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Headquarters
Kyomtho Seminary is the headquarters of the Kochi diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church and the residence of its Metropolitan. The founder of this diocesan headquarters is late lamented H.G. Dr. Thomas Mor Osthatheos Metropolitan. The land for the headquarters was donated by the parishioners of the Thripunithara Nadamel Church. This property originally belonged to Very Rev. Mookencheril Geevarghese Ramban, a close associate of Chathuruthil Kochu Thirumeni (Parumala). The Ramban's greatness and love for the Church inspired him to hand over the property to his Parish when he became old.
The foundation for the diocesan headquarters was laid on February 28, 1983; about one year after the appointment of H.G. Dr. Thomas Mor Osthatheos as Metropolitan of Kochi diocese by His Holiness the Patriarch. The Headquarters started functioning on 17th December 1983 from a very simple and humble beginning. Though Mor Osthatheos Thomas was 70 years old when he took charge as Metropolitan, his commitment and hard working helped for the overall development of the diocese.
The present modern Cathedral in the diocesan headquarters was built by Metropolitan Mor Osthatheos, replacing the old and small Chapel consecrated by late lamented Paulose Mor Severios (former Metropolitan of Kochi diocese) in 1950's. The foundation of the new Cathedral was laid on 21st April, 1986 and completed on 31st December, 1987. The first Holy Qurbono was celebrated in the new Cathedral on 1st January 1988 and the formal consecration of the Cathedral was conducted on 15th September 1988 by late lamented Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II. The whole diocese is indebted to that great visionary for his valuable services which he showered at the age of 80s. On 28th July 2000, the Metropolitan passed away and his mortal remains were interred in the cathedral.
In 1994 when the aged Metropolitan Mor Osthatheos Thomas retired, Rev. Fr. Jose Pallathatta was chosen to succeed him. On 16th January 1994 the new Metropolitan who belongs to the family of St. Gregorios (Parumala), was consecrated by name 'Gregorios Joseph' at the Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus by H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. His Grace succeeded in shaping the diocese on the foundations of his predecessor with new visions and missions. A new Diocesan Office complex and a bishop's house was built recently under the efforts of the Metropolitan. This new centre named after St. Gregorios of Parumala, was consecrated on 16th January 2005 by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, assisted by other Metropolitans of the Church. H.G. Mor Gregorios is now the Secretary of the Holy Episcopal Synod of Malankara and the Manager of the Jacobite Syrian Christian educational trust.
Though the number of Parishes in the diocese are only a few, the role and importance of the diocese is very high in the Church. Historical churches such as Karingachira, Mulanthuruthy, Arakunnam, Thripunithara - Nadama, Ayyampilly etc. are in this diocese.
Mor Osthatheos Thomas
H.G. Thomas Mor Osthatheos, the former Metropolitan of the Syrian Orthodox Archdiocese of Cochin, was born in the year 1904 as the son of Seetharkuzhi Puthenpurayil Mathai and Annamma of the Panthalumakkil family of Koothattukulam. He was baptized by name Thomas. The ancient Church at Vadakara was the home parish. His earlier studies was at the Kottayam M.D Seminary and Thiruvalla MGM High schools and completed the college education from the Kottayam CMS College, Changanacherry SB College, and Trivandrum Maharajas Training College. Ordained Korooyo at the age of 9 by late Malankara Metropolitan Mor Kurillos Paulose, Thomas underwent theological training at Pampakuda seminary. Late Patriarchal Delegate Mor Yulius Elias ordained him priest and appointed him to serve the St. Mathias Church at Madras. Later, Fr.Thomas served as headmaster of schools at Keerampara and Vadakara and helped in establishing the Marian school at Madras. In 1952 when a new Metropolitan was to be selected as a successor to Valiya Thirumeni (late Malankara Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Paulose) for the Kandanad diocese, it was Fr.Thomas who was one among those considered, but he then declined the offer in favour of Mor Philexinos.
Twenty two years later Fr. Thomas was once again chosen for the bishopric, but this time, following the special request
made by the prelates and faithful, he agreed. On 12th June 1975, Fr.C.M.Thomas was consecrated bishop by late Patriarch Mor Ya`qub III at the St.George Cathedral Church in Damascus. As Metropolitan, he served the Kandanad and Kottayam dioceses assisting late Catholicos Mor Baselios Paulose II. In 1982, the Holy Synod held at Cochin presided by Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I on his first apostolic visit to Malankara appointed Mor Osthatheos the bishop of Cochin.
The Metropolitan was instrumental in the rejuvenation of the Cochin diocese and in the construction of the diocesan headquarters at Thiruvankulam. He was an avid reader and dedicated to learning, all through his life. In 1994, Mor Osthatheos announced his retirement from the active administration of the diocese following consecration of his assistant, H.G. Mor Gregorios Joseph. Later he was more involved in the training of young Deacons, staying at the Kyomtho Seminary, till his last.
