Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan

On his way back from Muscat after the Christmas Programs, Bishop Zacharias Mar Theophilus suffered a brain hemorrhage mid flight and was hospitalized in an unconscious state after reaching Kerala. On 26 December 2015 he died. His body was laid in rest at a specially constructed Tomb at the headquarters of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar.

While serving as the priest to St Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kozhencherry, the Sabha Pradhinidhi Mandalam (Highest Democratic Body of the Mar Thoma Church) elected him to the episcopate. On 26 April 1980 he was made a Ramban ( Syriac for Monk) by the then Suffragan Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostom. On 1 May 1980 Rev Oommen Koruth was consecrated as Bishop of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and was given the name Zacharias Mar Theophilus by the then Mar Thoma Metropolitan Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma. The whole Church declared him to be eligible and worthy as an Episcopa under the Apostolic See of St Thomas. On 3 July 2004 Zacharias Mar Theophilus was installed as the Suffragan Metropolitan of the Church of St Thomas. In the Mar Thoma Syrian Church the office of Suffragan Metropolitanate is given to bishop who will be an associate to the head of the Church, The Mar Thoma of the Apostolic Throne of St Thomas. A Suffragan Metropolitan assists the Head of the Church, in different administrative roles as decentralized by the Mar Thoma.

Zacharias Mar Theophilus was an ardent Ecumenist who was deeply committed to bringing an end to the divisive tendencies of the Churches and to promote harmonious unity. The Ecumenical journey of Mar Theophilus began from the beds of River Pamba. He has been an active participant of Bible society, Student Christian Movement, National Missionary Society, Ecumenical Christian Centre etc. In the 1980s he served as an executive of the Christian Conference of Asia. Bishops Theophilus's relationship with the World Council of Churches began with his attendance in the 1989 World Mission and Evangelism Conference held in San Antonio. The first WCC Assembly that he attended was held at Canberra in 1991. There he was elected to the Central Committee of the World Council of Churches and later to the Executive members of the WCC. The same process also repeated in the Harare assembly of the WCC which was held on 1998. He attended as the representative of the Mar Thoma Church in the 1998 Lambeth Conference. He was Ecumenical Advisor of the Mar Thoma Church's Delegation in the WCC General Assembly of 2006 held in Porto Alerge Brazil. He represented the WCC in various ecumenical and pastoral solidarity visits as part of the Decade to Overcome Violence (2001-2010). Zacharias Mar Theophilus was also a member of the Special Commission on Orthodox Participation in the WCC, a member of the WCC Asia Regional Group (1999-2006) and the WCC-CCA Joint Working Group.

Oommen Koruth was ordained as a deacon of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church on 5 May 1966. He was ordained as a priest by Dr Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan on 9 July of the same year. Rev Oommen Koruth was the first resident priest of the Mar Thoma Congregations in the USA. He was instrumental in organising Mar Thoma parishes in Boston and New York. As a priest he later ministered to the parishes in North Travancore, Mysore, Trivandrum, Satacruz and Kozhencherry.

Zacharias Mar Theophilus (29 August 1938 - 27 December 2015) was the Suffragan Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar. The Mar Thoma Syrian Church is believed to be established by St Thomas, The Apostle of Jesus Christ and is believed to be the continuation of the ancient Christian community of India.

Oommen Koruth was born on 29 August 1938 to Mr V.K Oommen and Mariamma. Mr V.K Oommen was a devout Christian and was a Postmaster. His mother Mariamma was a teacher and the daughter of Iykareth Joseph Asan (teacher) of Puthencavu. The family inherited a rich Christian tradition and heritage and made sure that their children understood the importance of this tradition. Oommen's parents were very particular in giving Christian education as well as secular education to all their children.