TIRUVALLA: The funeral of Dr Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan was held here on Tuesday in the presence of thousands of devotees and wellwishers.
Dr Zacharias Mar Theophilus was the supreme head of the Chengannur-Mavelikkara diocese of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. The body of suffragan metropolitan was kept at the SCS Church here from Monday for the public to pay last respects to him.
The last rites started at 9 am at SCS ground. Dr Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan led the prayers in association with other bishops of the Church. Geevarghese Mar Athanasious Suffragan Metropolitan delivered the retreat speech. The seniormost Bishop, Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan, paid his last respects. Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose-II, Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos and Cardinal Mar George Alencherry paid tributes to Mar Theophilus.
Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, BJP state president Kummanam Rajashekharan, Kerala Congress (M) leader K M Mani, party general secretary Joseph M Puthusserry, Deputy Chairman of Rajya Sabha P J Kurien, Forest Minister Thiruvanchoor Radhakrishnan, Revenue Minister Adoor Prakash, Labour Minister Shibu Baby John, N K Premachandran MP, MLAs Mathew T. Thomas, P C Vishnunadh, K Sivadasan Nair, Raju Abraham, and Chittayam Gopakumar, former MLAs Shobhana George, Malethu Saraladevi and other political leaders and representatives of various Churches paid homage to Suffragan Metropolitan.