Baselios Geevarghese I

Baselios Geevarghese I (born Geevarghese; 11 January 1870 – 17 December 1928) was the second Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. He was enthroned on 30 April 1925, succeeding Paulose I.

Early life and Priesthood Geevarghese was born to Karuchira Paulose Punnachan and Unnichiyamma in Vakathanam on 11 January 1870. In 1886, at the age of sixteen, he was ordained to the order of diaconate by Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasius whom he served as his secretary. On 11 August 1896, Geevarghese was ordained as priest, and tonsured as hieromonk (ramban) a week later by Mar Athanasius.

On 9 February 1913, he was consecrated as Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos at Old Syrian Church, Chengannur alongside Karottuveettil Yuyakim Mar Ivanios, by Patriarch Ignatius Abded Mshiho II of Antioch, Catholicos Baselios Paulose II, Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius, and Kallasseril Geevarghese Mar Gregorius (later Baselios Geevarghese II). Mar Philoxenos was subsequently appointed as the metropolitan of the Dioceses of Kottayam and Angamaly.

Catholicos After the See of the Catholicate remained vacant for about twelve years due to the unfavourable ecclesial atmosphere, the Malankara Association on 26 April 1925 elected Mar Philoxenos as Catholicos. He was enthroned as Catholicos of the East at St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in Niranam on 30 April 1925, by Mar Dionysius, Mar Gregorius, and Mar Ivanios.

Death Following an appendectomy, Geevarghese I passed away on 17 December 1928 at Neyyoor. The funeral service led by Mar Dionysius took place on the next day, at Vallikkattu Dayara, Vakathanam.