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{{short description|20th Malankara Metropolitan and 7th Catholicos of the Malankara Church}}
{{redirect|Didymos I|the asteroid moon|Dimorphos}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2015}}
{{Infobox Patriarch
| honorific-prefix = [[His Holiness]] [[Mar (title)|Moran Mar]]
| name = Baselios Marthoma Didymos I
| patriarch_of =
| honorific-suffix = Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan
| image =
| image_size =
| caption =
| ordination = 25 January 1950
| consecration = 24 August 1966
| enthroned = 31 October 2005
| ended = 1 November 2010
| church = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
| see = The Holy Apostolic Throne of St Thomas
| predecessor = [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews II]]
| successor = [[Baselios Marthoma Paulose II]]
| other_post =
| birth_name = C. T. Thomas
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1921|10|29|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Mavelikkara]], [[India]]
| age =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|2014|5|26|1921|10|29|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Parumala]], [[India]]
| buried = [[Mount Tabor Dayara]], [[Pathanapuram]]
| nationality = {{IND}}n
| religion = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
| residence =
| parents = Ittyavira Thomas and Sosamma Thomas
| spouse =
| children =
| occupation =
| profession =
| education =
| alma_mater = [[C.M.S College]] ([[Higher Secondary School Certificate|Intermediate]]) [[National College, Tiruchirapalli|National College]] ([[Bachelor of Arts|BA]]) [[Maston Training College]] ([[Bachelor of Theology|BT]]) [[Christ Church College, Kanpur|Christ Church College]] ([[Master of Arts|MA]])
| signature =
| elected = 10 September 1992
| rank = [[Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan]]
}}
''' Baselios Marthoma Didymus I''' born '''C. T. Thomas''' (29 October 1921 – 26 May 2014) was the primate of the [[Malankara Church|Malankara Orthodox Church]] from 2005 to 2010. He was the 7th [[Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan|Catholicos of the Malankara]] since the [[Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan|Catholicate of the East]] was established [[India]] and the 20th [[Malankara Metropolitan]].<ref>{{Cite web|title=His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, The seventh Catholicos of the East in Malankara (2005-2010) {{!}}|url=https://mosc.in/catholicate/his-holiness-baselios-marthoma-didymos-i-seventh-catholicos-of-the-east-in-malankara|access-date=2020-08-30|website=mosc.in}}</ref> He was the 7th Catholicos of East.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Catholicos Emeritus H H Baselios Marthoma Didymos I passes away|url=https://www.cca.org.hk/news-and-events/catholicos-emeritus-h-h-baselios-marthoma-didymos-i-passes-away/|access-date=2020-08-30|website=Christian Conference of Asia|language=en-US|archive-date=14 July 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210714013423/https://www.cca.org.hk/news-and-events/catholicos-emeritus-h-h-baselios-marthoma-didymos-i-passes-away/|url-status=dead}}</ref>

==Early life ==
C. T. Thomas I was born as the son of Ittyavira Thomas of Chiramel-Mulamootil House in [[Nedumbram]] near [[Thiruvalla]] and Sosamma of Chiramel House in [[Mavelikara]]. At the age of 18, he joined [[Mount Tabor Dayara]] ''(monastery)'' in [[Pathanapuram]] in 1939. As the disciple of Thoma Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of [[Niranam Orthodox Diocese|Niranam]], he completed his high school education. In his speeches, Didymos I used to say that his parents who led lives of prayer and munificence were his first role models.

== Education ==
He passed his Intermediate from [[C.M.S College]], [[Kottayam]] in 1945, his Baccalaureate in Arts degree from [[National College, Tiruchirapalli|National College]], [[Tiruchirapalli]] in 1951, his Baccalaureate degree in Theology from [[Maston Training College]], [[Chennai]] in 1954, and his Magister of Art in English literature from [[Christ Church College, Kanpur|Christ Church College]], [[Kanpur]] in 1961. His favorite authors were [[Charles Lamb]] in [[English language|English]] and [[Vaikom Muhammad Basheer]] in [[Malayalam]].

==Career==
As Rev. Fr. C. T. Thomas, he served as headmaster of [[Ponnayya High School]], Thiruchirapalli and [[St Stephens School, Pathanapuram|St. Stephens School, Pathanapuram]]. Within a year of taking charge as the headmaster of Ponnayya High School, Rev. Fr. C. T. Thomas was able to quadruple the percentage of passing students, who were chiefly poor children from marginalized families.

Later, Fr. C. T. Thomas also served as Professor and Head of the Department of English at [[St. Stephen's College, Pathanapuram]], as well as the vice-principal of the College and as President of the [[Orthodox Youth Movement]].

