BIOGRAPHY
Mor Thimotheos Thomas
(Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese)

 

Born on - 11 July 1949
Family Name - Muriyankal family of Veloor, Kottayam
Education - Masters in English literature from CMS College, Kottayam;
Pandalam NSS Training College;
- Erbangen-Nuremburg University, Germany;
- Syriac patristic studies from Goettingen University, Germany.
Theological Studies - Majanikkara Dayro
1 1 B.D. and M.Th in Theology, United Theological College, Bangalore
Deacon - 24 February 1964  (ordained by H.G. Mor Philoxenos Paulose  [Catholicos Paulose II])
Kassisso - 21 May 1975  (ordained by H.B. Catholicos Baselios Paulose II)
Metropolitan - 03 January 1991   (ordained by H.B. Catholicos Baselios Paulose II)
Current Responsibilities - Metropolitan of Kottayam diocese since 1999

 

H.G. Mor Timotheos Thomas was ordained the Metropolitan of the Outside Kerala Diocese on 3rd January 1991 by late lamented Catholicos of the East, Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II.  His Grace was born on 11th July 1949 in the Muriyankal family of the Lakkattoor village (Kottayam District, Kerala, India), to Mr. Kurian Kuruvilla and Mrs. Annamma Kuruvilla as the sixth of their eight children.

Mor Thimotheos had his primary education at the  Lakkattoor CMS School.  Middle School and High School education were completed at the Amayannoor High School. In 1964, while in the ninth grade, Thomas was ordained Koorooyo by Mor Philoxenos Paulose (late Mor Baselios Paulose II Catholicos) who was then Metropolitan of the Kottayam diocese. His parish priest,  Very Rev. Thomas Mattathil Corepiscopus, imparted early instruction in Syriac and liturgical rites. Having completed the 10th grade examination in 1965, Deacon Thomas joined the Baselius College, Kottayam, for the Pre-Degree course. Later he graduated with Bachelors and Masters degrees in English literature from the CMS college, Kottayam.

H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I presenting  icon to H.G. Thomas Mor Thimotheos

In 1973, Dn. Thomas joined the Old Seminary, Kottayam for theological studies. He could study there only for a year due to the then erupting volatile situation in the Malankara Church, which had its echoes on the Seminary too. Finding it difficult to continue, Deacon Thomas joined the Manjinikkara dayro for Syriac Studies and priestly formation. Under the spiritual guidance of Very Rev. Jacob Madapattu Rabban (late Metropolitan Mor Yulius Ya`qub), he completed liturgical studies. During the one year stay at the monastery, he completed Bachelor of Education degree at the NSS Training College, Pandalam. While at the seminary, late Metropolitan of Kottayam diocese, H.G. Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpilly Thirumeni) ordained him samshono (full deacon). On 21st May 1975, H.G. Mor Philoxenos Paulose (late Catholicos) ordained him Kassisso (priest). Thereupon Fr. Thomas began to assist the vicar of his parish. Later he began to teach at the T.M. High School, Perumpilavu near Kunnamkulam. While teaching there, he assisted Rev. Fr. K.V. Kuriakose (H.G. Mor Yulius Kuriakose), at the Simhasana Church, Kunnamkulam. When late Mor Philoxenos Paulose was consecrated Catholicos of the East, His Beatitude invited Fr. Thomas to assist him at the Muvattupuzha Aramana. After a few months, Fr. Thomas was appointed vicar of the St. Mary's Church, Bangalore. This became a turning point in his life. He served in this capacity for eight years until 1984. During this period, along with his pastoral duties, Fr. Thomas completed the Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology courses from the United Theological College, Bangalore. The St. Mary's Church in Bangalore was built during this period.

In 1984, Fr. Thomas became the vicar of St. Peter's Church, New Delhi. He served there for two years organizing the parish. In 1986, he left for Germany for higher studies and joined the Erbangen-Nuremburg University. After completing studies in German language, he moved to the Goettingen University in 1987 to pursue Syriac patristic studies. He returned to India in 1990, after being elected to the bishopric of the Outside Kerala diocese. On 3rd January 1991, Fr. Thomas was ordained bishop by name 'Mor Thimotheos'  to assist the then Metropolitan of the Outside Kerala diocese Mor Theophilos Thomas who had advanced in age. On 12th January 1992, H.G. Theophilos Thomas passed away and Mor Thimotheos assumed full responsibility of the diocese.

The Metropolitan established his administrative office at Mulund, Bombay. A new publication, "The Vision" was started thereafter and continues to be published as a bilingual monthly. In 1993, when a severe earthquake occurred in the Latur district, His Grace launched a rehabilitation program with the support of the entire Church. A Gram Jyothi Social Welfare Centre was established at the Harangul village in Latur which serves three villages with health clinics and educational programmes. A mission centre was organized at Anagalpura near Bangalore city and the centre has started functioning along with the St. George's School.  H.G. continued as the diocesan Metropolitan till the Outside Kerala diocese was dividend into four zones in 2009 following a Synod decision.

In 1999, when the late Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese, H.G. Gregorios Geevarghese fell ill, Mor Thimotheos Thomas assumed responsibility of the Kottayam diocese. After His Grace passed away on February 22nd, 1999, full responsibility for the diocese was entrusted to Mor Thimotheos. In addition, His Grace assumed responsibilities as Assistant Metropolitan for the Southern Kerala Dioceses of Thumpamon, Niranam and Quilon for a short period. His Grace also had then served as the President of the Youth League of the Malankara Church.

His Grace Mor Thimotheos Thomas participated in the Vienna Consultations--the dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches. H.G. represented the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the eighth assembly of the World Council of Churches, held at Zimbabwe in 1998. H.G. is a regular participant in forums hosted by the National Council of Churches in India (NCCI) and served for fours years as the Vice President of National Council of Churches in India and President of NCCI Unit I. Mor Thimotheos has also been a key participant in the dialogue between the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and the Catholic Church which produced breakthroughs in controversial issues such as inter-confessional marriages. His Grace was also the Vice-president of  the president of the Bible Society of India, Kerala Auxiliary.

Source :Syriac Orthodox Resources Homepage

 

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Photos from the
CONSECRATION CEREMONY OF METROPOLITAN MOR THIMOTHEOS THOMAS  
(3 January 1991)

 Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II presiding the Holy Ceremony

(H.G. Thomas Mor Thimotheos is the sixth and the last Metropolitan ordained by the late lamented Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose-II)

Also seen in the photo are the former Malankara Episcopal Synod President Mor Gregorios Perumpilly & Mor Dionysius Thomas who is our reigning Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas-I

 

 

 

The newly ordained Metropolitan Thomas Mor Thimotheos embrace

the Catholicos of the East, Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose-II

 

Felicitating speech by late lamented Catholicos of the East Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose-II.

Also seen in the photo is the former Cardinal Mar Antony Padiyara of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church