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Baselios Joseph
Catholicos of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Mor Baselios Joseph (Syr: ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂; Mal: മോർ ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ്; Born 10 November 1960) is the current Catholicos of India (Maphrian) of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church.[1][2][3]
He also serves as the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese and Angamali Diocese
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He was elevated to the position of Catholicos on March 25, 2025 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon in a service presided by Ignatius Aphrem II.[4]
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Early years
Joseph "Jose" was born in Perumpilly, Kerala as the youngest of four children to Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma.[5] Joseph had his primary education at Perumpilly Primary School and his high school education from Mulanthuruthy High School.[5]
Early Service
On 25 March 1974, at the age of 13, Joseph was ordained a deacon by Mor Gregorios Geevarghese of Perumpally at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjinikkara.[5] He later served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for several years. He pursued pre-degree and undergraduate studies at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, before joining Mor Julius Seminary, Perumpally, for theological studies.[5]
On 25 March 1984, Joseph was ordained a priest at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy, by Mor Baselios Paulose II.[5] He went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin, and pursued further theological studies in the United States, where he also served as the vicar of multiple churches.[5] He was ordained as Dayroyo by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in Damascus on 15 January 1994.[5]
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Metropolitan of Kochi
On 16 January 1994, Fr. Joseph Ramban was consecrated as Mor Gregorios Joseph, the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese, by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at Damascus.[5] He formally assumed the office after the Sunthroniso (enthronement) ceremony at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam, on 23 January 1994.
Joseph served as the President of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association (MJSSA) from 1996 to 2002.[6] He was also instrumental in initiating several orphanages and educational projects. In 2019, he was elected as the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association, following the resignation of Catholicos Baselios Thomas I from administrative duties.[7]
In 2023, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II bestowed upon him the title of Malankara Metropolitan.[8] He also served as Catholicos Assistant to Baselios Thomas I until his passing in 2024.[9]
Catholicos of India
Following the passing away of Baselios Thomas I, Gregorios Joseph was unanimously elected as the Catholicos of India.[8] He was elevated as Catholicos of India by Ignatius Aphrem II on 25 March 2025, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon with the name Baselios Joseph.[8] He was enthroned on 30 March 2025, at Mar Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencruz.[10]
References
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