On 28th July 2000, at 1.15 pm, H.G. Dr.Thomas Mor Osthatheos Thirumeni passed away following a cardiac arrest. He was then 96. The body was entombed at the Kyomtho Chapel in the diocesan headquarters at Thiruvankulam on the next day in the presence of a huge gathering which included prelates from other churches.
H.G. Joseph Mor Gregorios
H.G. Mor Gregorios Joseph was born as the youngest of four children to Srambickal Pallathitta Geevarghese and Saramma on 10 Nov 1960 in Perumpally, Mulanthuruthy. He is the Grand child of the cousin of St.Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Chathuruthil. He pursued his primary education at Perumpally Primary School and Mulanthuruthy High School. At a young age of 13 he was ordained deacon by Mor Gregorios Geevarghese at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjanikkara on 25 March 1974. Subsequently Dn. Joseph served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for a very long period.
Dn. Joseph completed his Pre-degree and Degree courses from Maharajas College, Ernakulam and joined for his theological studies at Mor Julios Seminary, Perumpally. Later, Mor Baselios Paulose II, Catholicose of the East ordained Dn.Joseph Kassiso at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy on 25 March 1984. Fr.Joseph joined the University of Wublil, Ireland for his Masters in Philosophy and left for USA for higher studies in Theology. While in USA, he served as the vicar of many churches. He served as the vicar of St.Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church, London for four years during his studies in England.
Due to old age, the then Metropolitan of Cochin Diocese Mor Osthatheos Thomas retired from his temporal duties of serving the diocese. Fr. Joseph was ordained Ramban by H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch at Damascus on 14 January 1994. On 16 January 1994, Rev. Joseph Ramban was consecrated Metropolitan by the name Mor Gregorios Joseph by H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch at Damascus. Mor Gregorios Joseph assumed the office of the Metropolitan of Cochin Diocese on 23 January 1994 at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam.
Mor Gregorios currently serves as the secretary to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Church in India and is the Manager of the Educational Trust of the church. The Gregorian Public School at Ernakulam was founded by Mor Gregorios.
Born on-10 Nov 1960
Family Name- Srambickal Pallathitta, Mulanthuruthy
Education-Masters in Philosophy from the University of Wublil, Ireland
Theological Studies- Perumpally Mor Julios Seminary, USA
Deacon-25 March 1974 (ordained by H.G. Gregorios Geevarghese - Perumpally Thirumeni)
Kassisso-25 March 1984 (ordained by H.B. Catholicose Baselios Paulose II)
Ramban-14 January 1994 (ordained by H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I)
Metropolitan-16 January 1994 (ordained by H.H. Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I)
Current Responsibilities-
1. Metropolitan of Kochi diocese
2. Metropolitan of Perumbavur region of Angamali diocese
3. Secretary to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Church
4. Manager of the Educational Trust of the church
Source :- syrianchurch.org
Kochi Diocese
The formation of Kochi Diocese was in the Syrian Christian Association held at Mulanthuruthy in 1876 and it was declared by H.H.Moran Mor Ignatius Peter IV. H.G. Semavoon Mor Dionysius was the first Metropolitan. But he could not administer the Diocese due to the litigations. He died in 1886 and was entombed at St.Peter & St.Paul's Church Kadungamangalam. Later this Diocese was under the Malankara Metropolitan for quite a long period. H.G.Paulose Mor Koorilose, H.G.Paulose Mor Athanasius had administered this diocese when they were Malankara Metropolitans. In 1946 H.G. Paulose Mor Severios Metropolitan was consecrated for Kochi Diocese by the initiative of then Malankara Metropolitan H.G. Paulose Mor Athanasius. The consecretion was held at Homs in Syria by H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem I. Mor Severios constructed the Koratty Sion Seminary which was his Aramana. He died in 1962 and was entombed at Shimhasana Church, Kunnamkulam. H.G. Daniel Mor Phlaxinos administered the diocese after that H.G.Paulose Mor Severios also administered the diocese. In 1966 Yuhanon Mor Severios was consecrated. In 1974 H.G. Geevarghese Mor Gregorios (Perumpally Thirumeni) took charge as the Metropolitan. When Prumaplly thirumeni took the charge of Kottayam Diocese in 1982 H.G.THomas mor Osthatheos became the Diocese Metropolitan. H.G. founded the present headquarters at Kyomtha Seminary. The present Metropolitan H.G. Joseph Mor Greegorios was consecrated at Damascus on 16 January 1994 as auxilary Metropolitan of Cochin Diocese and took the charge on 23 January 1994 and he took charge as Metropolitan of Kochi diocese after the demise of H.G. Thomas Mor Osthatheos Metrapolitan on 29 July 2000 and H.E. Thomas Mor Osthatheos was entombed at Kyomtha Seminary, Thiruvankulam.
