With faith in Christ, and in hope of the resurrection, we announce the falling asleep of our beloved Father in Christ, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the Catholicos of the East. His Holiness passed away on the early morning of July 12th at 2:35AM (IST), at Saint Gregorios International Cancer Care Center, in Parumala, Kerala, India.
At the age of 36, the Malankara Syrian Christian Association elected him as a Bishop of the Malankara Church. On May 15, 1985, he was consecrated to the Holy Episcopacy asPaulose Mar Milithiosand was given the sacred responsibility to shepherd the newly formedKunnumkulum Diocese. His Holiness faithfully shepherded this Diocese for over three decades.
On October 12, 2006, the Malankara Syrian Christian Association at Parumala unanimously elected Metropolitan Paulose Mar Milithios, as the Catholicos Designate. On 1st November 2010, following the abdication of his predecessor, His Beatitude was enthroned as Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan, asPaulose II, becoming the 8th Catholicos of the East after its relocation to India, and the 20th Malankara Metropolitan, upon the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.
His Holiness was overwhelmingly supportive of the growth and vision of our Diocese. Since assuming the sacred responsibility as the Chief Shepherd of the Malankara Church, His Holiness has made more than five Apostolic Visits to our Diocese. These visits included presiding over the enthronement of our Diocesan Metropolitan in 2011, the consecration of churches, and inaugurating the Holy Transfiguration Retreat Center in 2017.
Upon the significant change in His Holiness health, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan left for India on Wednesday, July 7th to join the Fathers of the Holy Synod in vigil and prayer at the side of His Holiness. Upon the news of the falling asleep of His Holiness, our Diocesan Metropolitan issued a memo to clergy and faithful of the Diocese informing of His Holiness' falling asleep.
The Malankara Church has not lost a great father, rather we have gained a great intercessor before the Throne of Christ our God. His Holiness' example of simplicity, prayer, and humility be an example for all of us.
May the memory of our Bava Thirumeni, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, be eternal!
Go in peace Holy Father, and forever pray unto God for us!