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