Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese: Who He Was and Why He Matters in Christian History

When you hear Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese, a historical leader of India's Saint Thomas Christians and former Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Also known as Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, he was one of two men holding the same title during a deep church division that began over a century ago. This isn’t just about titles—it’s about identity, authority, and centuries of tradition in one of the oldest Christian communities outside the Middle East.

The Saint Thomas Christians trace their roots back to the apostle Thomas, who supposedly brought Christianity to India in the first century. Over time, their church split into two branches: one that stayed independent (the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church) and another that remained under the authority of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch (the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church). Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese, the Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church from 2010 to 2021, led the autocephalous side—meaning they answered to no foreign bishop. Meanwhile, Baselios Joseph, the Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, led the faction still under Antioch’s spiritual oversight. Both used the same title, which confused outsiders and fueled decades of legal and theological battles.

Understanding Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese means understanding how faith, politics, and culture collide. He wasn’t just a religious figure—he was a symbol of independence for thousands of Indian Christians who wanted to preserve their ancient rites without outside control. His leadership came during a time when church property disputes, court rulings, and public protests made headlines. The split isn’t just theological—it’s about who gets to manage churches, schools, and hospitals built over hundreds of years. Even today, his name comes up in discussions about church governance, heritage, and autonomy.

What you’ll find in the posts below aren’t just news clips or obituaries. They’re deep dives into the real-world impact of these church divisions—how they affect daily worship, legal rights, and even community identity. You’ll see how similar splits play out in other faiths, how titles like Catholicos carry more weight than they seem, and why two men with the same title can’t even share a pulpit. This isn’t ancient history—it’s living, breathing conflict with real consequences for people who still call themselves Saint Thomas Christians.