BIOGRAPHY Mor Theodosius Mathews (Metropolitan of Kollam diocese)

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H.G. Mathews Mor Theodosius was born in the Padayanical family of Koodal in Pathanamthitta district on 4th May 1959 to Mr. P G George and Sosamma George. He attained the Masters Degree in Commerce in 1982.

On 18th January 1981 he was ordained Korooyo by Mor Koorilos Kuriakose, the former Metropolitan of Southern dioceses at the Mepral Church near Thiruvalla. On 14th September 1984, he was ordained as Youphidakino by Mor Yulius Yacoub at Manjinikkara Mor Ignatius Dayro and on 14th September 1988 he was elevated as Shamshono by Metropolitan Mor Koorilos Kuriakose at the St. Peter’s Church, Kunnamthanam. During this period he was very active and has held various positions in the Youth Association.

On 1st November 1988 he was ordained Kassisso, by late H.G. Koorilos Kuriakose at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjinikkara. In his capacity as a priest he had served the churches at Thannithode, Attachakal, Vazhamuttam, Rajagiri, Kaipattoor, Konni, Adoor, Kattachira, St. Peter’s Church at Trivandrum (1998-2003), Kottarakkara, Koodal and Vakayar. In 1989 he was appointed as the Manager of the Adoor Dayro. The same year he became the Principal of the Michael Mor Dionysius Memorial I.T.C. also.

In 2005 the diocesan council of Kollam elected Fr. Mathew P George as their bishop-designate which was later approved by the various Church bodies. In June 2006, the three day Malankara Episcopal Synod meeting presided over by the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the Puthencuriz Patriarchal Centre, approved for bishop-hood the names of five priests chosen by the respective dioceses of Kollam, Niranam, Thrissur, High Range region of Angamali and the New Delhi region of Outside Kerala dioceses. Subsequently these requests for Episcopal consecrations were forwarded to the  supreme head of the Church His Holiness the Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and received the final consent. Thus on 2nd July 2006, Fr. Mathew P George was ordained Ramban (Dayroyo) with name 'MICAH' by the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the Karingachira St. George's Cathedral.

A day after on Monday the 3rd July 2006, on St. Thomas day, five Rambans including the newly ordained Ramban Micah were raised to order of Metropolitan by the  spiritual head of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the St. Thomas church in North Paravur*. Besides the Catholicos, nine Metropolitans of Malankara and many priests and a large number of faithful participated in the Holy ceremony. With the Episcopal consecration, the new Metropolitan came to be called Mor Theodosius Mathews.  His Grace was ordained as the Auxiliary Metropolitan of Kollam diocese. In 2007, the Holy Episcopal Synod gave independent charge of the diocese to His Grace.

Consecration ceremony of the five Metropolitans including H.G. Mathews Mor Theodosius of Kollam diocese

The Catholicos Baselios Thomas I Bava and the Metropolitans in thye madbho of the North Paravur Church

* This historically important church at North Paravur was the venue for the Episcopal consecration of four Metropolitans of the Church, 130 years ago, in 1876. St. Gregorios of Parumala alias Chathuruthil Thirumeni was one of the Metropolitans ordained at that time by the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East H.H. Ignatius Peter IV. This church is also the last resting place of St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel Bava who came to Malankara in the 17th century and saved the Church from heresies. The name of this holy father is remembered in the 5th Tubden of Malankara Church along with the names of Patriarch St. Elias, Maphryono St. Baselios Yeldho and St. Gregorios of Malankara.

1.  http://www.syriacchristianity.info/Photos/EpisCons3July06/index.html

2.  http://www.syriacchristianity.info/bio/MalankaraPrelates/OrdinationAtParavur/PHOTO.HTM