Ali omar at 04:47, 30 April 2026

2026-04-30T04:47:12Z

New page

{{Short description|Catholicos of the Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Catholicos
| honorific_prefix = [[His Beatitude|His Beatitude Aboon Mor]] ശ്രേഷ്ഠ
| name = Baselios Joseph {{Script/Mdnh|ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂}} ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ്
| image =
| image_size = 200px
| All over world jacobya church =
| caption = Official Portrait, 2025
| native_name = ശ്രേഷ്ഠ ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ് ബാവ
| native_name_lang =
| church = [[Syriac Orthodox Church]]
| archdiocese =
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese =
| see = [[Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church|Catholicate See]]
| term = 2025-Present
| quashed = 
| predecessor = [[Baselios Thomas I]]
| successor =
| opposed =
| ordination = 25 March 1984
| ordained_by = [[Baselios Paulose II]], [[Catholicos of the East]]
| consecration = 16 January 1994
| consecrated_by = [[Ignatius Zakka I]], [[Patriarch of Antioch]]
| rank = 
| birth_name = Joseph "Jose"
| birth_date = {{Birth date and age|1960|11|10|mf=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mulanthuruthy]], [[Kochi]], [[Kerala]]
| buried = 
| resting_place_coordinates =
| nationality = {{flag|India}}
| religion = [[Oriental Orthodox]]
| residence = Kyomtha Seminary,('''Catholicos Residence''') Thiruvankulam
| parents = Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma
| profession = 
| education = '''[[Master of Philosophy|M.Phil.]]''' from [[Trinity College Dublin]], 
'''B.D''' from [[St Patrick's College, Dublin]], [[Ireland]], 
'''B.A''' Economics from [[Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]], 
'''Diploma''' in [[Clinical pastoral education|Clinical Pastoral Education and Counseling]], [[United States|U.S.A]] 
'''Theological Studies''' from Mor Julios Seminary, [[Perumpilly]]
| alma_mater = [[Trinity College Dublin]], [[Ireland]], [[Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala]]
| motto =
| signature =
| signature_alt =
| coat_of_arms = Syriac orthodox COA.svg
| coat_of_arms_alt = 
| feast_day =
| venerated =
| saint_title =
| beatified_date =
| beatified_place =
| beatified_by =
| canonized_date =
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by =
| attributes =
| patronage =
| shrine =
| suppressed_date = 
| module =
| title = [[Catholicos of India]], [[Maphrian of the East]], & [[Malankara Metropolitan]]
| term_start =
| other_post = [[Malankara Metropolitan]], Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese, [[Malankara Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Angamaly|Metropolitan of Angamali Diocese]]
}}
[[Image:Morgregorisjoseph.jpg|thumb|Mor Baselios Joseph as Metropolitan]]

'''Mor Baselios Joseph''' ([[Syriac language|Syr:]] ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂; [[Malayalam|Mal:]] മോർ ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ്; Born 10 November 1960) is the current [[Catholicos of India]] of the [[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church]].<ref>{{cite news |title=Joseph Mor Gregorios elected Metropolitan Trustee of Jacobite Church by secret ballot |url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2019/aug/01/joseph-mor-gregorios-elected-metropolitan-trustee-of-jacobite-church-by-secret-ballot-2012280.html |work=The New Indian Express}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-02-04 |title=Joseph Gregorios declared Malankara metropolitan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joseph-gregorios-declared-malankara-metropolitan/article67811195.ece |access-date=2024-02-05 |work=[[The Hindu]] |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last= |first= |date=2024-12-08 |title=Bearing legacy of an illustrious tradition |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joseph-mor-gregorios-brings-with-him-the-continuation-of-an-illustrious-tradition/article68961929.ece |access-date=2024-12-09 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He also serves as the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese and [[Malankara Syrian Orthodox Diocese of Angamaly|Angamali Diocese]].

He was elevated to the position of Catholicos on March 25, 2025 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, [[Lebanon]] in a service presided by [[Ignatius Aphrem II]], the [[Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East|Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-01-27 |title=Joseph Mor Gregorios new Catholicos |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/joseph-mor-gregorios-new-catholicos/articleshow/117609116.cms |access-date=2025-01-27 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref>

==Early years==

Joseph "Jose" Srambikkal was born in [[Perumpilly]], [[Kerala]] as the youngest of four children to Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |title=BIOGRAPHY |url=https://www.syriacchristianity.in/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_GreJoseph.htm |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=www.syriacchristianity.in}}</ref> Joseph had his primary education at Perumpilly Primary School and his high school education from Mulanthuruthy High School.<ref name=":0" />

==Early service==

On 25 March 1974, at the age of 13, Joseph was ordained a deacon by [[Geevarghese Gregorios of Perumpally|Mor Gregorios Geevarghese of Perumpally]] at [[St. Ignatius Monastery Manjinikkara|Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjinikkara]].<ref name=":0" /> He later served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for several years. He pursued pre-degree and undergraduate studies at [[Maharaja's College, Kochi|Maharaja's College, Ernakulam]], before joining Mor Julius Seminary, Perumpally, for theological studies.<ref name=":0" />

