Oldest serving Church head turns 90

Adoor – Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan became the oldest serving Church Head in the country as he turned 90.

January 30 was marked by a valedictory function of the 'Navati festival' and special prayers and Mass were held at all the 1,200 and odd parish churches of the Malankara Orthodox Church throughout the world on that day.

While inaugurated the public meeting as part of the Navati festival held at the St Thomas Church, Kannamkode, Kerala Chief Minister Oommen Chandy recalled the Catholicos' immense contributions to the Church and nation in maintaining communal harmony and peace among the people.

State ministers and heads of various churches and other prominent persons also participated in the celebrations.

Born on January 30, 1915 at Perinad, Baselios Marthoma Mathews II had his early education in a local school. After high school, he was trained at old Seminary, Kottayam and also at Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta. Later he joined Bishops college, Kolkata for his B D Degree. He received his higher education in Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York.

He was ordained as Deacon in 1938 and as Priest in 1941. He was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East on April 29,1991. He is the 89th successor to the throne of St Thomas as Catholicos and the Sixth Catholicos in Malankara after the establishment of the Catholicate in 1912.

A known orator and an eminent scholar, Baselios Marthoma Mathews II is also known as an able administrator.