Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, the spiritual head of Malankara Marthoma, Syrian Church died in Thiruvalla (Pathanamthitta) district in Kerala in the early hours of Sunday at the age of 90. He was the head of the Marthoma Christian Community since 2007. Earlier in June, Prime Minister Narendra Modi inaugurated celebrations on his 90th birth anniversary.
He was consecrated as the Supreme Head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on 2nd October 2007. He served as Vicar of Ranni, Kozhikode, Kundara, Madras and Thiruvananthapuram Parishes. As the Church deputed him, he served as the travelling secretary of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association for a few years during a crisis in the organization. He got Master of Divinity and Master of Sacred Theology degrees after higher education in Virginia Seminary, Oxford and Canterbury St. Augustin Colleges.