Kozhikode :

Yuhanon Mor Philoxenos, the former metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Church’s Malabar diocese, passed away at a private hospital in Kalpetta at 10am on Wednesday. He was 74. He had been undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at the hospital.

The Patriarch had honoured him with the ‘valiya metropolitan’ title in recognition of his service to the Jacobite Church.

Popularly known as valiya thirumeni, Mor Philoxenos had stepped down as metropolitan in August 2009 following ill health and had been leading a retired life ever since.

His mortal remains were taken to his birth place at Pambadi in Kottayam district. The funeral will be held at the St Mary’s Simhasana Church there on Friday.

Born on December 5, 1941, Mor Philoxenos did his schooling at Pampady and took his BA degree from Baselios College, Kottayam and MA from SV University. Later he took his doctorate in theology from Logos Graduate School of Theology, New York and obtained Doctor of Divinity from Orlando International Seminary, Florida.

He was ordained as ramban at the Pambadi Simhasana Church on August 30, 1985 and was consecrated the metropolitan of Malabar diocese at St Peter’s and St Paul’s Cathedral at Meenangadi in Wayanad on September 12, 1985.

Mor Philoxenos was instrumental in setting up a number of educational and charitable institutions, like the Mor Elias Sneha Bhavan orphanage, Karunya Bhavan old age home, St Peter’s and St Paul’s Higher Secondary School and St Gregorios Teacher’s Training College, all at Meenangadi. He also took the lead in setting up a new diocese based in Kozhikode by dividing the Malabar diocese, in 2008.

As metropolitan, he had introduced many reforms, including retirement for priests on turning 70, welfare fund and pension for priests.

source: http://www.timesofindia.indiatimes.com / The Times of India / News Home> City> Kozhikode / TNN / December 31st, 2015