Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I
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His Holiness Baselios MarThoma Mathews I Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan |
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|---|---|
| Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church | |
| See | Apostolic See of St. Thomas in the East |
| Term ended | 27 April 1991 |
| Predecessor | Baselios Augen I |
| Successor | Baselios MarThoma Mathews II |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 27 October 1946 Old Seminary |
| Consecration | 15 May 1953 by Baselios Geevarghese II |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | V.K. Mathew |
| Born |
27 March 1907 Kottayam |
| Died | 8 November 1996 (aged 89) Devalokam, Kottayam |
| Buried | Catholicate Palace, Devalokam, Kottayam |
| Previous post | Metropolitan of Diocese Outside Kerala |
Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I (27 March 1907 – 8 November 1996) was the Supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church, which is also known as Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He was the 88th successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.
The Catholicos was the youngest son of Vattakunnel Kurien Kathanar and Pulickaparampil Mariamma in Kottayam. His father Vattakunnel Kurien Kathanar was Vicar of St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church at Manarcad. In his early days, the Catholicos was called V.K. Mathew and nicknamed Kuttachen. Mathew had his school education at M.D. Seminary High School, and Collegiate education in C.M.S. College, Kottayam and Maharaja’s College Ernakulam. After obtaining B.A. Degree in Chemistry, Mathews opted for the ministry of God and joined the Bishop's College, Calcutta for B.D. course. In 1936, Mathew took B.D. and later in 1942 joined the teaching staff of the Theological Seminary, Kottayam.
On 27 October 1946, V.K. Mathew at the age of 40, received ordination of priesthood from Catholicos Mar Geevarghese II, at Old Seminary. The Theological Seminary was his main field of activity, and was appointed as its Acting Principal in 1948 and as its Principal in 1951, which position he retained till 1966.
The Malankara Syrian Christian Association held in 1951 elected Fr. Mathews as Metropolitan-candidate and accordingly on 15 May 1953, the Catholicos Mar Geevarghese along with other Metropolitans of the Synod, consecrated him as Metropolitan Mar Athanasius at Mar Elia Chapel, Kottayam. In addition to the post of Principal of the Theological Seminary, he was in charge of the diocese of Outside Kerala from 1960 to 1976. During this period the Diocese grew significantly. The Metropolitan made several tours to different parts of the diocese.
In July 1963, at the invitation of Russian Orthodox Church, Mar Athanasius and Daniel Mar Philexinos visited Moscow and attended the golden jubilee celebration of the Metropolitan consecration of H. H. Alexy I Patriarch as the representatives of the Catholicos of the East.
On 31 December 1970 Mar Athanasius was elected as successor to Baselios Augen I as Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan by the Malankara Association. Consequently, the Metropolitan was called upon to assist the Catholicos in the administration of the Church from 1972 onwards.
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