His Holiness Baselios Paulos I was born on 19 January 1836 to Murimattom Kurian and Mariamma in Kolencherry. He received deaconship from Cheppad Mar Dionysius in 1843 and in 1852 he was ordained as Priest by Metropolitan Yuyakim Mar Kurilos. He served for a long period as Vicar of Kolencherry Church. On 17th May 1877, His Holiness Patriarch Pathrose consecrated him as Paulose Mar Ivanios at Cherallayam Palli, Kunnam kulam and appointed him as Metropolitan of Kandanad diocese.
On 15th September 1912, His Holiness Patriarch Abdhedh Messiah with the co- operation of Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysios Metropolitan and Geevarghese Mar Gregorios Metropolitan elevated him to the Apstolic throne of St. Thomas as Catholicos of Malankara church.
He was the first Catholicos in Malankara, and was born at Kolenchery in Ernakulam District in 1836. After his secular and priestly education, he was servicing as a priest at Kolenchery Church, when he was consecrated by Patriarch Peter as Metropolitan Mar Ivanios on May 17, 1877. He was posted as Metropolitan of Kandanad Diocese.
When Malankara Metropolitan Mar Dionysius and the Church leaders requested Mar Ivanios to accept the position as the first Catholicos in Malankara, he bowed to it. Accordingly he was installed as the Catholicos of the East by the Episcopal Synod with the co-operation of Patriarch Abdul Messiah on 15th September, 1912.
Five months after (1913 Feb. 9th) the installation of the Catholicos, the Catholicos, Patriarch and bishops in Malankara joined together and consecrated two metropolitans:-
Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos and Yuyakim Mar Ivanios. The first Catholicos died at Pampakuda Cheriapalli on 2nd May 1913 and was buried in the same Church the next day.His death Anniversary is on 3rd May.
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