PATHANAMTHITTA: Supreme head of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I, who turned 90 on Friday, has expressed his willingness to relinquish from the top post of Catholicos.
The Catholicos announced his decision to step down at a special Synod of the Church held at Devalokam headquarters in Kottayam on Friday evening. A final announcement will be taken at the full meeting of the Synod to be held at Devalokam on Saturday at 4 p.m.
Earlier, the navathi celebrations of the Catholicos were held at the Parumala Seminary, near Tiruvalla, on Friday.
IUML state president Panakkad Syed Hyderali Shihab Thangal inaugurated the celebrations at 11 a.m. Catholicosdesignate Paulose Mar Milithios presided over the function. Senior metropolitan of Niranom diocese Geevarghese Mar Osthathios delivered the benedictory address.Supreme head of the Mar Thoma Church Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Niranom diocese Metropolitan Yuhanon Mar Chrysostimos, clergy trustee Fr John Abraham Konattu, Church secretary George Joseph and Parumala Seminary manager Rev Yuhanon Ramban offered felicitations.
Opposition Leader Oommen Chandy, MLAs Mathew T Thomas, Joseph M Puthussery and P C Vishnunath, Alexander Karakkal, Biju Oommen and Jacob Thomas Arikupuram were also present at the function.