==Priesthood==
C. T. Thomas started his service to the Church as a [[monk]] when he was a teenager. He was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar [[Dionysius of Niranam]]. He completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of [[Thoma Mar Dionysius]] and [[Moran Mar Baselios Augen I|Baselios Augen]], Catholicos of the East. [[Baselious Geevarghese II|Geevarghese II]] [[Catholicos of the East|Catholicos]] ordained him to the order of quroyo ''(reader deacon)'' on 11 March 1942 at Karapuzha Mar Gregorios Chapel. He was ordained a full deacon on 22 May 1947 at [[Tiruvalla|Thiruvalla]] Bethany Aramana Chapel and priest on 25 January 1950 at Pathanapuram [[Mount Tabor Dayara]].

==Presbyterate==
On 16 May 1965, [[Catholicos of the East]] Moran Mar [[Baselios Augen I]] tonsured him Ramban ''(monk)'' at [[Mount Tabor Dayara]]. The [[Malankara Syrian Christian Association]] which convened at [[Kottayam]] M. D. Seminary on 28 December 1965 and elected him to the office of Metropolitan along with four others priests, following the ancient tradition of, selecting bishops from the monastic ranks. Didymos I was consecrated as metropolitan [[bishop]] on 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church and served as the metropolitan of the [[Malabar Diocese (Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church)|Malabar diocese]] from 1968.

On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry, the Catholicos Baselios Augen I ordained him as Metropolitan and given the name Thomas Mar Timotheos, along with Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos and Yuhanon Mar Severios. Following the order of the Catholicos, Mar Thimotheos became the assistant metropolitan of Malabar diocese on 11 November 1966. Pathrose Mar Osthathios, the metropolitan of Malabar, died on 2 February 1968. Mar Thimotheos succeeded him as the metropolitan of Malabar diocese.

==Bishopric==

=== Election ===
Mar Thimotheos became the Metropolitan of [[Malabar Diocese|Malabar diocese]] in 1968. He continued to be the General Superior of Mount Tabor Dayara and Convent in Pathanapuram until 2014. On 10 September 1992 the Malankara Association was convened at Parumala Seminary and elected him as successor-designate to the Malankara metropolitan and Catholicos of the East. Due to old age, the current Catholicos, [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II|Baselios Marthoma Mathews II]], decided to [[Abdication|abdicate]] the throne in 2005.

On 29 October 2005, Mar Thimotheos assumed the office of Malankara Metropolitan, and was installed as the [[Catholicos of the East]] and given the name Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymos I on 31 October 2005 by his predecessor Mathews II.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://orthodoxalmayavedhi.org/Didimos%20I/Didimos%20I.htm |title=Baselios Marthoma Didimos I|date=31 October 2005|url-status=dead |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140527215914/http://orthodoxalmayavedhi.org/Didimos%20I/Didimos%20I.htm |archivedate=27 May 2014 |df=dmy|website=orthodoxalmayavedhi.org }}</ref> Didymos I was the first Catholicos of the East to be enthroned by his predecessor.

=== Enthronement ===
The enthronement took place at [[Parumala Seminary]] on 31 October 2005 at the age of 84. In addition to convening five sessions of Malankara Association (including one meeting that comprised two individual sessions), Didymos I ordained 14 Metropolitan Bishops (7 each on two occasions - at [[Puthuppally, Kottayam|Puthuppally]] St. George Church on 19 February 2009<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/tp-kerala/Seven-new-bishops-for-Orthodox-Church/article16337637.ece|title=Seven new bishops for Orthodox Church|date=20 February 2009|accessdate=6 May 2019|via=www.thehindu.com}}</ref> and at Kottayam Mar Elia Cathedral on 12 May 2010<ref>{{YouTube|xAADYNPznKc}}</ref>). During the reign of Didymos I, the strength of the Episcopal Synod became 33, the highest till date.

