His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I
was born on 27 March 1907 as the youngest son of Vattakunnel Kurien Kathanar and Olesha Pulickaparampil Mariamma in Kottayam. He took his B.A, B.D. degrees. Even as a layman he had achieved the unique distinction studies and also in the Canonical Laws; he was selected as a member of the Managing committee in 1944. He received on 18 August 1945 at the Old Seminary the "Musmrono" and on 19 August at mar ELia Chapel he became a full deacon; on 27 October 1946 he was ordained as priest by His Holess Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicosee of the East. Later, on 21 September 1951, he was elevated to the rank of Ramban by His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II consecrated him as Episcopa under the name Mahews Mar Athanasios. He was further elevated to the office of Metropolitan on 12 July 1959. In 1960, he became Head of outside Kerala Diocese of the Malankara church.The Malankara Association held at M.D. Seminary Kottayam on 31st December 1970 had elected metropolitan Mathews Mar Athanasios as the successor to the Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan. The Malankara Synod installed new Catholicose on 27th October 1975 at Old Seminary Kottayam with the title Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I. He executed many administrative innovations and helped to strengthen the sovereignty of the Malankara Orthodox church and its right to have its own sovereign Head. He was able to project the name and fame of the church at the international level.
During the reign of this Catholicose, there was phenomenal development of the Church as a whole as well as the dioceses. He travelled extensively and visited the Pope in Rome. When the Pope visited Kerala, he visited the Catholicose at Kottayam.
It is notable that the title 'Mar Thoma' traditionally used the head of the Malankara Church and which was continued for a while was again added to the titie of the Catholicose of the East by this Catholicose.
Catholicose consecrated Holy Mooron on April 1, 1977 Old Seminary Chapel. The Malankara Association meeting at Mavelikkara (May 16, 1977) had elected 5 priests to be bishops. They were consecrated on 5 May 1978 at They were Mar Dionysius, Mar Dioscoros, Mar Polycarpos, Mar Barnabas and Mar Athanasios. The metropolitan of Kollam, Mathews Mar Coorilos was elected as successor to the Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan on May 1, 1980 at the M.D. Seminary Association.
The 70th Anniversary of the Installation of Catholicate in Malankara was celebrated in September 1982. The Valedictory function presided over by H. H. Catholicose Patriarch Elia of the Georgian Orthodox Church, was inaugurated by Mr. Zail Singh, the then President of India.
Five priests elected by the Malankara Association on December 28, 1982 at Tiruvalla were consecrated as bishops on May 15, 1985 at Mavelikara Church. The new bishops were Mathews Mar Epiphanios, Philipose Mar Eusebios, Thomas Mar Athanasios, Geevarghese mar Ivanios and Paulose Mar Milithios. Catholicose Mar Thoma Mathews I consecrated Holy Mooron on 25 March 1988 at Devalokam Aramana Chapel.
In his old age Catholicose Mar Thoma Mathews I abdicated and entrusted everything to his successor. The new Catholicose was installed on April 29, 1991 at Parumala by the Episcopal Synod.
On 27 April 1991, due to failing health he relinquished his office. On 8 November 1996 he passed away, and was laid to rest in Develokam Aramana and was interred at the Devalokam Aramana Chapel.
Anniversary: 8 November.