He accidentally fell out of moving train near Ernakulam
Thomas Mar Athanasios (80), head of the Chengannur diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, died on Friday after he fell off a moving train near Kochi, the police said. He was standing near the door of the train when it suddenly slammed shut. The incident occurred at 5.45 a.m. at Pulepedi.
The Metropolitan has a few educational institutions in Gujarat. A frequent traveller between Gujarat and Chengannur, he was returning to his headquarters on hearing the tragedy that struck the State following the devastating monsoon.
The funeral will be held at St. George Dayara at Othera, Pathanamthitta, at 3 p.m. on Sunday. The mortal remains would be interred in a specially erected tomb. His mortal remains would be kept at St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral Church at Puthencavu, near Chengannur, on Saturday for the public to pay their homage.
Mar Athanasios was a celebrated educationalist. Born to K.T. Thomas and Aleyamma Thomas on April 3, 1938 at Puthencavu, Mar Athanasios started several schools, including a few in Gujarat.
He founded the Basil School in Baroda and six other schools in Gujarat. The Mar Philoxenos Research and Guidance Centre and Library, Vidyajyothi — a unique programme aimed at excellence in secular education — and the Philox School of Liturgical Music are three innovative ideas launched by him in the diocese of Chengannur.
