Delhi Archbishop of the Indian Orthodox Church passes away

New Delhi: The Archbishop of Delhi Diocese of the Indian Orthodox Church, His Eminence Job Mar Philoxenos, passed away on 20th November 2011 Sunday morning due to renal failure following prolonged illness. He was 72.

The Archbishop breathed his last at the Kolencherry Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Medical College Hospital in Kerala where he was admitted since September. Philoxenos had a history of kidney-related ailments and had undergone a transplant in 1993.
The funeral would be held at the Dayara on November 22 afternoon. Catholicos of the East His Holiness Baselios Paulose II would be the main celebrant at the funeral ceremony.

He was only the second Archbishop of the Delhi Diocese ever since it was formed in 1975, a statement said.

Born on May 8, 1939, to K C Thomas and Achamma of Kanianthara family, Job Mar Philexinos Metropolitan is the grandnephew of Catholicos of the East, the late Baselios Mar Geevarghese II. His mother was a niece of His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II. He had his primary education at St John’s School, Mepral, and PMV School, Peringara. At 16, he joined Mount Tabore Dayara as a novice.

He was ordained a Deacon on May 26, 1956. In 1962, he was ordained a full Deacon at Parumala, and on May 11, 1972, as a priest. He took Masters degree in English Literature from St Joseph’s College in Tiruchirappalli. In 1969, he became a lecturer at St Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram. He was the head of the English Department and later became the vice-principal of the college. In 1974, he was appointed vicar of St John’s Orthodox Church, Mepral. Mar Philexinos was installed a Ramban on March 31, 1990, at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Orthodox Church at Parumala.

Kerala Chief Minister  Oommen Chandy pays homage to
His Eminence Job Mar Philoxenos- Courtesy: mathrubhumi

In 1989, the Malankara Syrian Christian Association had elected him as a Bishop of the Church. He was ordained the Bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church) on April 30, 1991 at Parumala Church. He was appointed assistant Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese. He took full charge of the Delhi Diocese after his predecessor Paulos Mar Gregorios passed away in 1996.

He was elevated as Metropolitan (Archbishop) on August 27, 2002, at Devalokam, Kottayam.

Mar Philoxenos is known for his initiatives to encourage women in the Church to the forefront and using Internet actively as a means to connect to Orthodox believers. He took the initiative to institute the Paulose Mar Gregorios Memorial Award, which was won by eminent national and international personalities, including Dalai Lama, socialn activist Baba Amte, father of White Revolution V Kurien, Kottakkal Arya Vaidyasala founder P K Warrier, and statesman Karan Singh.

Mar Philexinos was instrumental in taking up Shantigram Social Service project in Mandavar in Haryana, formation of self-help group for the womenfolk of Mandavar, retreat Centre at Sohna in Haryana, the first medical mission of the Orthodox Church in Delhi among others.

--Delhi Orthodox Church Centre Thuglakabad Institutional Area, New Delhi – 1110 062
Tel.: 011-29956417/29955203

Joint Declaration of the Heads of the Oriental Orthodox Churches

In the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.

H.H. Pope Shenouda III, Pope of Alexandria and Patriarch of the See of St. Mark, H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, H.H. Catholicos Aram I, Catholicos of the Holy See of Cilicia of the Armenian Orthodox Church and H.H. Abuna Paulos, Patriarch of the Ethiopian Orthodox Church, give thanks to God for bringing us together here in Cairo, Egypt, on Monday, 14 November 2011, to pray together and to reflect together on matters and concerns pertaining to our Churches and the Oriental Orthodox Family in general. We were accompanied by metropolitans, archbishops and bishops of our Churches.

In fact, the Churches of the Oriental Orthodox Family are united in faith, theology, doctrine, tradition and spirituality. This strong bond of unity has sustained this Family and became a source of spiritual strength, missionary outreach and social action in spite of tremendous challenges and crisis which surrounded these Churches in the course of their long history. The unity of faith of our Family is grounded on Apostolic Tradition and the teachings of the first three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (325), Constantinople (381) and Ephesus (431). We developed our theological teachings and shaped our doctrinal positions on the basis of the teachings of these Ecumenical Councils, and adopted a common position in respect to heresies and heretics.

It is vitally important that we re-affirm and re-strengthen our unity, and re-invigorate our Christian witness. In a world which is constantly threatened by secularistic and materialistic ideologies and different sort of heresies which may jeopardize the integrity, identity and unity of our faith, therefore, re-organizing and re-revitalizing our intra-family collaboration is of decisive importance. The Oriental Orthodox Family has a long and rich history. Its relevance needs to be re-affirmed and its common witness to be re-activated in those regions and countries where the faithful of our Churches have organized their church and community life.

For H.H. Patriarch Mar Ignatius Zakka I, H.H. Catholicos Aram I and H.H. Abuna Paulos, participating in the 40th anniversary celebration of the enthronement of H.H. Pope Shenouda III was indeed a source of spiritual joy and a unique opportunity to express our brotherly love and unity. The pontificate of His Holiness has been one of dedicated service to the sister Coptic Orthodox Church; a committed service marked by so many achievements in different spheres of the life and mission of the Church. We pray the Almighty God to strengthen H.H. Pope Shenouda III to carry on his pontifical ministry with renewed commitment and vision.

We appeal to our faithful to remain firm in their Christian faith and participate fully in the witness of our Churches. May God lead our Churches in faithfulness to the command of our Lord Jesus Christ.

Glory be to God the Father, Son and Holy Spirit. Amen.


14 November 2011
Coptic Orthodox Patriarchate
Cairo, Egypt

Pope Shenouda III

Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I

Catholicos Aram I

Patriarch Paulos