and then left for higher studies in Madras. Ordination IN 1867, Dethos was ordained as a priest by Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan at Maramon church and was appointed as the assistant vicar of that church. He was a fiery speaker. During that period a prayer meeting organized at the home of a parishioner later became the Maramon Convention. Consecration Enthronement Thomas Mar Athanasius, was called to glory in August 1893 without consecrating a successor. Most of the churches were under the control of Bava faction. Being a member of the Palakunnathu family and the next hierarchical person the name of Dethos Kathanar was proposed. He accepted, under the condition that all the parishes agreed to this suggestion. Once it was accepted, parish leaders decided to have the consecration at Kottayam Cheriya palli where Thazhathu Punnathra Chandapilla Kathanar was the vicar. On Thursday 18 January 1894, Dethos Kathanar was consecrated by head of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, Joseph Mar Athanasius I (Maliyekkal) (1888–1898) and by Geevarghese Mar Koorilose V (Karumamkuzhy) Suffragan Metropolitan. He was given the episcopal title Thithoos Mar Thoma Metropolitan. (English: Titus Mar Thoma Metropolitan). Administration Participation by laity In early ages, only clergy were included as advisers to the Metropolitan. After that, they were also included in all decision-making committees. When Titus Mar Thoma took charge of the church, there was only a clergy committee to take the important decisions. Metropolitan wanted democratic principles to be applied in all decision makings. So after consultation with the clergy committee, a Managing Committee (now known as Sabha Council) and a Representative Assembly (now known as Prathinidhi Mandalam) were set up. Both these committees included all the bishops and representatives of clergy and parishes. The first Managing committee included 7 clergy and five laity. The first meeting of these committees was held in 1896. Other reforms A constitution for the Church was prepared and approved by the Representative Assembly and by the Managing Committee. Vaideeka Selection committee for selecting laity for ordination as clergy was instituted. Qurbana Thaksa (Holy communion liturgy) – improvements were made to the liturgy to fall in line with the reformation ideals. (The Syriac word Qurbana is cognate with the Hebrew word Korban) Educational institutions Kottayam Marthoma Seminary School (1896), Tiruvalla S.C. Seminary High School (1902), were opened. It paved the way for the opening of a number of primary schools in a number of parishes.