Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph
Metropolitan of Simhasana Churches and Holy Apostolic Institutions in India
Tearful farewell to Bishop Benyamin Mar Osthathios
Benny Joseph was born in the Panakal 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 Manjinikkara. He had been secretary to the Patriarchal Representative V.Rev Aprem Aboodi Remban. 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 Remban served H.H faithfully upto 1984, when he was consecrated as Asst. Metropolitan of Simhasana Churches and other Institutions of the Holy See in India.
As secretary to His Holiness, he accompanied H.H during his travels in North and South America, Turkey, Syria, Austria, Belgium, Holland, Rome, Russia, Armenia and England.