The
first election of the Head of an Oriental Catholic Church in India
The members of the Holy Episcopal Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church assembled for the Synod of Election for the first time in the history of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church on 8 February 2007. On 10 February 2007, after getting the confirmation from the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI (Decree, No. 13.695/07), the Administrator of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church announced the election of His Grace Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis, the then Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla as the new Major Archbishop-Catholicos and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. As per the tradition of the Malankara Church, the new Major Archbishop-Catholicos assumed the official name Baselios (along with his episcopal name Cleemis). This was the first election of the Head of an Oriental Catholic Church in India.
Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis was enthroned as the Second Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum on 5 March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. His installation service was officiated by Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the Synodal Administrator of the Church. A large number of ecclesiastical and political dignitaries including His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Toppo (President of the CBCI), His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil (Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church) and Shri. V. S. Achuthanandan (the Chief Minister of Kerala), His Grace Oswald Gracious (Archbishop of Bombay), Official representatives of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, a large number of Bishops, Priests, Religious, lay faithful and social and political leaders participated in the Enthronement ceremony and public meeting.
During the 54th Anniversary of the Commemoration of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios, the Major Archbishop-Catholicos proclaimed Mar Ivanios as Servant of God at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom on 14 July 2007.
The Tomb of the venerable prelates in St .Mary’s Cathedral was renovated and extended in July 2008. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos blessed the tomb chapel on 5th July 2008. The sanctuary of St. Mary’s Cathedral was renovated and portico was extended to the Cathedral in November 2008. His Beatitude blessed the renovated sanctuary and the portico on November 8, 2008.
The Platinum Jubilee of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum (1933-2008) was celebrated in a meaningful way during 2007-2008. Renewal conventions were held in every ecclesiastical district. 75 houses were built and given to the poor families of the Major Archdiocese. Many charity schemes were launched in parishes and districts. The Jubilee was formally concluded with the visit of His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on 10 November 2008. His Eminence was received at St.Mary’s Cathedral, by the Holy Episcopal Synod. During the Holy Mass, the Cardinal Prefect delivered the Jubilee Message and imparted the Blessing of the Holy Father.
Upon the request of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop Catholicos, the Supreme Pontiff Pope Benedict XVI, elevated St. Mary Queen of Peace Church, Palayam to the title and dignity of a Minor Basilica with all its rights and liturgical privileges on 13 October, 2008, as a souvenir of the Platinum Jubilee of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum (2007-2008). The formal announcement of the Basilica was made by His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches during his visit on 10 November 2008. The church was elevated to the status of Basilica through a solemn liturgical ceremony by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop Catholicos, on 7 December 2008.
From 20-26 September 2009, His Beatitude Moran Mor Ignace Yousuf III Younan, the Patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch and a Delegation from the same Church visited the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. His Beatitude the Patriarch was the chief guest at the 79th Reunion Day Celebrations on 19-21 September, 2009.
As per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and having consulted the Apostolic See of Rome, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos, erected the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta bifurcating the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on 25 January 2010. The official declaration was made on the same day by His Beatitude the Major Archbishop-Catholicos at St.Mary’s Cathedral. The territory of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta consists of four ecclesiastical districts-Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ranni-Perunadu, Pandalam and the parishes of Anandapally, Angadickal, Chandanapally, Pongaldy and Thatta of the eccelsiatical district of Adoor. His Beatitude transferred His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom from the Eparchy of Marthandom and appointed him to the new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta as its first Bishop. The new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was inaugurated and its first Eparch was His Excellency Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom was installed by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Major Archbishop-Catholicos on 20 March 2010. Inauguration ceremony was conducted at Cyril Baselios Catholicos Nagar (Muncipal Stadium, Pathanamthitta) and the installation took place at Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra.
Having been elected by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and with the assent of His Holiness Pope Benedict XIV, Most Rev. Dr.Samuel Mar Irenios has been appointed by the Major Archbishop Catholicos as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum. Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios was ordained Bishop (along with Mar Paulos, Mar Anthonios and Mar Stephanos) by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis on 13 March 2010 at Mar Ivanios Vidyanagar, Nalanchira Trivandrum. His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, the Patriarch of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church and a Delegation from the same Church participated in the Episcopal Ordination. His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III Laham was the chief guest.
The Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum hosted the 80th Reunion Day Celebrations. His Beatitude blessed the Newly built Samannuaya Pastoral Centre in Cathedral Campus on 20th September 2010. During the 80th Re-union day Celebrations at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius, the newly appointed Exarch of USA and Apostolic Visitor for Canada and Europe was ordained a Bishop by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis.
