THIRUVANANTHAPURAM: The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church with its headquarters at Thiruvalla on Saturday got a new Metropolitan -- Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, who was installed as 22nd supreme head of the more than one-century-old Church.

The installation ceremony took place under strict Covid protocols at the Church headquarters in the presence of several religious leaders, among others.

The 71-year-old new Metropolitan has studied Hinduism in depth and has a Ph.D degree from Canada's McMaster University. Theodosius is hugely liked and a soft-spoken person who has also studied comparative religions at the Visva Bharati University, Shantiniketan.

Thiruvalla is nearly 130 km from the state capital and the Church has a follower base of more than 1.6 million with 11 bishops and nearly 1,050 priests.

Theodosius was ordained as a priest in 1973 and was next elevated as a bishop in 1989 and this year in July was promoted as the incumbent head of Mar Thoma church.