=== Consecration of Myron ===
Didymos I had, as a priest, attended the consecration of [[Chrism|holy Myron]] ''(anointing oil)'' officiated by [[Baselios Geevarghese II]] in 1951. Later, as a Metropolitan, Didymos I was a co-celebrant in the consecration of holy Myron on four occasions (in 1967, officiated by [[Baselios Augen I]]; in 1977 and 1988, officiated by [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I|Baselios Marthoma Mathews I]]; and in 1999, officiated by [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II|Baselios Marthoma Mathews II]]). As the [[Catholicos of the East]], Didymos I himself officiated in the consecration of holy Myron at [[Devalokam Catholicate Palace]] on 5 April 2009.
[[File:H.H._Baselios_Marthoma_Didymos_I.jpg|alt=|right|frameless]]
Following the Church's tradition of honoring eminent prelates of the past, Didymos I bestowed the title "''Sabha-Thejas''" ''(meaning 'great luminary of the Church')'' on Malankara Metropolitan [[Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II|Mar Dionysius V]]. The ancient churches declared as pilgrimage centers by Didymos I include [[St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara]]<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.kalloopparapally.com/new_about.html |title=About Us |website=St Mary's Orthodox Church, Kallooppara|date= |author= |accessdate= 24 September 2021}}</ref> and [[St. George Orthodox Church, Cheppad]]. He visited Church members abroad.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.icon.org.in/icon_ap_visit_us06.icon|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928082934/http://www.icon.org.in/icon_ap_visit_us06.icon|url-status=dead|title=Apostolic visits|archivedate=28 September 2007|accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.bangalorewishesh.com/tv-shows/tvshows/25834:tvshows:apostolic-visit-of-h-h-baselios-marthoma-didymos-i-part-1&cDRr6dLBbSw.html|title=Tv-shows - TV Shows|website=www.bangalorewishesh.com|accessdate=6 May 2019}}</ref>

===Administrative reforms===
Didymos I was the first Catholicos to preside over an official church [[Secretariat (administrative office)|secretariat]], which administers to the affairs of the church.
He also introduced progressive reforms in the administration of parishes, including the right for ladies of the congregations to participate in the parish assemblies ''(called palli-pothu-yogam)''. Some of the larger dioceses were divided creating new dioceses, in order to ensure more effective pastoral care and administration.

===Fraternal visits===
After his enthronement, Didymos I visited the Holy Land and met the [[Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria|Coptic Pope]] [[Pope Shenouda III of Alexandria|Shenouda III]] and exchanged fraternal greetings. During the incumbency of Didymos I, the prominent prelates who visited Malankara Orthodox Church include [[Catholicos of All Armenians|Supreme Catholicos of Armenia]] [[Karekin II]], [[List of Abunas of Ethiopia|Ethiopian Patriarch]] [[Abune Paulos]] and [[Holy See of Cilicia|Armenian Catholicos of Cilicia]] [[Aram I]].

==Retirement and death==
Didymos I abdicated the throne on 31 October 2010, at the age of 89. The following day he personally enthroned his successor [[Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II|Baselios Marthoma Paulose II]] as the [[Catholicos of the East]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.newindianexpress.com/states/kerala/2010/nov/02/baselios-mar-thoma-paulose-ii-installed-199793.html|title=Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II installed|website=The New Indian Express|access-date=6 May 2019}}</ref> Didymos I spent the rest of his life at the Catholicate Palace. On 21 February 2014 he was given the Holy Anointing Service by Paulose II. Didymos died on 26 May 2014<ref>{{Cite news |title=Baselios Thoma Didymos I passes away |date=26 May 2014 |newspaper=Kaumudi Online |url=http://kaumudiglobal.com/innerpage1.php?newsid=50570}}</ref> and was buried on 28 May 2014 at [[Mount Tabor Dayara]], [[Pathanapuram]], the monastery which he called his home.

==Books==
Didymos I wrote three books in Malayalam with the titles ജീവിതം സംസാരിക്കുന്നു (Life Speaks), ഒരു മഹര്ഷി സംസാരിക്കുന്നു (A Sage Speaks) and ശുശ്രൂഷാ നടപടിച്ചട്ടങ്ങള് (Rules and Regulations of Service).

== References ==
{{Reflist}}

{{s-start}}
{{S-rel|oo}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews II]] 1991-2005
| title = [[Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan|Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan]]
| years = 2005–2010
| after = [[Baselios Marthoma Paulose II]] 2010-2021
}}

{{succession box
| before = Pathrose Mar Osthathios
| title = Metropolitan of the Diocese of Malabar
| years = 1968–2005
| after = Zacharias Mar Theophilus
}}
{{s-end}}
{{Christianity in Kerala}}

{{authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Didymos 01}}
[[Category:Catholicoi of the East and Malankara metropolitans]]
[[Category:1921 births]]
[[Category:2014 deaths]]
[[Category:20th-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops]]
[[Category:21st-century Oriental Orthodox archbishops]]
[[Category:People from Thiruvalla]]
[[Category:National College, Tiruchirappalli, alumni]]

Baselios Marthoma Didymos I - Revision history

Chardhamyatrahotels at 05:57, 2 May 2026