Thomas Mar Athanasios Senior Metropolitan of Syrian Jacobite Church in Kerala was enthroned as Catholicose by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka 1 Ewas on Friday the 26th July 2002 at Demascus. The new Catholicos is given the name as Mor Baselious Thomas I. The consecration ceremony was held at the St.Aphrem Church, Marth Saydnaya, Damascus. Mor Basalios Thoma I is of 73-year-old and succeeds Mor Baselious Paulose II as the Catholicos.

Fourteen Syrian Orthodox Bishops from India, Syria, Sweden, Netherlands, Germany, Lebanon, Jerusalem, Turkey and Australia attended the enthronement ceremony as co-celebrants. Representatives from Government of Syria and India attended the consecration ceremony as invited guests. The solemn function of enthronement was started with Holy Qurbana at 8 AM by His Holiness the Patriarch, followed by enthronement ceremony, signing of 'Susthathikkon' and 'Oksios'. After the Ordination ceremony the newly ordained Catholicose celebrated Holy Qurbana and completed the functions.

Immediately after the enthronement a cermonial reception was arranged to the honour of Catholicose His Beatitude Mor Baselious Thomas I. H.H.Moran Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka Patriarch felicitated the newly consecrated Catholicose assuring the support of Holy See of Antioch for the Church in India. His Beatitude Mor Baselious Thomas I, the Catholicose in his reply speech assured to abide by the faith of the Holy See of Antioch which his predecessors keenly followed and lead the flocks according to the Apostolic faith taught by the Holy fathers.

The Newly consecrated Catholicose His Beatitude arrived at Cochin International Airport on 27th Saturday at 10.50 A.M. Warming reception was given at the Airport premises by the Bishops, Priests, Nuns, and Laymen assembled at the airport, eagerly waiting for the arrival of the new Catholicose. Ministers of State Mr.K V Thomas and Mr.T M Jacob, P C Thomas MP and other local government dignitaries were also present on the occasion to receive the Catholicose. After offering prayers at Akaparambu Mor Sabor Mor Apfrot Church Catholicose addressed a press conference at the church hall. A public meeting planned at Kottayam in the evening, was postponed in respect to the demised Vice-President Shri.Krishan Kant.

Thomas Mar Dianasios was born on July 29, 1929 in the Cheruvillil family of Vadayambadi Puthenkuriz to Mathai and Kunjamma. Late Catholicos Baselious Paulose II ordained him 'Korooyo' in 1952 and 'Shamshono' at Kadamattom Church in 1957. He was ordained as a priest by Mor Yulius Elias Qoro at the Majanikkara Dayro in August 1958. Fr.C M Thomas was appointed as the vicar of St.Peter's church, Puthenkuriz in 1959. During his priesthood Fr.Thomas served as the organizing secretary of Kolenchery Medical Mission Hospital for a period of seven years from 1967. He also served as the Chief organizer of the North Indian Mission at Bhilai 1970's and as the secretary of the 'Pourasthaya Suvishesha Samajam' in 1974. Fr.Thomas was elected to the episcopate by the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Association convened at Karingachira St. George Church In January 1974 and was consecrated Metropolitan by H.H Mor Ignatius Ya`qub III on February 24, 1974 at Damascus and appointed as Metropolitan of the Ankamaly Diocese. In February 1999 he was chosen as the Catholicose-designate at the delegates meeting held at Puthenkuriz. Furher Mor Dianasios Thomas was elected as the Catholicose and the Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church at this Church Association held on 22nd July 2002. 

'Puthencuruz Sathyam' as second 'Koonan Kurisu Sathyam', a faith declaration was organized by Patriarch section on 20th March at Puthencuruz, Kolenchery. About 4462 representative from different churches participated along with priests. A huge crowd was assembled at Puthencuruz to declare the faith to Antiochean Patriarch. H.G.Yuhanon Mar Philaxinose said the oath message and all the assembled crowd had taken the oath in the right spirit as a second 'Koonan Kurisu Satyam'.

The commendation from Holy Patriarch Bava was read by Baniamin Mar Osthathios. 'We should follow the steps of our ancestral fore-fathers at this critical time', said Patriarch Bava in his commendation. Like the hardships and crucification of Jesus Christ the Church also faced friction and troubles in many ways. Without cross there is no crown. He emphasised in his commendation that, in the beginning of the century itself our fore-fathers reached here from Antiochea and therefore Malankara Church is the part of World Syrian Church. At all time, this Church is considered as a Jewel in the Crown of Antiochean Church. Our ancestral fore-fathers fought for the Church from Portuguese and Protestants. It is difficult to avoid the right of our Church in India where rights of religion and freedom is considered as important. The Civil Court have no right to give any decision to the followers of the Church. We should find happiness in the hardships and troubles on behalf of Jesus Christ.

