Mor Philoxinos Yuhannon +2015

Mor Philoxinos Yuhannon +2015

December 30th is the anniversary of the demise of HG Mor Philoxinos Yuhannon +2015. Late HG Mor Philoxinos Yuhannon was the bishop of Malabar Diocese. John Jacob was born to Elappanal Kuruvulla & Annamma of Pampady Kottayam. He was ordained Quroyo by Mor Philoxinos Paulose (later the late Catholicos HB Mor Baselius Paulose II) & then priest by late Mor Baselius Augen I. As a priest he was called to USA by late HE Mor Athanasius Yeshu Samuel. While there, he was instrumental in establishing Malankara Jacobite churches in Staten Island, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Houston & Augusta. Despite the hectic schedule, he also took up higher studies earning a S.T.M from New York Theological Seminary, T.H.D from Logos Graduate School of Theology, New York, D.D from Orlando International Seminary, Florida & C.P.E (Clinical Pastoral Education) from New York. Fr. John later returned to India & was elevated as a Raban by late HG Mor Timotheos Yac'ub. On 12th September 1985 he was consecrated as Metropolitan by late Catholicos HB Mor Baselius Paulose II with the title Philoxinos at St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Cathedral Meenangadi. Mor Philoxinos took over the charge of Malabar Diocese. He was instrumental in the overall development of the diocese for the 2.5 decades he was Metropolitan. Mor Philoxinos took initiatives in establishing Mor Elias Orphanage-Snehabhavan, Old-age home-Karunabhavan, St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Higher Secondary School, & St. Gregorius B.Ed. College at Meenangadi. He was also essential in solving the disputes with the schismatics in an amicable way. Many new new churches were also constructed throughout the diocese. A lot of them were built in Nilgiris district of Tamil Nadu, in Kozhikode & Malappuram. Mor Philoxinos also served the Church in various capacities including Metropolitan Trustee of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Secretary of the regional Holy Synod, President of the Morth Mariam Vanitha Samajam & Patron of St. Paul’s Mission, to mention a few. In 2009, due to his ailing health & ongoing medical treatment, he requested the Patriarch of Antioch & the Malankara Synod to relinquish him from his duties. He would lead his life of retirement at Meenangadi, while still remaining ardent in prayer. Mor Philoxinos passed away on December 30th 2015. His last rites were led by the Catholicos HB Mor Baselius Thomas I along with the Patriarchal Delegate & the Metropolitans of the Malankara Church. In accordance with his wishes, Mor Philoxinos Yuhannon was buried in St. Mary's Simhasana Cathedral, Pampady. Biography courtesy of, 'Martyrs, Saints and Prelates of the Syriac Orthodox Church' and Syriac Christianity website.