There he became seriously ill. He did not get time to call a meeting of the church leaders to select his successor. So he invited one of his relatives Thoma Kathanar, to his bed side, laid his hands on him prayed and declared him as Mar Thoma VIII. Two days after this, on 4 July 1809 Mar Thoma VII died and was laid to rest at Kolenchery palli (now known as St. Peter's & St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Kolenchery). The funeral service was conducted by Mar Thoma VIII. See also Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar Syrian Malabar Nasrani Saint Thomas Christians Christianity in India List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis Mar Thoma VI Mar Thoma VIII References Further reading Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (1952). Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church. Pub: K.M. Cherian. Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram (2003). Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History. London, England. . Chacko, T. C. (1936). Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla. Eapen, Prof. Dr. K. V. (2001). Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam. Ittoop Writer (1906). Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram (History of Syrian Christians in the land of Malayalam). Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla. Sankunny Menon, P. (1878). A History of Travancore from the Earliest Times (Thiruvithancore Charitram). Oriental Orthodoxy in India People from Ernakulam district Indian bishops Pakalomattam family 1809 deaths Year of birth unknown Syriac Orthodox Church bishops Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops