Mysuru: Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, the 21st Malankara Metropolitan and the current Primate of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, will inaugurate the new building of St. Thomas Institutions at Vishwesharanagar tomorrow (June 7) at 10 am.

Metropolitan Joseph Mar Thoma will be arriving in the city today and this is his first visit to Mysuru. The new block for the senior secondary section will be inaugurated and consecrated by his grace Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of the Church, in the presence of Rev. Dr. Mathews Mar Makarios, Chairman of St. Thomas Institutions, Mysuru.

Profile of Metropolitan

Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan, was born on  June 27, 1931. After school education in Kozhencherry St. Thomas High School, he graduated from Union Christian College Alwaye. Having dedicated himself to serving the Church, he passed Bachelor of Divinity degree from United Theological College, Bangalore. He was ordained Deacon on June 29, 1957 and Kasessa on  October 18, 1957 before being consecrated Bishop on October 2, 2007.

He served as Vicar of Ranni, Kozhikode, Kundara, Madras and Thiruvananthapuram Parishes. He got Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology degrees after higher education in Virginia Seminary, Oxford and Canterbury St. Augustin Colleges.

In 1988 he took charge of Thiruvananthapuram – Kollam Diocese again. In consequence of the unexpected demise of Easow Mar Timotheos Episcopa, he had to take charge of Bombay and Delhi Diocese along with the responsibilities of the Diocese for some years. He organised the starting of Ayoor Mar Thoma College of Science and Technology after procuring land near MC Road for the Diocese.

As Vice-President and President of the National Council of Churches he gave good leadership. He led the joint protest marches at Thiruvananthapuram and Delhi against the denial of justice to Dalit Christians on the basis of religious faith.

In connection with the 80th birthday of Metropolitan, Church inaugurated Snehakaram project for the critically ill cancer, kidney and heart patients irrespective of caste and creed. Every year the Church is disbursing about Rs. 50 lakh for the same.