On 25 March 1984, Joseph was ordained a priest at [[St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Mulanthuruthy|Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy]], by Mor Baselios Paulose II.<ref name=":0" /> He went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy from [[Trinity College Dublin|Trinity College, Dublin]], and pursued further theological studies in the United States, where he also served as the vicar of multiple churches.<ref name=":0" /> He was ordained as Dayroyo by [[Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]] in Damascus on 15 January 1994.<ref name=":0" />

== Metropolitan ==
On 16 January 1994, Fr. Joseph Ramban was consecrated as Mor Gregorios Joseph, the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese, by [[Ignatius Zakka I|Ignatius Zakka I Iwas]], the [[Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East|Patriarch of Antioch and All the East]], at Damascus.<ref name=":0" /> He formally assumed the office after the Sunthroniso (enthronement) ceremony at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam, on 23 January 1994.

Joseph served as the President of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Sunday School Association (MJSSA) from 1996 to 2002.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Catholicos Mor Baselios Joseph |url=https://www.stmaryschurchhouston.org/catholicos |access-date=2025-11-15 |website=stmaryschurchhouston |language=en}}</ref> He was also instrumental in initiating several orphanages and educational projects. In 2019, he was elected as the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Association, following the resignation of Catholicos [[Baselios Thomas I]] from administrative duties.<ref>{{Cite web |date=2025-03-25 |title=Mor Baselios Joseph Enthroned as the Catholicos (Maphryono) of Syriac Orthodox Church in India |url=https://ocpsociety.org/mor-baselios-joseph-enthroned-as-the-catholicosmaphryono-of-syriac-orthodox-church-in-india/ |access-date=2025-03-29 |website=Orthodoxy Cognate PAGE |language=en-US}}</ref>

In 2023, Patriarch [[Ignatius Aphrem II]] appointed him as the 26th [[Malankara Metropolitan]] of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.<ref name=":1">{{Cite news |date=2025-03-26 |title=Mor Gregorios Joseph is new Catholicos of Jacobite Church |url=https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/kochi/mor-gregorios-joseph-is-new-catholicos-of-jacobite-church/articleshow/119495640.cms |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The Times of India |issn=0971-8257}}</ref> He also served as Catholicos Assistant to [[Baselios Thomas I]] until his passing in 2024.<ref>{{Cite news |date=2024-02-04 |title=Joseph Gregorios declared Malankara metropolitan |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/joseph-gregorios-declared-malankara-metropolitan/article67811195.ece |access-date=2025-03-29 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== Catholicos of India ==
Following the passing away of [[Baselios Thomas I]], Gregorios Joseph was unanimously elected as the Catholicos of India.<ref name=":1" /> He was elevated as Catholicos of India in a service led by Patriarch [[Ignatius Aphrem II]] alongside all the bishops of the Syriac Orthodox Church on 25 March 2025, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon with the name '''Baselios Joseph'''.<ref name=":1" /> He was enthroned on 30 March 2025, at Mar Athanasius Cathedral, [[Puthencruz]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=2025-03-30 |title=Baselios Joseph installed as Catholicos of Jacobite Syrian Church |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/baselios-joseph-installed-as-catholicos-of-jacobite-syrian-church/article69393449.ece |access-date=2025-03-30 |work=The Hindu |language=en-IN |issn=0971-751X}}</ref> He became the 81st [[Maphrian of the East]] and 4th [[Catholicos of India]].

==References==
{{Reflist}}

== External links ==
*[https://jacobitesyrianchurch.org/catholicos_baselios_joseph.html About Baselios Joseph]
* [https://www.facebook.com/baseliosjoseph Facebook]
* [https://www.instagram.com/baseliosjoseph Instagram]
* [https://x.com/baseliosjoseph X (Twitter)]

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|Malankara [[Syriac Orthodox Church]] Titles}}
{{Succession box
| title = [[Catholicos of India]]
| years = 2025 - Present
| before = [[Baselios Thomas I]] 
2002-2024
| after = Incumbent
}}{{succession box
| before = [[Baselios Thomas I]] 
2004-2019
| title = Malankara Metropolitan of [[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church]]
| years = 2019 - Present
| after = Incumbent
}}
{{s-end}}

{{Jacobite Syrian Christian Metropolitans}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Baselios, Joseph Mor}}
[[Category:1960 births]]
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:Jacobite Syrian Christian Church bishops]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Ernakulam district]]
[[Category:Alumni of Trinity College Dublin]]
[[Category:21st-century Indian bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century Indian bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops]]
[[Category:21st-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops]]

Baselios Joseph - Revision history

Ali omar at 04:47, 30 April 2026