MOST REV. DR. JOSEPH MAR IRENAEUS IS THE METROPOLITAN, MAR THOMA CHURCH

The Most Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom has laid down office as the Mar Thoma Metropolitan on October 2, 2007.  The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Irenaeus was installed as the new Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church at an especially dedicated Madbaha at the S C Seminary Ground, Tiruvalla.

In 1975 Joseph Mar Irenaeus was consecrated as Bishop. Joseph Mar Irenaeus belongs to the Palakkunnathu family in Maramon from which have come Abraham Malpan, the reformer and the first four Bishops of the Church after the reformation. He had his theological training at the United Theological College, Bangalore and Protestant Episcopal Seminary in Virginia, USA. He also studied in theological institutions in Canterbury, Oxford and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Virginia Seminary where he studied. He was the President of the National Council of Churches in India and Member of Executive Committees of different development agencies. Presently he is the President of the CASA National Board.