Metropolitan of Orthodox Church passes away

Kottayam, Feb 23 (UNI) Dr Thomas Mar Makarios, the Metropolitan of Canada, U K and Europe Dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, today succumbed to injuries sustained in a car crash at Newcastle General Hospital, London today.

He was 81.

Church spokesman here said, the date of funeral would be announced later.

The Metropolitan was fighting for life for the last seven weeks at Newcastle General Hospital outside London. The accident, which occurred in Newcastle while, he was proceeding to the Newcastle Airport on January five, had left him critically injured.

Catholicos Augen I consecrated him as the Metropolitan in 1975. He was appointed as the first Metropolitan of the Diocese of Bombay. He was installed as the first Metropolitan of the Diocese of America in 1979.

Since 1985, he was teaching at Alma College in Michigan, in the US. In recognition of his 'achievements and contributions to the society', the College awarded him with Honorary Doctor of Divinity in 1990.

Dr Makarios was appointed as the first Metropolitan of the newly- created Diocese of Canada and Europe.

UNI VST JJ SBC KN2148