His Grace Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas, fell asleep in the Lord on Sunday, December 9, 2012.

His Grace was the former ruling Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in the United States of America, and later the first Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese.

Since his enthronement as Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church in North America in 1993, the Church in America grew to more than 100 parishes and congregations.

One of his finest achievements was the creation and enhancement of various ministries to cater to the spiritual needs of the younger generation of his flock.  The prayerful life and pious life style of Mar Barnabas, inspired many young men born and raised in this country, to join the ordained ministry.  His Grace sought to break down the walls of separation between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches, by sending these future pastors of his diocese to the Theological Seminaries of the Orthodox Church in America.

Under the leadership of Metropolitan Mar Barnabas, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church joined their sister Oriental Orthodox Churches, the Coptic and Armenian Orthodox Churches, by becoming a member of the National Council of Churches in the United States.

Metropolitan Barnabas retired from his arch-pastoral duties as Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese in 2011, and passed over the reigns to his successor, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos.  Mar Barnabas retired back to India in May 2011,  to the Monastery of St. Kuriakose the Martyr, Kerala, India.

The Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese, His Grace Mar Nicholovos, priests, deacons, and faithful have left to India this evening to participate in the Burial Services of Metropolitan Mar Barnabas.

His Grace will be entombed at Sts. Peter & Paul Orthodox Church, Valayanchirangara, Kerala, India on Wednesday, December 12th.

Updated information of the burial services can be found at www.marbarnabas.com

Details of the 30th Day remembrance of Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas, which will be celebrated in America, will be conveyed in the coming week.

May the Lord grant rest to the soul of our father in Christ,
Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas - May his memory, be eternal!