Catholicos Baselios Thomas I, head of Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, is no more

Baselios Thomas I, the Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Church, passed away in Kochi after undergoing treatment for age-related ailments. He was a strong leader who united and guided the Church through times of crisis. Born in 1929, he served as a priest and Metropolitan before becoming the head of the Synod in 1998. In 2000, he was elected as the Cathalicos-designate and enthroned in 2002. His passing is a great loss to the Jacobite Church, as he was an irreplaceable leader who led the believers through struggles with grace and strength.