Ex-CBCI chief Cyril Mar Baselios died

Thiruvananthapuram, Jan 18 (UNI) Major Archbishop and Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church Cyril Mar Baselios, former president of the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), passed away here this evening.

Seventyone-year-old Cyril Mar baselios died at a private hospital where he was undergoing treatment for kidney ailment.

He was appointed as the first Catholicos and Major Archbishop of the Malankara Catholic Church in February 2005.

Born on August 16, 1935, he was ordained as priest in 1960 after studies in pontifical seminary, Pune.

He received doctorate in Canon Law from Gregorian University, Rome, in 1975 after taking Masters degree in Psychology from the St John's University, USA.

He had taught at St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam, and the pontifical seminary, Aluva.

He became the Bishop of Bathery diocese in 1978 and was made the Metropolitan Archbishop and head of the Malankara Church in 1995.

UNI