The Faith Declaration Protection Council meeting was inagurated by Thomas Mar Divanasios. He said that he can reject even his positions for the peace in the Church. We have given in writings to the mediators this point. The other section says Divanasios is the obstruction of peace in the Church and having churches in the name of Divanasios. But the Churches belongs to the followers of the Church. A number of times, we were ready for discussions, but they were not ready. We said, mediators like Justice V.R.Krishna Iyer can be accommodated but the other sections rejected all. Their intention is not for peace but for taking authority of churches. The churches like Karingachira, Manarcadu, Mulamthuruthy, Kothamangalam are their aims. All cases should be stopped and Govt. should act impartially, he requested to the Govt Authorities. The association was not as per the Constitution and voter's list also was not published. The Diocesan meeting were not called for the last 30 years. We don't require any properties of St.Thomas but we will not leave any of St.Peters properties. He said, we do not require any church or property from the other section and we will not leave our property or church to the other section. The other section is the obstruction of peace. Their aim is not the peace. The instructions given by us for peace, all were rejected by the other section. The Constitution of the Church formulated in 1934 and the Church formed in 1937. They have till now disobeyed minimum 30 cases. We are the sections who really obey the Constitution than them.

Markose Mar Coorilose, Mathews Mar Ivaneose, Joseph Mar Gregorios, Thomas Mar Themothios, Geevarghese Mar Policorpose, Rumban Kurian John, K.P.C.C.Vice President P.P.Thankachan, V.J.Paulose MLA, Shev.K.O.Mathew, George Mathew Thekkethalakkal had given speeches.

After faith declaration the meeting of delegates started. The decision of Malankara Association is not applicable to them, they said. The decision and proceedings of Association at Parumala will be questioned at Supreme Court. In the delegates' meeting it is announced that a Catholicose will be ordained in Malankara Church by Patriarch Bava. Patriarch Bava is the head of World Syrian Church and if this is accepting by Cathoilcose, we are ready to accept Catholicose. If any one attempts to capture or say authority in our churches will be challenged by us.

In Morning at 9.00 AM the Church Managing Committee was convened and presided by Thomas Mar Divanasios. At 11.00 AM the Faith declaration started. Fr.varghese Kallappara read the note of faith.

The Church is going to be separated?
Is that the meaning of the two separate meetings conducted by the sections at Parumala and Puthencuruz. The meeting convened at Puthencuruz decided to ordain a Catholicos by Antiochean Patriarch. The Catholicos from Jacobite side will be Thomas Mar Divanasios.

The Orthodox Section elected Basalios Marthoma Mathews II as Malankara Metropolitan as per the verdict of Supreme Court.

The two sections are having separate Catholicos means the separation of the Church is also going to be completed? For selecting Mar Divanasios as Catholicos by Patriarch they have to amend the Constitution. This is easy for them because the followers of Jacobite Church, lays and priests are supporting strongly in favour of Thomas Mar Divanasios.

But Orthodox says now there will not be two sections in Church after the Associatioin. Orthodox will stand for the throne of St.Thomas and Jacobite will stand for that of St.Peters.

"ACTIVENESS OF THE YOUTH OF INDIA IS GREAT" SAYS TOM BERNNMSTEEN, YMCA COUNCIL CHAIRMAN, UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.

He was inaugurating the "Smruthi Sangamam " at Maramon Marthoma retreat Centre in connection with the Uni. -Y State silver Jubilee convention. He said the fear of God, brotherly love, sacrificial mind, cultural attachment with forefathers, the retaining of mental resource from crisis are the peculiarities of the Indian youth. With continuos effort and better thinking youth shall grow. The youth shall not entangle with depressed activities.

Varkey George ex M.P., M.P.Kurian, P.O.Philip YMCA National Village Development Chairman, K.John Cheriyan National Vice Chairman, Lebi Philip Mathew State Youth Work Committee Chairman, Saiju Varghese Joseph, Secretary were given speeches at that occasion

Tom Bernnmsteen was on his India Visit and at Maramon retreat Centre he was received by K.G.Mathew, Lebi Philip, Varghese T Mangad, James Chamakala, Prof.Y.Thomas, Thomas Chacko, Motti Cheriyan, and Thomas Abraham

"Religion and Society" a symposium was inaugurated by Thomas Mathew Seeds India Director.Robin Daniel has presided the symposium. 'The message of the youth to the new century' study class and meeting inagurated by Lida Jacob I.A.S. Varghese.T.Mangad was presided the function. Uni-Y Al India General secretary Thomas Mathew Tharakan, Stella Thomas, Regi Paul, Anish Raju, Advt.Raju.C.Daniel were given speeches.

Uni Y Regional Council meeting was presided by Thomas Mathew Tharakan and Saiju Varghese Youth Work Committee Secretary presented the reports. Lebi Philip Mathew gave the initial keynote message. Shinu Das, Roshan Philip,Jaiso Rusalam,Aby Varghese,Sajeesh .T.Punnose,Thomas .P.Mathew were delivered speeches.

Prof.Kadammanitta Vasudevanpilai gave keynote message to the meeting conducted about the ancient martial arts. Asha Paul State Vice-chairperson presided and Binoy John, Koshy Yohannan, Esow Kunju, Sabu Varghese were given speeches. Ecumenical Prayer was directed by Koshy Yohannan and Jose Thevalakkara.Regi Paul gave message. Regional Chairman Dr.K.V.Varghese greeted Thomas Chacko, Shibu K Abraham Uni- Y ex State Secretaries

Earlier Silver Jubilee Youth Convention was inagurated by K.John Cheriyan Vice President National YMCA.District Collector P.S.Enose attended the function. State Minister M.A Kuttappan gave the message to youth convention and Malethu Sarala Devi gave the youth message. C.P.John, Ajiba. M.Sahib were given the key note message