Mor Baselios Joseph (Syr: ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂; Mal: മോർ ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ്; Born 10 November 1960) is the current and 81st Maphrian of Syriac Orthodox Church, 4th Catholicos of India and 26th Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (Malankara Church). He also serves as the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese and Angamali Diocese.
His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselios Joseph ܡܳܪܝ̱ ܒܰܣܺܝܠܺܝܳܘܣ ܝܰܘܣܶܦ݂ | |
|---|---|
| Catholicos of India and Malankara Metropolitan | |
Official Portrait, 2025 | |
| Native name | ബസേലിയോസ് ജോസഫ് ബാവ |
| Church | Syriac Orthodox Church |
| See | Catholicate See |
| In office | 2025-Present |
| Predecessor | Baselios Thomas I |
| Other posts | Malankara Metropolitan, Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese, Metropolitan of Angamali Diocese |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 25 March 1984 by Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos of the East |
| Consecration | 16 January 1994 by Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch |
| Personal details | |
| Born | Joseph "Jose" November 10, 1960 Mulanthuruthy, Kochi, Kerala |
| Nationality | India |
| Denomination | Oriental Orthodox |
| Residence | Kyomtha Seminary, Thiruvankulam |
| Parents | Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma |
| Education | M.Phil. from Trinity College Dublin, B.D from St Patrick's College, Dublin, Ireland, |
| Alma mater | Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala |
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.
Early years
Joseph "Jose" was born in Perumpilly, Kerala as the youngest of four children to Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma. Joseph had his primary education at Perumpilly Primary School and his high school education from Mulanthuruthy High School.
Early Service
On 25 March 1974, at the age of 13, Joseph was ordained a deacon by Mor Gregorios Geevarghese of Perumpally at Mor Ignatius Dayro, Manjinikkara. He later served as the secretary to Mor Gregorios for several years. He pursued pre-degree and undergraduate studies at Maharaja's College, Ernakulam, before joining Mor Julius Seminary, Perumpally, for theological studies.
On 25 March 1984, Joseph was ordained a priest at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy, by Mor Baselios Paulose II. He went on to earn a master's degree in philosophy from Trinity College, Dublin, and pursued further theological studies in the United States, where he also served as the vicar of multiple churches. He was ordained as Dayroyo by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas in Damascus on 15 January 1994.
Metropolitan of Kochi
On 16 January 1994, Fr. Joseph Ramban was consecrated as Mor Gregorios Joseph, the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese, by Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, at Damascus. 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. 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.
In 2023, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II bestowed upon him the title of Malankara Metropolitan. He also served as Catholicos Assistant to Baselios Thomas I until his passing in 2024.
Catholicos of India
Following the passing away of Baselios Thomas I, Gregorios Joseph was unanimously elected as the Catholicos of India. He was elevated as Catholicos of India by Ignatius Aphrem II on 25 March 2025, at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon with the name Baselios Joseph. The ceremony was also led by Metropolitan Abraham Mor Severios, with participation from Patriarchal delegates, including Beirut Archbishop Mar Daniel Kleemis, Homs Archbishop Mar Timotheos Matta Al-Khouri, and Aleppo Archbishop Mar Boutros Al-Kassis, along with all Metropolitans of the Church, and attended by the Armenian Orthodox Patriarch of the Great House of Cilicia Catholicos Aram I, Syriac Maronite Patriarch Cardinal Mar Bechara Boutros al-Rai, Greek (Rûm) Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch Mor John X Yazigi, Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, Catholicos-Patriarch of Cilicia for Armenian Catholics Raphaël Bedros XXI Minassian, Syriac Catholic Patriarch Mar Ignatius Youssef III Younan, Patriarch of the Assyrian Church of the East Mar Awa III Royel, Coptic Orthodox Bishop Antonius, the Bishop of the Jerusalem, Kuwait, and Near East Diocese representing Pope of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, Tawadros II, Armenian Orthodox Archbishop of Damascus Armash Nalbandian representing Catholicos-Patriarch of the Armenian Apostolic Church Karekin II, Melkite Greek Catholic Metropolitan of Beirut and Jbeil Bishop Georges Bacouni representing Melkite Greek Catholic Patriarch Youssef Absi, Apostolic Nuncio to Lebanon Archbishop Paolo Borgia, Bishop Joseph Mar Barnabas of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church and Lebanese MP Ibrahim Kanaan representing President of Lebanon Joseph Aoun. He was enthroned on 30 March 2025, at Mar Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencruz.
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