Mathews Mar Barnabas, 88, senior Metropolitan of Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, passed away on Sunday. He breathed his last at 2.30 am at Pushpagiri Hospital, Tiruvalla, where he was undergoing treatment for age-related illness.
After resigning from American diocese as Metropolitan, he was at Ponkunnam Mar Kuriakose Dayara. He had also served as the Metropolitan of Idukki diocese and as auxiliary Metropolitan of Angamaly and Kottayam dioceses.
The body has been kept at the Mar Kuriakose Dayara and will be taken to the Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, by noon on Tuesday and later to St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church, Valayanchirangara near Perumbavoor. His mortal remains will be kept at the Orthodox Medical Mission Hospital, Kolenchery, where he had served as chaplain, from 5 pm to 6 pm for the public to pay homage. The funeral will be held at the St Peter’s and St Paul’s Church on Wednesday after morning prayers.
He had played a leading role in the formation of a headquarters for North East American diocese in New York.
He had also worked as a teacher at Orthodox Seminary, and as Chaplain at Kolencherry Medical Mission Hospital. Besides that, Mar Barnabas had worked as anti-liquor front of the Church and Malankara Magazine editorial board. He had also worked as the manager of the Orthodox Corporate Management.
Born in Perumbavoor on August 8, 1924, Mar Barnabas graduated from Madras Christian College and did his post graduation from Osmania University.
He was consecrated a deacon in 1943 and a priest in 1951.
