Remembering H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas

His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, the bishop known for his simple and prayerful life, has inspired many. His Grace has been a guiding father for our church. His Grace consecrated our church in 2002. We remember thirumeni for his spiritual guidance and prayers.

His Grace was born as a twin on August 9, 1924. His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II ordained him as a deacon in 1943 at his home parish, St. Thomas Cheriapally, Thuruthipaly, Vengola. In 1951 Metropolitan Augen Mar Thimotheos (His Holiness Catholicos Baselios Augen I), ordained His Grace to the holy priesthood. Twenty-seven years later, on May 15, 1978, H.H. (His Holiness) Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I consecrated him as bishop at Pazhanji Church, with the ecclesiastical title Mathews Mar Barnabas, appointing him as an assistant bishop of the Ankamali and Kottayam Dioceses. In 1982 he was appointed as the metropolitan of the newly formed Idukki Diocese. In 1992, His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas was appointed the Metropolitan of the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. His Grace served in this capacity for about 18 years, then continued as the Metropolitan of the Northeast Diocese of America when the growing diocese was divided into the Northeast and Southwest American dioceses for the convenience of administration in 2009. His Grace continued to serve until his retirement on January 18, 2011, and in May of the same year, he returned to India to spend the rest of his earthly life in his home country. His Grace entered his heavenly abode on 9 December 2012.