Kottayam: Supreme Head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church His Holiness Moran Mor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II passed away at Parumala St. Gregorios Hospital, near Thiruvalla in the early hours of today. He was 75. 

Baselios Marthoma was on treatment for one-and-half-years and on ventilator support since the past few days.

He was the 91st reigning Catholicos of the East.

The funeral services will be held on Tuesday afternoon at the Catholicate Palace Chapel in Devalokam here.

He was elected as the 21st Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Diocese and as the youngest Catholica Bava on  Nov. 1, 2010.

It was during his time, the Supreme Court delivered the order on July 3, 2017, clearing the long-standing dispute among the Orthodox Churches.

Kerala CM condoles 

Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, in his condolence message said,  “Baselios Marthoma Paulose was a great shepherd who held human values close to his heart. He was instrumental in bringing women into the various responsibilities of the Church. In his lifetime, he strived for the betterment of poor and downtrodden. Baselios Marthoma Paulose has left behind a mark in the social and cultural fields of the society too.”