Kolenchery: Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos who served as the head and guiding light of the Jacobite Syrian Church in India, was laid to rest at the Mar Athanasius Cathedral in Puthenkurissu (Puthencruz) Patriarchal Centre on Saturday. The service was officiated by Joseph Mar Gregorios, Metropolitan Trustee of the Jacobite Church, along with American Archbishop Mar Divanassios John Kavak and UK Archbishop Mar Athanasios Thoma David, who represented Ignatius Aphrem II, the Patriarch of Antioch.

Kerala Governor Arif Mohammed Khan, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan, Union Minister Suresh Gopi, Minister VN Vasavan, MP Shashi Tharoor, Leader of Opposition in the assembly VD Satheesan, MLA Chandy Oommen and actor Mammootty, among several others, paid tribute to the Catholics at Puthencruz on Saturday.

Earlier on Friday, a massive crowd paid tribute to the Catholicos during the mourning procession through Kothamangalam, where he had served for years, and onward to Puthencruz, his birthplace and the seat of the Jacobite Syrian Church. The first two orders of the funeral service were held at Kothamangalam’s Mar Thoman Cheriya Palli, followed by the third at the Valiya Palli. His body was then brought in procession to Puthencruz, where the fourth and fifth phases of the service were performed.

The final three orders took place following the morning mass on Saturday, with the service concluding around 5:30 pm. On behalf of Malayala Manorama, Chief Associate Editor Riyad Mathew paid his tributes to the Catholicos on Friday.