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Moran Mor
Baselios Cleemis Installed As Major Archbishop & Catholicos |
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Moran Mor
Baselios Cleemis is installed as the Major Archbishop and Catholicos
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and Archbishop of Trivandrum
on 5 March, 2007 in St. Mary's Cathedral at Pattom,
Trivandrum. A large gathering of the faithful and dignitaries
attended the solemn function. The dignitaries included Apostolic
Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, CBCI President Cardinal
Telesphore Toppo, CCBI President Archbishop Oswald Gracis and Major
Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil.
Major Archbishop
Baselios Cleemis, 48, is the youngest to occupy the highest office
in the Syro-Malankara Church since its origin in 1930. The
installation began with the Prefect publicly seeking the consent of
Mar Cleemis for his installation. He was later seated on a throne
and lifted up three times by the chancellors from various Catholic
Malankara dioceses. Each time the throne was lifted, a priest
specially designated by the prefect chanted `Oxios,' a Syriac word
which means `he is worthy.' The cogregation repeated the word in
acclamation. Later the Major Archbishop then blessed the gathering. |
He was elected by the Syro-Malankara Bishops' Synod which met 7-10 February, 2007 in Catholicos Centre, Trivandrum, Kerala. Pope Bendict
XVI confirmed the selection by the Synod. The new Major Archbishop
would be called Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos.
The newly-elected
Major Archbishop was born on 15 June, 1959 and ordained priest on
15 August, 1986. He was consecrated Bishop on 15 August, 2001 and made
Archbishop on 15 May, 2006.
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