Malankara Metropolitan and President of the Episcopal Synod, Joseph Mar Gregorios, will be consecrated as the new Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church on March 25. The solemn ceremony, presided over by His Holiness Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II, will take place at 8:30 PM IST at St. Mary's Syrian Cathedral in Beirut, Lebanon.
Prominent metropolitans of the Syrian Orthodox Church, including representatives of the Jacobite Church, will co-celebrate the historic event. A delegation from the Jacobite Church and Joseph Mar Barnabas, Suffragan Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church, have already arrived in Lebanon for the occasion.
During a preparatory prayer service at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Joseph Mar Gregorios reflected on the challenges ahead, likening them to a journey of the cross. He expressed his commitment to fostering unity among the people of Kerala, urging all to move forward with goodwill while avoiding division and discord.
Following the passing of His Eminence Baselios Thomas I, Joseph Mar Gregorios was elected as the new Catholic Bishop. His predecessor had named him as his rightful successor in a will. With this consecration, he becomes the 81st Pope in the Catholicate established for the local administration of the church.
The grand event will witness participation from various Christian leaders, government representatives, and international dignitaries. Notable attendees include Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Catholicos, Joseph Mar Barnabas Suffragan Metropolitan, and Lebanese President Joseph Khalil Aoun. A delegation from the Government of India, led by former Minister V. Muraleedharan, and a team from the Kerala Government, headed by Minister P. Rajeev, will also be present. Ambassadors from different countries have been invited to grace the occasion.
The ceremony will take place at the Patriarchal Center in Achane, Lebanon, further solidifying the Jacobite Church’s strong ties with the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate.
Following his consecration, the newly ordained Catholicos will arrive at Cochin International Airport at 2:15 PM IST on March 30, where he will be warmly received by metropolitans and church officials. A special prayer will be held at the tomb of the late Catholicos Baselios Thomas I at Mar Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencruz.
Later, an official ordination service (Sunthoniso) will be conducted under the leadership of Archbishop Mar Daniel Klimis, Metropolitan of Beirut, and Archbishop Mar Timothy Ratha Al-Khuri of Homs. These church dignitaries will travel to Kerala as special representatives of the Patriarch.
A public felicitation event will follow at Baselios Thomas Prathaman Nagar at 4:30 PM IST, with Kerala Governor Rajendra Arlekar inaugurating the ceremony.
Joseph Mar Gregorios
Born on November 10, 1960, in Mulanthuruthi, Kerala, Joseph Mar Gregorios pursued his education in India and abroad. He completed his primary studies at Perumpilly Primary School and Mulanthuruthi Government High School before joining Perumpilly Mor Julius Seminary for religious training.
He holds a degree in Economics from Maharaja’s College, Ernakulam, and pursued Vedic Studies at St. Patrick’s College, Dublin. Furthering his academic journey, he earned an MPhil from Dublin University and a diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling from the United States.
Ordained as a priest on March 25, 1984, he was later elevated to bishop on January 16, 1994. His service includes a tenure as vicar at St. Mary’s Church, Bangalore, and the founding of St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church in London.
As he assumes the esteemed position of Catholicos, Joseph Mar Gregorios is expected to play a crucial role in guiding the Jacobite Church through its spiritual and administrative responsibilities while promoting unity within the Christian community.