His
Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II (born : January
30, 1915 and heavenly abode : January 26, 2006) was the Supreme head
of Indian Orthodox Church,
which is also known as Malankara Orthodox Church. He was the 89th successor to
the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Catholicos of
the East and Malankara
Metropolitan.
His Holiness was
born as the eldest son of the late Mr. Idikkula and the late Mrs.
Annamma,Puthusserazhikathu Puthenveetil,at Perinad in Kollam district of Kerala, and had his
religious training at Old Seminary Kottayam and also at Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta. Later he
joined Bishop's College, Calcutta for his B. D. Degree, and studied Theology at
the General
Theological Seminary, New York.
He was ordained as Deacon in 1938 then as Priest in 1941. It was during his stay at St. George Dayara Othara that Father Mathews made a mark as a devoted and an able priest of the Indian Orthodox Church. He was noted for his spiritual leadership and loving nature and could endear himself to everyone who came in contact with him, and called "Father Angel" at that time. His Holiness, Baselios Geevarghese II, took special interest in the activities of Father Mathews.
On May 15, 1953 he
was ordained as a Bishop of
the Indian Orthodox church at the age of thirty eight. As Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kollam, he was
fully responsible for its growth and progress and the number of parishes almost
doubled within a short period. Several monasteries and convents were started. A
large number of educational institutions and hospitals were established.
Several Colleges, Schools, Hospitals and other service institutions were
established and administered under his direct control and leadership. He has
travelled in various countries including the United States, Canada, Europe, Malaya, Singapore and Gulf countries,
and has attended various international meetings and conferences.
It was in 1980 that
he was unanimously elected by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association as
successor to the throne of Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.
In recent years some of the new schemes started under his directions are found
to be of much help and benefit for the community at large. A Civil Service
Academy was started at Thiruvananthapuram, to
give proper training for candidates appearing for I. A. S.; I. P. S.; I. F. S.
and other Central Service Examinations. With a view to provide shelter for the
poor, an House Building Assistance project was started. The Community Marriage
Scheme is found beneficial for the marriage of poor girls. Human Resources
Development and Services Wing is also helpful for the community in general.
Considering
the remarkable contribution of the Holy Father to the society at
large and the Christian community in particular the Serampore University
confer upon His Holiness the Honorary Doctoral of the
University at its convocation on 10th February 2001.
As President of the
Ecumenical committee in Kerala and also in various other Inter-Church
Committees he has shown excellent leadership. He kept in touch with the heads
of other churches and promoted Ecumenism. Due to ill
health and old age His Holiness voluntarily resigned his position as the
Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church on 29 October 2005.
His Holiness died
on Thursday, January 26, 2006. His Body is Interred in Mount Horeb Chapel, in
Sasthamkotta on 28th.
