His Grace Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius of Blessed Memory

First Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese

H. G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius of Blessed Memory widely known as Bada baba was born on October 2, 1924 to ChackoKurain and Mariamma of Kayalath Family in Pathamoothom, Kottayam, Kerala, Ordained as Deacon and Priest by His Holiness Geevarghese II, the Catholicos; he started his services from Jabalpur in Madhya Pardesh as the Parish Priest in 1952. In 1972, he was appointed as the Director of St. Thomas Orthodox Church Mission at Bhilai. In 1975, he was consecrated as a Bishop at Niranam Valiyapalli and was given the charge of Madras Diocese. In 1979, the Diocese of Madras was divided and a new Diocese named as Calcutta Diocese was formed and Mar Theodosius became its first Metropolitan.

When he arrived in North India as a young Priest with high ideals and ambitions, he recognized poverty and superstitious practices prevalent in the villages. To combat these hurdles, his remedy was to impart quality education to the society at large.

This realisation dawned upon him made the setting up of schools alongside churches. His humane commitment to the society gave a purpose and aim for his philanthropic work.

In 1984 a new history in the Mission endeavours of Malankara Orthodox Church was made by the opening of Makodiya Village development centre.

2nd Oct. 1924 K. K. Punnoose was born as the fifth child to Mr. Kurian and Mrs. Mariamma of Kayyalathu Family at Pathamuttam, Vakathanam.
1942 Passed Malayalam Higher Examination.
1943 Passed Teachers Training Certificate Examination from Changanachery.
April 1946 Passed S.S.L.C
25th April 1946 Ordained as Deacon by H.H. Geevarghese II, The Catholicose at Sleeba Church, Pathamuttam.
1947 Was ordained as priest by H.H. Geevarghese II, The Catholicose.
1947 Celebrated First Holy Qurbana on Palm Sunday.
1st April 1952 Arrived at Jabalpur
6th April 1952 Offered the First Holy Qurbana outside Kerala at the Garrison Church,Jabalpur on the Catholicate day and Jabalpur St. George Orthodox Church was formed.
1955 Passed B.A. Examination from D.N. Jain College, Jabalpur.
1956 Joined Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur for Theological studies and later discontinued.
15th 1957 (Bhilai Othodox Parish was formed) Celebrated the first Holy Qurbana in Bhilai
Dec. 1957 Was appointed as the First vicar of Bhopal Orthodox Parish. The first General body meeting was held with 18 members.
Dec. 1957 During this period as there was no other Orthodox priest in North India, used to visit places like New Delhi, Bhopal, Bhilai Satna, Rewa, Kanpur & Lucknow to cater to the spiritual needs of church members.
1958 Passed M.A. in History from Mahakoshal Mahavidyalaya, Jabalpur.
1959-61 Served at Mumbai St.Marys Church,Dadar which was the only Orthodox church in Mumbai at that time. During these years His Grace started monthly service in Ahmedabad & occasional service in Baroda.
1961 Was appointed as the Vicar of Malaya – Singapore Parishes.
1965 Got admission in General Theological Seminary, New York,USA
1966 Was awarded B.D. Degree from Theological Seminary, New York.
1967 Secured STM Degree from Berkley Divinity School at Yale University Campus, New Haven, Connecticut. U.S.A.
1967 to 1972 Assumed the vicarship of the Bahrain St. Mary’s Church. The church building was built there during this time. As there was no priests in U.A.E. & Doha, His Grace used to pay monthly visits to these places to conduct the Holy Qurbana. Before His Grace left Gulf in 1972 land for the construction of worship places in Dubai & Abu Dhabi were obtained.
1972 The Silver Jubilee of Priesthood was celebrated in Bahrain.
1972 Was given the charge of Bhilai Mission, as the First Director and the Vicarship of Bhilai Mar Gregorios Orthodox Chuch.
2nd Oct.1974 On His Grace’s 50th Birthday, Malankara Association held at Niranam elected Fr. K.K. Punnoose to be a Bishop along with Fr. M.V. George, Fr. Paul Varghese, Fr. K.C. Thomas, Fr. P.V. Joseph.
15th Feb.1975 Professed as Remban at Punthencavu St. Mary’s Orthodox Church.
16th Feb.1975 Consecrated as Bishop at Niranam Valiyapally, Kerala.
1975 Was given the charge Metropolitan of Madras Diocese.
19th Oct. 1975 The First church Consecrated by His Grace after his elevation as Bishop was The St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, (Then after Bhopal St. Thomas Orthodox cathedral
1979 Was given the charge Metropolitan of the Calcutta Diocese.
25th Jan 1986 Consecration of the diocesan centre and Chapel was performed by H.H. Marthoma Mathew I, the Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan.
1986 Laid the foundation stone of St. Thomas College.
1986 Adopted the Makodia Mission Centre.
1990 Was awarded Doctor of Divinity (Honoris Causa) by General Theological Seminary, New York.
1994 Bagdona Mission Centre (Sarni, M.P.) inaugurated.
14 Sep. 1995 Started St.Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary at Bhilai Mission Centre, which was later shifted to its present location in Nagpur.
1998 M.P.C.C.E.T. Started functioning at St. Thomas College, Bhilai
2000 Silver Jubilee of Episcopacy.
1st Sept.2007 The last Parish which gives an independent is the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church Kolar Road, Bhopal (The Chapel of Bhopal Cathedral).
5th Nov.2007 On the Episcopal visit to Muscut St. Gregorios Orthodox Church His Grace called to Heavemly abode.
8th Nov.2007 His Grace’s interred St. Thomas Ashram Chapel, Kailash Nagar, Bhilai.