthat church for the diocese.
Enthronement as Catholicos
The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated him as the successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 27 Sep 2006. Paulose Mar Milithios was enthroned as the new Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan at a ceremony at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's church at Parumala on Monday, 1 November 2010, succeeding Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, who abdicated at the age of 90. Thomas Mar Athanasius was the chief celebrant for the Holy Qurbana of the ceremony.. He is the eighth Catholicos of the Malankara Church and the 21st Malankara Metropolitan. The enthronement came almost a year before the Church officially launched the centenary celebrations of the 1912 establishment of the Catholicate in India.
At the inception of Catholicate in Malankara the first Catholicos was named as Paulose I. Now at the centenary of the Catholicate the Catholicos is again being called Paulose, precisely Paulose II. This is not a coincidence, but a great plan of God
said the Principal of Orthodox Theological Seminary, K.M. George.[4][5][6][7]
In 2019, the Catholicos met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to discuss forming a working committee.[8]
During the meeting between the two Church heads, an agreement was also reached to promote the study of iconography and liturgical music. Activities of youth organizations will be integrated and social activities are to be promoted, said the spokesperson. "It has also been decided to improve cooperation in academic and media fields", he said.
— Express News Service, Fr. Johns Abraham Konat, The New Indian Express
Titles and styles
- K. I. Paul (1946–1972)
- Deacon K. I. Paul (1972–1973)
- Rev. Father K. I. Paul (1973–1983)
- Very Rev. Paulose Ramban (1983–1985)
- His Grace Paulose Milithios Metropolitan (1985–2006)
- His Beatitude Paulose Milithios, Assistant and Successor-designate to the Catholicos of the East (2006–2010)
- His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (2010 – present)[9]
- He is officially styled as His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan enthroned on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.
Apostolic succession
| Preceded by H. H. Moran Mar Baselios MarThoma Didymos I 2005-2010 |
Current
Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan |
Succeeded by Incumbent |
References
- "About Thirumeni". Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. 2010. Archived from the original on 22 August 2010. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- "Catholicos consecration on Nov. 1". Mathrubhumi. 31 October 2010. Archived from the original on 26 September 2011. Retrieved 31 October 2010.
- "New Catholicos to be installed today". AsianetIndia.com. 1 November 2010. Archived from the original on 1 November 2010. Retrieved 1 November 2010.
- "Orthodoxherald.com". www.orthodoxherald.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Latest News Headlines | newkerala.com". www.newkerala.com. Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Enthronement of Baselios Marthoma Paulose II". Retrieved 6 May 2019.
- "Paulose II enthroned as Catholicos of the East". The Hindu. Chennai, India. 2 November 2010.
- "Russian and Malankara Orthodox churches form working committee". The New Indian Express. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "Kerala Gazette 2011" (PDF).