Paulose II (Indian Orthodox Church)


Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Paulose II is the primate of the Malankara Church. He became Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 1 November 2010, succeeding Baselios Thoma Didymos I.

Early years

K. I. Paul was born on 30 August 1946 as the second son of K. I. Iype of Kollannur house, Mangad near Pazhanji in Kerala, India. His mother Kunjeetty belongs to Pulikkottil family. He was named Paul after his grandfather, and was baptized in Pazhanji. He did his preliminary education at the Mangad Church School till his 7th standard. His high school education was conducted at the Pazhanji Government High School, which was established by Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysius II. Paul attended church services regularly and became an altar boy at a young age. In 1963 he completed his SSLC. His uncle Iyyukkutty also had encouraged him to join the priesthood.

Education

Paul studied for pre-university and BSc in Physics at St. Thomas College. During this time, Paul was an active member of the MGOCSM of his church. His spiritual calling was strengthened while studying for his degree. In 1969, Paul enrolled at the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam for his theological studies under the discipleship of Paulose Gregorios, T J Abraham Malpan, and N.K Koruthu Malpan. He completed theological degree in GST from Orthodox Theological Seminary and B.D. from Serampore University. After taking the holy orders, he joined C.M.S College, Kottayam and earned his M.A in Sociology.

Priesthood

In 1972, Paul was ordained for the first stage of diaconate in Parumala Seminary. He was ordained a full deacon as Dn. K.I Paul at Koratty Zion Seminary. On 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained a priest as K.I Paul. Paul celebrated the first Holy Qurbana at Mangad St. Gregorios Church, and served as vicar in the Mooleppat Mar Baselios Mar Gregorios Church for a short while. In 1983, Paul was ordained a Monk Priest as K.I Paulose.

Presbyterate

On 15 May 1985, at the age of 38, K.I Paulose Ramban was ordained bishop with title "His Grace Paulose Mar Milithios" at Puthiyakavu St. Mary's Church by Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. He was the first Metropolitan after Parumala Thirumeni and Puthenkavil Geevarghese Philexinos to be ordained to the bishopric below the age of 40. Four other bishops, Mathews Epiphanios, Philipose Eusebius, Geevarghese Ivanios and Thomas Athanasius were also ordained with "Paulose Milithios". A new diocese for the Church, Kunnamkulam was formed on 14 April 1985 with some of the churches of Talappally Taluk of Kochi diocese and some neighboring churches. The newly ordained Paulose Milithios was appointed as the diocesan Metropolitan of the newly formed diocese. When he took over the diocese on 1 Aug 1985, there was no diocesan headquarters or Aramana. Initially, the new Metropolitan lived in an annexed room of Arthat Church; within five years, with other members of the diocese, he constructed a diocesan center with a chapel in the vicinity of Arthat church for the diocese.

Enthronement as Catholicos

The Holy Episcopal synod and the Managing committee nominated him as the successor to the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan on 27 Sep 2006. Paulose Mar Milithios was enthroned as the new Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan at a ceremony at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's church at Parumala on Monday, 1 November 2010, succeeding Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, who abdicated at the age of 90. Thomas Mar Athanasius was the chief celebrant for the Holy Qurbana of the ceremony.. He is the eighth Catholicos of the Malankara Church and the 21st Malankara Metropolitan. The enthronement came almost a year before the Church officially launched the centenary celebrations of the 1912 establishment of the Catholicate in India. said the Principal of Orthodox Theological Seminary, K.M. George.
In 2019, the Catholicos met with the head of the Russian Orthodox Church, Patriarch Kirill of Moscow to discuss forming a working committee.


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