Thiruvalla: Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, the 21st Mar Thoma Metropolitan of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, passed away this morning at a private hospital in Thiruvalla, Kerala following brief illness. He was 90.

The Metropolitan had been undergoing treatment at a private hospital and his condition deteriorated sharply over the last one week. He breathed his last around 2.40 am today.

Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his condolence message on twitter said, “His Grace, the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan was a remarkable personality, who served humanity and worked hard to improve the lives of the poor and downtrodden. He was blessed with abundance of empathy and humility. His noble ideas will always be remembered. RIP.”

The date and time of the funeral will be announced later in the day today, according to sources.

Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma was in Mysuru last June to inaugurate the new building of St. Thomas Institutions at Vishweshwaranagar and it was his first visit to Mysuru. An interview with the 21st Malankara Metropolitan [We are Indian by Nationality, Independent without any Foreign Domination: Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma] was published in Star of Mysore on June 25, 2019.