Joseph Mar Thoma facts for kids
Quick facts for kids His Beatitude the Most Reverend Aboon Joseph Mar Thoma |
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| of the Apostolic See of St.Thomas | |
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| Church | Mar Thoma Syrian Church |
| Enthroned | 2 October 2007 |
| Predecessor | Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma |
| Successor | Theodosius Mar Thoma |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 18 October 1957 |
| Consecration | 8 February 1975 |
| Rank | Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Ecclesiastical Title of the Head of the Ancient Indian Church) |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | P. T. Joseph |
| Born | 27 June 1931 Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Travancore, British Raj |
| Died | 18 October 2020 (aged 89) Thiruvalla, Kerala |
| Buried | Syrian Christian Seminary, Thiruvalla |
| Nationality | Indian |
Joseph Mar Thoma XXI (27 June 1931 – 18 October 2020) (Syriac: ܡܺܝܛܪܳܦܽܠܶܝܬܳܐ ܕܟܽܘܪܣܝܳܐ ܫܠܺܝܚܳܝܳܐ ܕܡܰܠܰܒܰܪ ܐܰܒܽܘܢ ܝܰܘܣܶܝܦ ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܬܳܐܘܡܳܐ܀) was the 21st Mar Thoma Syrian Church Metropolitan and the church’s primate.
Contents
Early days
Palakunnathu family
Joseph Mar Thoma XXI came from an ecclesiastical family.
In the seventeenth century, a member of the Panamkuzhy house of Kuruvalingadu, Kuruvilla, came and settled in Kozhencherry on the banks of the Pampa river in Kerala. Later, he and his three sons moved to Maramon and lived at Chackkalyil on the other side of the river. The second son's second son in that family, Mathen, moved to a nearby house at Palakunnathu. He had six sons and two daughters. The daughter was married to the Mallapally Pavoothikunnel family, and the first four sons moved to Themoottil, Neduvelil (Kozhenchery), Periyilel, and Punamadom (Othera). The fifth son was a celibate priest (Sanyasi Achen). As was the custom, the youngest son Mathew lived at the Palakunnathu family house and married Pandanattu Mullasseril Mariamma. This house still exists.
A number of Malankara Church, and Marthoma Church leaders were also born in this family. Abraham Malpan, a leader of reformation in the Malankara church was the second son of Mathew and Mariamma. Mar Thoma XIII was his nephew, his older brother's son. Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XIV) and Titus I Mar Thoma Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XV) were the sons of Abraham Malpan. Joseph Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XXI) and his uncle Titus II Mar Thoma were born into this family.
Early life
P.T. Joseph was born on 27 June 1931, as the son of Palakunnathu T. Lukose of Maramon Palakunnathu Kadon House and Mariamma, of Nedumpriyattu, Maramon Puthoor House.
After his education at Maramon and Kozhencherry, he joined Union Christian College, Aluva where he played for the college basketball team.
Ordination
Joseph always wanted an academic career, but when he was called to take up theological studies, he readily accepted it and in 1954, he joined the United Theological College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India, and obtained a Bachelor of Divinity degree.
He was ordained as deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on 29 June 1957, and kasseessa (priest) on 18 October 1957. He then went on to study at the Protestant Episcopal Seminary in Virginia, USA. From there, he went to Canterbury and Oxford in England and obtained Master of Divinity (M.Div.) and Master of Sacred Theology (STM) degrees. He was later awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree by the Virginia Seminary, where he studied.
Consecration
Realizing the need for more bishops for the Mar Thoma Church, the Church Mandalam (representative assembly) in 1974, decided to consecrate two more bishops. The Rev. P.T. Joseph was one of those who were selected. He was ordained as Ramban on 11 January 1975.
Episcopa
On 8 February 1975, Juhanon Mar Thoma, Metropolitan, assisted by the other bishops of the church ordained the Rev. P.T. Joseph and gave him the episcopal title of Joseph Mar Irenaeus. Rev. V.T. Koshy, Easow Mar Timotheos, was also ordained on the same day.
Suffragan metropolitan
On March 15, 1999, he was designated as suffragan metropolitan when Philipose Mar Chrysostom, the suffragan metropolitan, was designated as the officiating metropolitan.
Metropolitan
Malankara throne
After the swearing-in of 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose, a special chair was made and Mar Thoma I the first bishop of Malankara Church was enthroned. This throne, used for the consecration of Mar Thoma I, is in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church and is kept at Tiruvalla. It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma metropolitan to this day so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XXI, Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
Enthronement
Joseph Mar Irenaeus was installed as Mar Thoma XXI Metropolitan on 2 October 2007 when the 20th Mar Thoma, Philipose Mar Chrysostom expressed his desire to transfer responsibilities of the church to his successor due to old age and deteriorating health. He continued as 'Valiya Metropolitan' or Metropolitan Emeritus.
Contributions
He was the President of the National Council of Churches in India, Senior President of CCA, and the chairman of CASA.
His activities included sanctions of building many socio-spiritual centers with monuments, like Tharangam - Mission Action Centre, which can also be used as the secondary venue for diocese activities that were previously held adjacent to the spacious building near the Bishop House.
Introduction of music and other attractive worship styles to target the younger generation (via the DSMC studio, blogs, and camps).
Joseph Mar Thoma advocated protecting the environment. ..... He also personally campaigned for the protection of Pampa River on whose bed the famed Maramon Convention is hosted.
He started the Navajeevan organisation for the children in the streets of Mumbai. He lifted the ban on woman during the night tie at the Maramon convention. He also invited members of the transgender community to deliver talks at the convention.
Ordination dates
| Ordained as deacon: 29 June 1957 |
| Ordained as kasseessa: 18 October 1957 |
| Ordained as ramban: 11 January 1975 |
| Consecrated as episcopa: 8 February 1975 |
| Designated as suffragan metropolitan: 15 March 1999 |
| Installed as metropolitan: 2 October 2007 |
Succession
| Preceded by Philipose Chrysostom Marthoma (Mar Thoma XX) |
Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Mar Thoma XXI) 2007–2020 |
Succeeded by Theodosius Mar Thoma (Mar Thoma XXII) |
Death
Joseph Mar Thoma died on 18 October 2020 at 2:38 AM as a result of pancreatic cancer.
See also
- Throne of St. Thomas
- Syrian Malabar Nasrani
- Saint Thomas Christians
- Christianity in India
- List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
