Elected by the Synod, Major Archbishop Issac Mar Cleemis, officially became the second Catholica Bawa of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis was installed as the second Major Archbishop and Catholicos of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church before a large gathering of the faithful and dignitaries at a solemn function here on Monday.

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, 48, is the youngest to occupy the highest office of the Church since its formation in 1930. He is also the youngest head among the 22 uniat Churches in the Catholic Church, according to the Church authorities.

The installation ceremony, which took place at St. Mary’s Cathedral at Pattom around 8 a.m., was led by Malankara Catholic Church Administrator Geevarghese Mar Divannasios.

The installation began with the Prefect seeking the consent of Mar Cleemis for his installation. He was later seated on a throne and lifted up three times by the chancellors from various Malankara Catholic dioceses to mark the installation.

Each time the throne was lifted, a priest specially designated by the prefect chanted ‘Oxios’, a Syriac word which means ‘he is eligible’. The word was chorused by the gathering. The Major Archbishop then blessed the gathering.

Apostolic Nuncio Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, CBCI President Cardinal Telesphore Toppo, CCBI President Archbishop Oswald Gracious and Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil were the attendees at the solemn function.