Zacharias Mar Theophilus Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church passed away here on Sunday.
Saffragan Metropolitan, 77, died at a private hospital where he was admitted after suffering cerebral haemorrhage while he was returning from Muscat by a flight. He was taken to the hospital from the airport where his condition remained critical till the end came on Sunday evening.
The body was taken to the Mar Thoma Church at Pattoor here for public viewing and taken to Tiruvalla for burial on Tuesday.
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Born on August 29, 1938, he was consecrated Bishop on May 1, 1980, and served in the Adoor- Mavelikara diocese, Kottayam- Ranni diocese, Madras- Kunnamkulam diocese, South Zone of Bombay- Delhi diocese, Malaysia- Singapore- Australia diocese, Kottayam- Kochi diocese, North America- Europe diocese, Madras- Calcutta diocese and Chennai- Bangalore diocese. He has been serving in the Chengannur-Mavelikara diocese since 2005.
The Saffragan Metropolitan had served as the president of the National Missionary Society of India; Bible Society of India, Kerala; World Mission of India; Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC), Bangalore; and Theological Literature Society, Kerala. He has served as the secretary of the Nilackal Ecumenical Trust of all Episcopal churches in Kerala, executive committee member of the Christian Conference of Asia and executive and central committee member of the World Council of Churches.
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Chief Minister Oommen Chandy condoled the death of the Saffragan Metropolitan. In a message here on Sunday, he pointed out that the Metropolitan’s defining characteristic was the close ties that he maintained with all religions.