Metropolitan Job Mar Philoxenos, the head of the Delhi diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church passed away on Sunday.
The Metropolitan was keeping indifferent health for some time and the end came at Kolencherry Medical Mission Hospital at 7:00 am, according to official media communiqué made available by the Church Headquarters here.
Born on May 8, 1939 into Kanianthra family Mepral near Thiruvalla, the Metropolitan was a grand nephew of former Catholicos of the Orthodox Church, Baselius Gheevarghese II. Initiated into the spiritual path at a tender age, he joined Mount Tabor Dayara in Pathanapuram as a novice when he was 16. He was ordained priest in 1972, He continued his studies and completed his post graduation in English Literature before joining St Stephen’s College Pathanapuram as a lecturer. He later became the Head of the Department of English and vice principal of the College.
He was elected Episcopa by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association in 1989 and was consecrated bishop in 1991 along with four others. Mar Philoxenos joined the then head of Delhi diocese, Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios as his assistant bishop. He was in charge of the diocese ever since the demise of Mar Gregorios in 1996. He was elevated Metropolitan in August 2002 and four months later enthroned as the diocesan head of Delhi.
Mar Philolxenos tenure as the head of Delhi diocese not only witnessed meteoric growth of the Church in Northern India but also saw the church getting engaged in the area of social activism. A champion of gender equality he was instrumental in giving women a role in the Sunday’s prayers in the church and also inducting them in the youth wing of the church. His focus on the young minds also saw the Metropolitan making use of the internet to reach out to them and also giving shape to a diaspora organization for the church.
He was also instrumental in building bridges with other religions and his respect for leaders from other religions was reflected in the selection of the awardees for the Paulos Mar Gregorios Award which he had instituted in the memory of his predecessor, which included the Dalai Lama, Karan Singh, Baba Amte and P K Warrier.
The mortal remains of Mar Philoxenos will be placed for the faithful to offer their final respects at the Orthodox Seminary chapel till 10 am on Monday. The body will be taken out in a procession to Pathanapuram via Thiruvalla, Chengannur, Pandalam and Adoor. The funeral has been scheduled for 2 pm on Tuesday when the body of Mar Philoxenos will be interred in a specially constructed crypt at the Mount Tabor Dayara, chapel, Pathanapuram.
Holiday has been declared for all educational institutions under Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram on Monday and Tuesday. All educational institutions under MOC management would remain closed on Tuesday in deference to the memory of Mar Philoxenos, the press note said.
