H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didymus I, The Catholicos of the East Abdicates

DEVALOKAM (KERALA,INDIA): The great shepherd of the East, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymus I decided to step down.

It is in a special session of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Orthodox Church of the East that was convened at the Catholicosate Palace, Devalokam, Kottayam, on 29th October 2010 that the supreme Pontiff decided to disclose on his abdication.

“The Almighty allowed me to lead the Church for the last five years. Looking back, I consider everything as grace of God. I love the Church and the people of God. I also thank all of you, who stood as strong support to me during these years”, said the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan to the members of the Holy Episcopal Synod in the preface of his speech.

“For the rest of my life, I want to retreat in prayer and wish to set aside myself from all administrative responsibilities”, carried on the Catholicos.

Twenty Metropolitans including Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios attended the meeting.

A meeting of the Holy Episcopal Synod will officially convene on 30th October. Details of the abdication will be released to the media thereafter.

His Holiness The Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Didymus I was enthroned at St. Paul’s and St. Peter’s Church (Parumala Pally) at Parumala on October 31, 2005.

Historians will depict this father as the great skipper, who depended on the power of prayer than secular administrative skills to lead the children of God. Great meeting at Kottayam and two flawless Malankara Associations bear witness to the above said fact.

PHOTO: H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didymus I (right), 114th Catholicos of the East with H.H. Pope Shenouda III, 117th Pope of Alexandria and the Patriarch of All Africa on the Holy Apostolic See of Saint Mark the Evangelist of the Coptic Orthodox Church of Alexandria, on 6th May 2006. — CC-BY-SA image from the official Malankara Church Magazine