Yuhanon March Meletius was born on 4 July 1954, the first-born child of Michael Jackson Markose, a farmer and a social worker, and Saramma Markose in Ezhakaranad, Ernakulam district, Kerala.
Education
March Meletius was schooled in Ezhakaranad Government Upper Primary School and Maneed Government High School. He did his Personal Digital Cellular and Bachelor in Malayalam language and literature in Saint Peter"s College Kolenchery. He took his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology in Old Testament from United Theological College, Bangalore.
He took his second Master of Theology and Doctor of Philosophy Qualifying (Old Testament) from Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago.
He submitted his Doctor of Philosophy paper to Dharmaram Vidyashektram, Bangalore. Meanwhile, he studied Syriac at Street Aphrem’s Seminary, Damascus.
Career
He was named Rajan. He was ordained as Deacon on 31 January 1973 by Paulose March Philexinos, Metropolitan of Kandanadu diocese.He was ordained as a Priest on 23 May 1986 by Catholicos Baselius Paulose II of the Malankara Church (Jacobite Faction). His ordination as monk was on 22 December 1990 by Ignatius Zaka I, Patriarch of Antioch of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. He was ordained as a Metropolitan on 23 December 1990 by Ignatius Zaka I, Patriarch of Antioch of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church.
He was given the charge of Thrissur Diocese.
March Meletios was one of the three Bishops from the Patriarch faction to accept the constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Church and move to the Orthodox faction. The consecration was in contention also due to the lack of three bishops needed for a canonical consecration.
The Synod approved the consecration in a later meeting. However, in a subsequent action the Synod de-recognised the said Metropolitan.
He was a teacher at Saint Aprem Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Damascus for one year.
He was a teacher at MSOT Seminary, Malelcruz. He was a teacher at MSOT Seminary, Vettickal, Mulanthuruthy. Parishes in which he served as vicar are Street.Mary"s Church, Valamboor, Saint Ignatius Church, Dallas, Texas, United States of America. He was the President SOYA for 5 years.
The consecration ceremony was performed by Yuhanon March Meletius of Thrissur diocese and Doctor.Thomas March Athanasios of Kandanad East Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Church and assisted by Late Thomas March Makarios.
As a bishop March Meletius travelled to Turkey, United States of America, Canada, Vatican, Italy, United Kingdom, Sweden, Rumania, Germany, the Netherlands, Austria, Sri Lanka, Samoa, Australia, South Africa, Singapore, Malaysia, and Gulf countries. As of 2013 He lived in Gedseemon Bishop"s House, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, India.
Membership
He was a member of NCCI, CASA National Board, CASA South Region and President of OCYM.
