His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan Emeritus passed away on 5 May 2021 aged 104.
Bishop Chrysostom was the leader of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, one of our Member Churches, from 1999 to 2007.
He was a staunch ecumenist and an advocate of unity among churches.
Bishop Chrysostom represented the Mar Thoma Church in the Evanston and Uppsala Assemblies of the World Council of Churches in 1954 and 1968. He attended the historic Second Vatican Council in 1962 as the official observer from the Mar Thoma Church. He served on the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and as the president of Kerala Council of Churches and many other ecumenical bodies.
Acting General Secretary of the World Council of Churches, Rev Prof Dr Ioan Sauca said ‘He lived a long and fruitful life in service of the other. He represented an outstanding leadership of ageless wisdom; mentoring and nurturing younger leaders.’
Rt. Rev. Dr Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa, member of the WCC central committee, said ‘His Holiness lived out the commandment of our Lord – “By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another” (John 13:35). His whole life was committed to building communities and the nation, breaking down barriers and narrow religious and domestic walls.’
Photo credit: Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church