Former Muvattupuzha diocese head Dr Abraham Mar Julios passes away

THIRUVALLA: Dr Abraham Mar Julios, former head of the Muvattupuzha diocese, passed away at the age of 81. He died at Pushpagiri Medical College at 2.15 am on Saturday.

The funeral will be held at 9 am on Sunday at St John’s Metropolitan Cathedral in Thiruvalla. He had been leading a retired life at the Thiruvalla Archbishop’s House. After the viewing ceremony at the Archbishop’s House on Saturday evening, his mortal remains were taken to the cathedral church, where they have been kept for public viewing.

Dr Abraham Mar Julios was born in 1945 at Kallooppara in Thiruvalla to K. Varghese Kakanatt and Annamma Varghese. He began his priestly training at the Thiruvalla Minor Seminary in 1961.

He pursued philosophical studies at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor, Kottayam, and theological studies at the Propaganda College in Rome. He later played a key role in the growth of the Pushpagiri Medical Society and Pushpagiri Medical College. He pursued advanced Biblical studies in Rome and Jerusalem and worked as a teacher and author in Biblical and theological studies.

He was appointed Bishop of the Muvattupuzha diocese on January 18, 2008. He was ordained bishop at St Joseph’s Cathedral in Muvattupuzha by Baselios Cleemis Catholicos.