ST. B ASIL ORTHODOX CHURCH 17 Randolph Avenue, Franklin Square, NY 11010

Welcomes

HIS HOLINESS BASELIOS MAR THOMA PAULOSE II Catholicose of the East & the Malankara Metropolitan 91 st Successor to the Throne of St. Thomas

Pleas e join us to Welcome His Holiness on 17 Randolph Avenue Thursday, July 2nd, 2015, 6:30 p.m. Franklin Square, NY 11010 516-326-4394 for Evening Prayer & www.stbasilchurchny.org Holy Message HIS HOLINESS The Malankara BASELIOS MAR THOMA PAULOSE II Orthodox Syrian Church

Personal Profile: H.H Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II is the The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by 91st reigning Catholicos of the East and 21st reigning St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who Malankara Metropolitan and as such, Supreme Head of the came to India in A.D. 52. Approximately, from the fourth Indian Orthodox Church. Born on 30 August 1946 in the century the Indian Church entered into a close relationship ancient Syrian Christian family of Kollannur to K. I. Ipe and with the Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, Kunjeetty at Mangad. Paul got his Bachelor of Science the Indians inherited East Syrian language and liturgies and degree in Physics at St. Thomas College. In 1969, gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians. In the sixteenth century Roman Catholic missionaries came to Paul enrolled at the Theological Seminary in Kottayam for . They tried to unite the Syrian Christians to the his theological studies under the discipleship of Dr. Paulose Roman Catholic Church and this led to a split in the community. Mar Gregorios, Fr. T J Abraham Malpan, and Fr. Koruthu Those who accepted Catholicism are the presently known as Malapan. He completed theological studies in GST from Syro-Malabar Catholics. Later Western Protestant missionar - Orthodox Theological Seminary and Bachelor of Divinity ies came to Kerala and worked among Syrian Christians, from Seramboor University. In 1972, Paul was ordained for creating certain splits in the community. In the seventeenth the first stage of diaconate in Seminary. He was century the Church came to a relationship with the Antiochene ordained as a full deacon at Koratty Seheyon Seminary. On Church which again caused splits. As a result of this relation - 21 June 1973, Dn. Paul was ordained as a priest. On 15 May, ship the Church received West Syrian liturgies and practices. 1985 Ramban (Monk) Paul was ordained as a Bishop with The Church entered into a new phase of its history by the title Paulose Mar Milithios at the age of 38 at Puthiyacavu establishment of the Catholicate in 1912. At present the St. Mary's Church by Baselios Mar Thoma . Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the He is the first Metropolitan after Parumala Thirumeni and Church was established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Puthenkavil Geevarghese Mar Philexinos to be ordained to Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus Bishopric below age of 40. The newly ordained Bishop Mar (A.D. 431). The Church is in communion with the other Milithios was appointed as the diocesan Metropolitan of the Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, Antiochene, Alexandrian, newly formed diocese of Kunnamkulam. Metropolitan Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. The Paulose Mar Milithios was unanimously elected as Catholicos Church is in good ecumenical relationship with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. designate by Malankara Syrian Christian Association on At present the Church has over 2 million faithful with 12 October 2006. Paulose Mar Milithios was enthroned as 30 dioceses all over the world. the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan at a solemn ceremony at the St. Paul's and St. Peter's church at Parumala on Monday, November 1st 2010.