Baselios Marthoma Didymos I

C.T Thomas I was born as the son of Ittyavira Thomas of Chiramel-Mulamootil House in Nedumbram near Thiruvalla and Sosamma of Chiramel House in Mavelikara. At the age of 18, he joined Mount Tabor Dayara (monastery) in Pathanapuram in 1939. As the disciple of Thoma Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of Niranam, he completed his high school education. In his speeches, Didymos I used to say that his parents who led lives of prayer and munificence were his first role models.

He passed his Intermediate from C.M.S College, Kottayam in 1945, his Baccalaureate in Arts degree from National College, Tiruchirapalli in 1951, his Baccalaureate degree in Theology from Maston Training College, Chennai in 1954, and his Magister of Art in English literature from Christ Church College, Kanpur in 1961. His favorite authors were Charles Lamb in English and Vaikom Muhammad Basheer in Malayalam.

As Rev. Fr. C. T. Thomas, he served as headmaster of Ponnayya High School, Thiruchirapalli and St. Stephens School, Pathanapuram. Within a year of taking charge as the headmaster of Ponnayya High School, Rev. Fr. C. T. Thomas was able to quadruple the pass percentage of students, who were chiefly the poor children from marginalized families.

Later, Fr. C. T. Thomas also served as Professor and Head of the Department of English at St. Stephen's College, Pathanapuram, as well as the vice-principal of the College and as President of the Orthodox Youth Movement.

C. T. Thomas started his service to the Church as a monk when he was a teenager. He was called to the monastic life by the late Metropolitan Mar Dionysius of Niranam. He completed his training for priesthood under the guidance of Thoma Mar Dionysius and Baselios Augen, Catholicos of the East. Geevarghese II Catholicos ordained him to the order of quroyo (reader deacon) on 11 March 1942 at Karapuzha Mar Gregorios Chapel. He was ordained a full deacon on 22 May 1947 at Thiruvalla Bethany Aramana Chapel and priest on 25 January 1950 at Pathanapuram Mount Tabor Dayara.

On 16 May 1965, Catholicos of the East Moran Mar Baselios Augen I tonsured him Ramban (monk) at Mount Tabor Dayara. The Malankara Syrian Christian Association which convened at Kottayam M. D. Seminary on 28 December 1965 and elected him to the office of Metropolitan along with four others priests, following the ancient tradition of, selecting bishops from the monastic ranks. Didymos I was consecrated as metropolitan bishop on 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry St. Peter's & St. Paul's Church and served as the metropolitan of the Malabar diocese from 1968.

On 24 August 1966 at Kolencherry, the Catholicos Baselios Augen I ordained him as Metropolitan and given the name Thomas Mar Timotheos, along with Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos and Yuhanon Mar Severios. Following the order of the Catholicos, Mar Thimotheos became the assistant metropolitan of Malabar diocese on 11 November 1966. Pathrose Mar Osthathios, the metropolitan of Malabar, died on 2 February 1968. Mar Thimotheos succeeded him as the metropolitan of Malabar diocese.

Didymos I abdicated the throne on 31 October 2010, at the age of 89. The following day he personally enthroned his successor Baselios Marthoma Paulose II as the Catholicos of the East.[9] Didymos I spent the rest of his life at the Catholicate Palace. On 21 February 2014 he was given the Holy Anointing Service by Paulose II. Didymos died on 26 May 2014[10] and was buried on 28 May 2014 at Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram, the monastery which he called his home.

Didymos I wrote three books in Malayalam with the titles ജീവിതം സംസാരിക്കുന്നു (Life Speaks), ഒരു മഹര്ഷി സംസാരിക്കുന്നു (A Sage Speaks) and ശുശ്രൂഷാ നടപടിച്ചട്ടങ്ങള് (Rules and Regulations of Service).