Church condoles death of Kerala minister TM Jacob

Late Shri T M Jacob - Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister

1/11/2011

Read Letter of Condolence from His Holiness Patriarch Zakka Iwas

‘Commander T M Jacob a trusted Son of Syrian Orthodox Church’ – His Holiness Patriarch Zakka Iwas (Primate – Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and All East)

‘Shri T M Jacob was an excellent organizer’ – His Holiness Paulose II Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (Primate – Indian Orthodox Church)

‘One of the greatest social/political personalities the state of Kerala has even witnessed’ – His Beatitude Thomas I, Catholicose of India and Metropolitan Trustee (Primate of Syrian Orthodox Church in India)

The Syrian Orthodox Church has grieved the death of Kerala Food and Civil Supplies Minister TM Jacob who passed away at a private hospital in Kochi on Sunday.

The head of the Syrian Orthodox Church, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, in a letter condoled the death of Jacob who it said was a “good friend” of the Church.

“We are grieved to hear about the sad demise. We cherish the memories of him when we met him for our first Apostolic Visit in India in 1982. He was in the front to receive us and help us in all our apostolic visits. May God give his soul the reward he deserved,” said the letter addressed to Mor Baselios Thomas-I, the spiritual head of the Syrian Christians of India.

Jacob breathed his last at the Lakeshore Hospital following liver failure and abnormal high blood pressure in lungs.

Kerala Governor M.O.H. Farooq, Chief Minister Oommen Chandy and Opposition leader V S Achuthanandan have mourned the death of TM Jacob.

The body was brought to the Ernakulam Town Hall on Monday, where it was kept for the public to pay homage.

According to reports, the mortal remains will be laid to rest at the Kakkoor St Mary’s Jacobite Church tomorrow morning.

The state government has declared a three day mourning following the demise of T M Jacob. A public holiday has been declared in Ernakulam district today and in the state, tomorrow.

Jacob, who was elected first time in 1977 from Piravom, earlier served as the state Education Minister and as the Irrigation and Water Supplies Minister.

Jacob was considered as one of the best ministers in the current Oommen Chandy government.

The 61-year-old Kerala Congress leader is survived by wife Annie Mathew, son Anoop and daughter Ambili.

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