Stephanos Mar Theodosius

Stephanos Mar Theodosius was born as K.K Punnoose on 2 October 1924 in Pathamuttam, Vakathanam. K.K Punnoose was ordained as Deacon on 25 April 1946 at Sleeba Church, Pathamuttam by H. H. Baselious Geevarghese, the 2nd Catholicos and as priest in 1947. Fr. K. K. Punnoose was elected as a bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church on 2nd October 1974. He was ordained as Ramban on 15 February 1975 at St. Mary's Orthodox Church Puthenkavu and in 16 February as a Bishop at Niranam Church (Niranam Valiyapally). Mar Theodosius was the first bishop of the Calcutta diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church.

In 1952, after his ordination as a priest, Fr. K. K. Punnose migrated to Jabalpur, Madhya Pradesh. There he started his services as Parish Priest in the Orthodox Church located at Jabalpur. Mar Theodosius went to the United States in the 1960s. He acquired a Bachelor degree in Divinity from the General Theological Seminary, New York 1966. In 1967, Mar Theodosius completed his Master of Scared Theology (STM) from Berkley Divinity School at Yale University. In 1990, The General Theological Seminary Mar Theodosius was awarded an honorary D.D. Mar Theodosius became the first bishop of Madras Diocese in 1975 and the first Bishop of Calcutta diocese in 1979. Mar Theodosius was the director of St Thomas Orthodox Church Mission one of the first mission outside the state of Kerala. Mar Theodosius had founded several schools and colleges throughout the Calcutta Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church.

The activities of St. Thomas Mission located at Bhilai, became more extensive and increased rapidly under His Graces’ vision and guidance. Educational institutions like schools and colleges, health service centers, skill development centers, Children’s homes, ashrams, convents and rehabilitation centers were successfully founded in several North Indian states. His Grace’s devoted service, tireless hard work and adoration for education produced a good number of educational institutions across his pastoral domain. More than two dozen schools and colleges as well as a number of balwadis were founded in several North Indian state to provide quality education to uplift marginalised and underprivileged sections of the society. His Grace, whose passion for missionary activities and vision contributed phenomenally for the upliftment of the marginalized sections in the society. Even though on 5th November, 2007, Mar Theodosius Grace left for his heavenly abode, his valuable and immeasurable contributions remain as a glorious legacy of this great visionary and Servant of God.