Kerala's Syro- Malankara Catholic Church elects new head

Calcutta News ^ | February 10, 2007

[NYer]

Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis Saturday was elected the new head of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, headquartered in Kerala.

His appointment, which was cleared by the Vatican Saturday, came after the demise of Major Archbishop and Catholicos Cyril Mar Baselios last month.

The installation ceremony would be held here March 3 and the archbishop would then be known as Moran Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos.

Ordained as a priest of the church in 1986, Cleemis, who is currently the Bishop of Tiruvalla, holds a doctorate from St Thomas Pontifical University, Rome.

After he was nominated, Cleemis told the media that he would work for the uplift of the whole humanity, away from sectarian approach.

[NYer]

Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis

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Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis Thottunkal

Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese)

Bishop of Tiruvalla (Malankarese)

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Events

Date	Age	Event	Title
15 Jun 1959		Born	Mukkoor
11 Jun 1986	27.0	Ordained Priest	Priest of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India
18 Jun 2001	42.0	Appointed	Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India
18 Jun 2001	42.0	Appointed	Titular Bishop of Chaialum
15 Aug 2001	42.2	Ordained Bishop	Titular Bishop of Chaialum
11 Sep 2003	44.2	Appointed	Bishop of Tiruvalla (Malankarese), India
15 May 2006	46.9	Appointed	Archbishop of Tiruvalla (Malankarese), India
10 Jun 2006	47.0	Installed	Archbishop of Tiruvalla (Malankarese), India
8 Feb 2007	47.6	Appointed	Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India
10 Feb 2007	47.7	Confirmed	Major Archbishop of Trivandrum (Malankarese), India

Please contact the Archbishop through the Archdiocese of Trivandrum (Malankarese). a priest for years a bishop for years	Principal Consecrator: Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil, O.I.C. † Principal Co-Consecrators: Bishop Geevarghese Timotheos Chundevalel Bishop Geevarghese Divannasios Ottathengil
Episcopal Lineage / Apostolic Succession: Archbishop Isaac Mar Cleemis Thottunkal (2001) Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil, O.I.C. † (1978) Archbishop Benedict Varghese Gregorios Thangalathil, O.I.C. † (1953) Archbishop Ivanios (Giovanni) Giorgio Tommaso Panickerveetil †	Principal Co-Consecrator of: Bishop Joseph Konnath Bishop Jose Pandarassery

[narses]

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[vladimir998]

Wow! From new priest to head bishop in just over a decade! This guy must be something. Grace builds upon nature.

[NYer]

From new priest to head bishop in just over a decade!

In June 2006, he was ordained the youngest bishop in the Syro-Malankara Church.

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SOLEMN OCCASION: Isaac Mar Cleemis being enthroned as Archbishop at St. John's Cathedral in Thiruvalla on Saturday.

PATHANAMTHITTA: Isaac Mar Cleemis was enthroned the first Archbishop of Thiruvalla Archdiocese of the Syro-Malankara Church at a ceremony at St. John's Cathedral in Thiruvalla on Saturday.

Youngest bishop

The 47-year-old Mar Cleemis, who is vice-president of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India (CBCI), is the youngest bishop to be enthroned an archbishop of the Catholic Church in India, according to Church sources.

This followed the elevation of the Thiruvalla diocese to the second Archdiocese of the Syro-Malankara Church.

The ceremony began with a liturgical reception followed by the Holy Qurbono at 8.15 a.m.

Major Archbishop of the Church Cyril Mar Baselius Catholicos was the principal celebrant.

Hundreds of the faithful from different dioceses of the Church thronged Thiruvalla to witness the occasion.

The enthronement service began at 10 a.m. The new Archbishop, seated on a chair, was lifted three times by the priests amid loud chants of "Oxion," a Greek word meaning "he is worthy."

The Catholicos handed over the pastoral staff to him, later, marking the culmination of the service.

The new Archbishop was felicitated at a public function at the cathedral hall, later. Mar Cleemis made his reply speech on the occasion.

At the function, Union Minister for Overseas Indian Affairs Vayalar Ravi lauded the contributions of the Churches for the achievements and development of the State.

The Bishops of the Malankara Catholic Church, Gevarghese Mar Dionysius, Thomas Mar Coorilos, Joshua Mar Ignatius, Joseph Mar Thomas and Bishop-Emeritus of Thiruvalla Geevarghese Mar Themothios, were the co-celebrants at the service.

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Since the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church does not have a Patriarch, this election makes him a Major Archbishop - the top 'honcho'. He must be one amazing religous!

[Kolokotronis]

"The new Archbishop, seated on a chair, was lifted three times by the priests amid loud chants of "Oxion," a Greek word meaning "he is worthy.""

Actually, the word is "AXIOS", not "Oxion" which could be read to say a resounding "NO!" I wonder if this is simply a mistake in reporting or if through the past centuries the Greek word became corrupted in common usage in this particular church.

[Maeve]

Mother knows him. She says he is excellent. Very holy.