His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II
,was born at Perinadu in Kollam district of Kerala, India on January 30,1915,the son of Mr.Iduculla and Mrs.Annammma, Puthusherazhikathu Puthen veedu. After attending schools and colleges,he completed his theological studies at Basil dayara,Pathanamthitta and Old seminary kottayam. Later he joined Bishops College, Calcutta for his BD Degree. He had his higher education in Theology at General Theological Seminary, New York.He was ordained as Sub Deacon in 1938 by His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II, as Deacon on May 6,1941 and as priest on May 25,1941. It was during his stay at St.George Dayara, Othara that Fr.Mathews made a mark as a devoted and an able priest of the Orthodox Church. He was noted for his spiritual leadership and loving nature and could endear himself to everyone who came in contact with him. He was known as "Angel Achan" at that time.
The then Catholicose His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II took special interest to see that the services of Fr.Mathews are utilized in a still better way for the Church and the community. On May 15,1953 he was ordained as a Bishop of Orthodox Church. He was only 38 years at that time.
He became the Metropolitan of Kollam Diocese on 1953.As a metropolitan he was fully responsible for the growth and progress and the number of parishes almost doubled with in a short period. Several Monasteries and Convents were started, large number of educational institutions and hospitals were established. His services in the field of education and social service are all very well-known. Several colleges, schools, hospitals and other service institutions are successfully established and administered under his direct control and leadership.
On April 29,1991,Mathews Mar Coorilose Metropolitan became the 6th Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara. Baseliose Mathews II is the most traveled Catholicose in the history of the Catholicate, having visited nearly every country in the world which would receive him. He has very friendly relations with leaders of other religions as well and has fully demonstrated by his activities. He encourages all activities directed towards the progress and development of the Nation and promotion of communal harmony and maintenance of peace in the country.
A good orator, an eminent scholar, a renowned theologian, an able administrator and a man of Word of God, he has all the qualities needed for a spiritual leader and a good shepherd. With his intelligence, wisdom, love and vision and with his vast experience in various fields he has proved himself successful as a skillful ecclesiastical head of an ancient Church. With his devotion and dedication in life and sincerity of purpose, no doubt the community at large is benefitted by his true Christian life as servant of God in the service of mankind.
The five priests elected by the Association on December 28, 1989 (at Pathanamthitta) to the bishopric were consecrated as bishops by the new Catholicose on 30th April 1991. They were Kuriakose Mar Clemis, Job Mar Phioxenos, Zachariah Mar Anthonios, Mathews Mar Severios and Geevarghese Mar Coorilose.
The Malankara Association at Parumala on Sept 10, 1992 elected Thomas Mar Thimothios of Malabar Diocese as successor to the Catholicose cum Malankara Metropolitan, and also elected two priests to be bishops. They were consecrated on 16th August 1993 at Parumala as Poulose Mar Pachomios and Yakob Mar Iraneus respectively.
The new Church Case which began in 1974, reached the Court and the final judgment was pronounced on June 1995. This judgment reconfirmed the authority of Catholicose and the Church Constitution. This could be considered as a major victory for the Malankara Church with the Catholicose as its constitutional and Supreme Authority.
Thus the institution of the Catholicate may be seen as the symbol of the singular identity, independence and historical status of the Malankara Church. True to the tradition in the Orthodox Churches, the Malankara church has its own constitutional supreme hierarch of the Church, and it need not depend on any other church or hierarch to fulfill its ecclesiastical or ministerial requirements. The establishment of the Catholicate in Malankara is a historical declaration to the entire Christian world that this is an independent Church founded by St. Thomas, and that the Nazranis are proud of their institution and they will jealously guard it from any possible internal subversions or external onslaughts. Now this Oriental Orthodox Church can hold its head high among the comity of churches as the oldest apostolic church in the east.
He was retired from the office of Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan on 31st October 2005