Baselios Thoma Didymos I

His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (born 29 October 1920) was enthroned Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan (Malankara Orthodox Church) on 31 October 2005. HH Didymos I was consecrated as Bishop on 24 August 1966 and has been serving as Metropolitan of the Malabar Diocese of the church. He is the seventh Catholicos since the Catholicate of the East was relocated to India and 111th in the lineage of Catholicose of the East in the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas. HH is also the 19th Malankara Metropolitan of the Church.

Early life and education

HH Didymus is the son of Ittyavira Thomas of Chiramel-Mulamootil House in Nedumbram near Thiruvalla and Sosamma of Chiramel House in Mavelikara. HH joined the Tabor Dayara in Pathanapuram in 1939 where he completed his high school education. HH passed his Intermediate from C.M.S College, Kottayam in 1945, his B.A from National College, Tiruchirapalli in 1951, his B.T from Maston Training College, Chennai in 1954, and his M.A from Christ Church College, Kanpur in 1961.HH completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of Thoma Mar Dionysius and Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East. Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East awarded him the order of Korooyo on 11 March 1942, full deaconship on 22 May 1947 and priesthood on 25 January 1950.

HH started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. HH was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of...
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