Dr Joseph Gregorios Metropolitan announced as new Catholicos and head of Jacobite Church

KOLENCHERY: Patriarch of Antioch and head of the universal Syrian Orthodox Church, Ignatius Aphrem II has announced Dr Joseph Gregorios Metropolitan as the new Catholicos and head of the Jacobite Church. The announcement was made at a function held at Puthencruz Patriarchal Center, the local headquarters of the church. The coronation will take place later.

Joseph Gregorios is the chosen successor of the Reverend Catholicos Baselios Thomas I. He will bear the responsibility of leading the church in the critical situation of loss including churches in the context of the Supreme Court verdict. Joseph Gregorios Metropolitan said that he is taking on the challenging responsibility.

Joseph Gregorios Metropolitan is a fourth-generation member of Saint Chathuruthil Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of the Malankara Syriac Church. He is the son of late Varghese and Saramma. He was ordained at the age of 13. He completed his priestly studies at Perumpilly Yulios Seminary and graduated in Economics from Maharaja's College, Ernakulam and in divinity studies from Ireland. At the age of 23, Joseph Gregorios earned the title of kasseessa. He started as a vicar in Bengaluru. In December 1993, at the age of 33, he became the Metropolitan of the Kochi Diocese. Joseph Gregorios was the Diocese Metropolitan for 23 years. 18 years as synod secretary. He was also in charge of the Gulf and Europe portfolios. He has been a Metropolitan Trustee of the Church since 2019.

Joseph Gregorios was appointed Catholicos Assistant following the ill health of the Reverend Catholicos Baselios Thomas I. Baselios Thomas I had written in his will that Joseph Gregorios should be appointed as his successor. Joseph Gregorios was given the temporary charge of Catholica Bava after Baselios Thomas I's term.