H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan (the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India) on 15^th October, 2021. His Holiness is the 92^nd Primate on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III is the present Primate of Malankara Church, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan and the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kandanad West and the Diocese of Kottayam Central of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

Mathews was born on 12^th February 1949 to Cherian Anthrayos of Mattathil family in Vazhoor. He studied chemistry at Kerala University and Theology at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and Serampore College. He procured his Master’s degree from Leningrad Theological Seminary and Doctorate in Oriental theology from Pontifical Oriental Institute at Rome. where he specialized in the Christology of Philoxenos of Mabbug of the West Syriac tradition.

He was ordained as a deacon in 1976 and then as a priest in 1978 by Baselios Mathews I. On 30^th April 1991 he was consecrated to the order of Episcopos. In 1994, he was consecrated as a metropolitan of the Diocese of Kandanad West. Also he has been serving as the assistant metropolitan of the Diocese of Idukki since 2019.

He is a teacher at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam since 1984. He taught Christology in the graduate and post-graduate levels while guiding a number of doctoral theses. He has authored several scholarly books and articles in the field of Theology. He has also served as the Executive Secretary to the Holy Episcopal Synod. The Holy Episcopal synod held at Devalokam Aramana nominated him as the successor to the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan on 16^th September 2021.