PATHANAMTHITTA: Thousands of people, including bishops, ministers, MLAs, leaders of political parties, elected representatives, members of clergy, faithful and the general public, paid homage to the metropolitan and head of Thumpamon diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church Philipose Mar Eusebius, who passed away at 11.05 pm on Wednesday, when the mortal remains were kept at St Basel diocese headquarters and at Makamkunnu St Stephan’s Cathedral on Thursday.
Valia Metropolitan of Marthoma Church Philipose Mar Chrysostum, Changanassery Archbishop Joseph Mar Powathil, Catholicose-designate Paulose Mar Milithios, CSI Bishop Sam Mathew, Zacharias Mar Anthonios, Zacharias Mar Theophilos, Mathews Mar Zeverios, Kuriakose Mar Clemis and Yuhananon Mar Chrysostimos were among the bishops who paid homage to the metropolitan.
Education Minister M A Baby and Transport Minister Mons Joseph, MPs Francis George and P J Kurian, MLAs K Sivadasan Nair, K C Rajagopalan, Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, P J Joseph, Adoor Prakash, Raju Abraham and Joseph M Puthussery, District Panchayat president Appinazhikathu Santhakumari, Sabha Secretary George Joseph, clergy secretary Fr Abraham Konnattu, MG University Controller of Examinations Thomas John Mambara, CPM secretary K Anandagopan, DCC president P Mohanraj, BJP state secretary A G Unnikrishnan, CPI district secretary Mundappally Thomas, former MLA K K Nair, municipal chairman Zakhir Hussain, vice-chairman Ajithkumar, Jose K Mani and RYF state secretary Salim P Chacko paid homage to the departed metropolitan.
Procession Hundreds of people, including members of clergy and faithful led by Thumpamon diocese secretary Fr Titus George, participated in the procession carrying the mortal remains of the metropolitan from St Basel diocese headquarters to Makamkunnu St Stephan’s Cathedral at 5 pm.
Funeral rites on Friday The mortal remains of the metropolitan will be laid to rest at St Basel Aramana Chapel at 11.30 a.m. on Friday.
As part of the funeral rites, Catholicos-designate Paulose Mar Milithios will lead the special mass at St Stephan’s Cathedral at 8 am.
The funeral procession will be taken out from the cathedral at 9 a.m. and reach St Basel Aramana at 11 a.m. after passing through the town.
Catholicos and Supreme head of Malankara Orthodox Church Baselios Marthoma Didimos I and Paulose Mar Milithios will lead the funeral rites.