Malankara Voice

17-June-2004

Metropolitan Benyamin Mor Osthatheos Joseph passes away at 3.50 am at Trichur (17th June)

- Now at Kunnakulam Arthat Church - Funeral on Saturday at Majanikkara Dayra

Metropolitan Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph was born in the Panakkal family of Kunnamkulam on 24th June 1949 to Ukuru and Thandamma. After secular education at M.J.D.H.S Kunnamkulam and St.Thomas College Trichur, he had his seminary course at Manjanikkara. He had been secretary to the Patriarchal Representative V.Rev Aprem Aboodi Ramban. In his 25th year, he was called to the Patriarchal Palace in 1974 and had his higher studies in Theology for 3 years at St.Ephrem Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary and in his 28th year he was appointed to the unique post of secretary in Indian Church affairs by H.H Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Yakoob III-the first of its kind in the Syrian Church history. He was the Vice-Principal of the St.Ephrem Theological Seminary too. Satisfied with his service, he was called by H.H Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I, soon after H.H's Enthronement as his first secretary and secretary for Indian Affairs and Benyamin Joseph Ramban served H.H faithfully upto 1984, when he was consecrated as Assistant Metropolitan of Simhasana Churches and other Institutions of the Holy See in India on 7th October..

Source:- http://syriacchristianity.org/bio/MalankaraPrelates/bio_OstBenyamin.htm