Zacharias Mar TheophilusKozhikode: Zacharias Mar Theophilus, the Metropolitan of the Malabar diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, died here at the age of 65. He was undergoing treatment for cancer at the MVR Cancer Center.
His mortal remains will be shifted from the hospital to the Mount Hermon at Chathamangalam before taking to the Kristhu Shishya Ashramam at Thadakam near Coimbatore for burial.
The funeral will take place at the Ashramam at 10 am on Thursday.
Mar Theophilus was born M C Cherian at Chengaruoor near Mallappally in Pathanamthitta district on August 17, 1952. He was the second child of M P Chandappilla and Achamma. He joined the Old Seminary at Kottayam. He assumed the name of Zacharias Mar Theophilus after he became a ramban in 2004.
He was anointed a bishop on March 5, 2005. He became an auxiliary metropolitan of the Malabar diocese in October that year and the metropolitan of the diocese on December 2, 2006 following the elevation of Mar Themothios as Baselios Marthoma Didymos I, the Catholicos of the East.
The elevation of Mar Theophilus as the shepherd of the Malabar diocese started an age of humanitarian works.
Mar Theophilus has been awarded doctorate degrees by the St Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York and the St Geroge College in Jerusalem. He has authored several books including a church life guide, Bible interpretations and The Book of Prayer and Sacred Songs.
He has also acted as the general secretary of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Students’ Movement, MGOSM Charitable Society secretary, Orthodox Bible Study convener, centenary project executive director, Mar Gregorios Rehabilitation Center for Blind vice president and the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Mercy Fellowship president.
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