Catholicos of the East

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His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan on Friday, 15th October 2021. His Holiness is the 92nd Primate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

His Holiness was born on 12 February 1949 to Mr. Cherian Anthrayos of Mattathil family, and a devout member of St Peter’s Orthodox Church, Vazhoor. After his school education, he joined Kerala University and received his Bachelor of Science in Chemistry. After his undergraduate studies, he joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, and received his Graduate in Sacred Theology degree. His Holiness subsequently took his Bachelor of Divinity degree from Serampore University and continued in higher studies in Theology at the Theological Academy, in Leningrad, Russia.

Thereupon he joined Oriental Institute, in Rome, and took his Master in Theology and Ph.D. from there. His Holiness was ordained a deacon in 1976 and a priest in 1978 by HH Baselios Mathews I. His Holiness was consecrated by the Church to serve as a Bishop on April 30, 1991, and later was elevated to the rank of Metropolitan in 1993.

Following the passing of His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, the Malankara Syrian Christian Association elected him to succeed as the Primate of the Church on October 14, 2021, in Parumala. On Friday, October 15, 2021, the Holy Synod enthroned the newly elected Primate as His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan.