Job Mar Philoxenos

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B’day: May, 8, 1939 Delhi Orthodox Church Centre, Thuglaqabad Institutional Area, New Delhi - 110 062 011 29956417 29955203 29958975 (Fax)

Brief Profile

His Grace Job Mar Philoxenos, the youngest son of Kanianthra Thomas and Achamma, was born on 8 may 1939, in Mepral, a village near Tiruvalla. His Grace spent his formative schooling in Mepral and subsequently joined the Mount Tabor Dayara when he was 16 years old. Sacrificing a life of material comfort he chose the austere discipline of a monastic calling, influenced by none other than his dear mother and inspired personally by his maternal uncle the Catholicos at that time, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II. The Catholicos entrusted the school-age boy to the care of Metropolitan Thomas Mar Dionysius, the founder and head of the Mount Tabor Dayara, a socio- spiritual enterprise that sought to re-live the communitarian ideal of the Early Christians. The life and work of Mar Philoxenos reflected the spirit of Mount Tabor Dayara, which emphasized the virtue of dedicating individual lives to an austere discipline, in a common effort toward prayerfully agreed social endeavors. His Grace was ordained a Deacon on May 26th, 1956, a full Deacon on November 3rd, 1961 by Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II and a priest on May 11th, 1972.

His Grace Job Mar Philoxenos earned his Master’s degree in English Literature from St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapalli and was appointed faculty of St. Stephen’s College, Pathanapuram, until he was elected by the Malankara Syrian Christian Association as an Episcopal candidate in December of 1989. Elevated as Ramban and as Episocapa on April 30th, 1991, the Holy Synod appointed His Grace as the Assistant Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese on June 14th, 1991. He was ordained as Metropolitan of the Orthodox Church on August 27th, 2002 at Devalokam Aramana Chapel by H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews II. Shortly after the heavenly abode of H.G. Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios on November 24th, 2008 His Grace Job Mar Philoxenos was given the charge of Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese.

The years His Grace dedicated to the Orthodox Church were filled with accomplishments reflecting his quiet commitment to the growth of the Church. He had consecrated over 16 new parishes in the Delhi Diocese, a majority being in the National Capital Region (NCR). It is worthy of mention here the tremendous amount of hard work and effort which went into acquiring the land through active negotiations with officials such as Governors and Ministers, the fund raising, planning and finally the monitoring of the construction that was required in the successful completion of these projects. In the spirit of cooperation, he maintained an excellent relationship with valiya Thirumeni and further more established the prestigious Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios Award in his name. He completed valiya Thirumeni’s dream project of a retreat center in the Golden Heights of Aravali hills in his remembrance. To realize his commitment to the community, he established the Shantigram project for the development of a village in Haryana (40 Km from Delhi). This project involved the purchase of 30 acres of land, the institution of a good English Medium School and an affordable Clinic to service the people of the village.

He is remembered for his untiring efforts in striking up personal relationships with active members in each parish of the Orthodox Church, visiting all the Churches and congregations from JAISALMIR, a congregation in the Pakistan border, to UAE. His untiring support of fellow priests through difficult times has not gone unnoticed. Thirumeni looked to the future and to include the future generations of Orthodox members he started a new spiritual organization Diaspora, conducted conferences and meetings with an eye toward inclusiveness and ecumenism. Finally, through the melodious voice of Thirumeni we have been blessed to enjoy the sweetness and beauty of our worship. Perhaps, one can call H.G the real Vanampady of Orthodox Church.