The members of the Holy Episcopal Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church assembled for the Synod of Election for the first time in the history of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church on 8 February 2007. On 10 February 2007, after getting the confirmation from the Holy Father Pope Benedict XVI (Decree, No. 13.695/07), the Administrator of the Syro- Malankara Catholic Church announced the election of His Grace Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis, the then Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla as the new Major Archbishop-Catholicos and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum. As per the tradition of the Malankara Church, the new Major Archbishop-Catholicos assumed the official name Baselios (along with his episcopal name Cleemis). This was the first election of the Head of an Oriental Catholic Church in India.
Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis was enthroned as the Second Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum on 5 March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom. His installation service was officiated by Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the Synodal Administrator of the Church. A large number of ecclesiastical and political dignitaries including His Eminence Cardinal Telesphore Toppo (President of the CBCI), His Eminence Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil (Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church) and Shri. V. S. Achuthanandan (the Chief Minister of Kerala), His Grace Oswald Gracious (Archbishop of Bombay), Official representatives of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, a large number of Bishops, Priests, Religious, lay faithful and social and political leaders participated in the Enthronement ceremony and public meeting.
During the 54th Anniversary of the Commemoration of Archbishop Mar Ivanios, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios, the Major Archbishop-Catholicos proclaimed Mar Ivanios as Servant of God at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom on 14 July 2007.
The Tomb of the venerable prelates in St .Mary’s Cathedral was renovated and extended in July 2008. His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos blessed the tomb chapel on 5th July 2008. The sanctuary of St. Mary’s Cathedral was renovated and portico was extended to the Cathedral in November 2008. His Beatitude blessed the renovated sanctuary and the portico on November 8, 2008.
The Platinum Jubilee of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum (1933-2008) was celebrated in a meaningful way during 2007-2008. Renewal conventions were held in every ecclesiastical district. 75 houses were built and given to the poor families of the Major Archdiocese. Many charity schemes were launched in parishes and districts. The Jubilee was formally concluded with the visit of His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches on 10 November 2008. His Eminence was received at St.Mary’s Cathedral, by the Holy Episcopal Synod. During the Holy Mass, the Cardinal Prefect delivered the Jubilee Message and imparted the Blessing of the Holy Father.
Upon the request of His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop Catholicos, the Supreme Pontiff Pope Benedict XVI, elevated St. Mary Queen of Peace Church, Palayam to the title and dignity of a Minor Basilica with all its rights and liturgical privileges on 13 October, 2008, as a souvenir of the Platinum Jubilee of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum (2007-2008). The formal announcement of the Basilica was made by His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches during his visit on 10 November 2008. The church was elevated to the status of Basilica through a solemn liturgical ceremony by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop Catholicos, on 7 December 2008.
From 20-26 September 2009, His Beatitude Moran Mor Ignace Yousuf III Younan, the Patriarch of the Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch and a Delegation from the same Church visited the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum. His Beatitude the Patriarch was the chief guest at the 79th Reunion Day Celebrations on 19-21 September, 2009.
As per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and having consulted the Apostolic See of Rome, His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos, erected the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta bifurcating the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on 25 January 2010. The official declaration was made on the same day by His Beatitude the Major Archbishop-Catholicos at St.Mary’s Cathedral. The territory of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta consists of four ecclesiastical districts-Pathanamthitta, Konni, Ranni-Perunadu, Pandalam and the parishes of Anandapally, Angadickal, Chandanapally, Pongaldy and Thatta of the eccelsiatical district of Adoor. His Beatitude transferred His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom from the Eparchy of Marthandom and appointed him to the new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta as its first Bishop. The new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was inaugurated and its first Eparch was His Excellency Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom was installed by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Major Archbishop-Catholicos on 20 March 2010. Inauguration ceremony was conducted at Cyril Baselios Catholicos Nagar (Muncipal Stadium, Pathanamthitta) and the installation took place at Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra.
Having been elected by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and with the assent of His Holiness Pope Benedict XIV, Most Rev. Dr.Samuel Mar Irenios has been appointed by the Major Archbishop Catholicos as the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum. Most Rev. Dr. Samuel Mar Irenios was ordained Bishop (along with Mar Paulos, Mar Anthonios and Mar Stephanos) by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis on 13 March 2010 at Mar Ivanios Vidyanagar, Nalanchira Trivandrum. His Beatitude Gregorios III Laham, the Patriarch of the Greek Melkite Catholic Church and a Delegation from the same Church participated in the Episcopal Ordination. His Beatitude Patriarch Gregorios III Laham was the chief guest.
The Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum hosted the 80th Reunion Day Celebrations. His Beatitude blessed the Newly built Samannuaya Pastoral Centre in Cathedral Campus on 20th September 2010. During the 80th Re-union day Celebrations at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius, the newly appointed Exarch of USA and Apostolic Visitor for Canada and Europe was ordained a Bishop by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis.