St Baselios Yeldho was born in a village called kooded (now known as Karakosh) near Mosul in Iraq where Marth Smooni and her 7 children suffered martyrdom. At a very young age he joined the Mar Bahanan Monastery and become a monk. In 1678 he was consecrated Maphriyana by the Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mar Ignatius Abdul Masiha I. In 1685 at the age of 92, the holy father started the difficult mission to India at the request of Mar Thoma II of Malankara who informed the Patriarchate about the unpleasant situation of the Church here.
St. Gregorios Geevarghese, popularly known as “PARUMALA THIRUMENI” was born in the distinguished priestly family of ‘Pallathattu Thanagattu’ in the village of Mulunthuruthy near Cochin, India on 15th June 1848. He was baptized by name Geevarghese (George) at the Mulanthuruthy Mar Thoman Church. Geevarghese’s mother died when he was a small boy and since then he was under the loving care of his elder sister Mariam. From childhood days he followed a very disciplined life which was enriched by prayer and fasting. ‘Kochaipora’ as he was known in those days, had a deep fascination towards Syriac, the liturgical language of the Syriac Orthodox Church. His extraordinary ability to sing Syriac hymns beautifully & perfectly came to the notice of his uncle (father’s brother) Malpan Kassisso Geevarghese who was an authority in Syriac and a celibate priest.
Saint Ignatius Elias III was the Patriarch of Antioch, and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1917 until his death in 1932. Nasri was born in 1867 in the city of Madrin, Nasri joined the Forty Martyrs Seminary, and in 1887, he joined the Monastery of Mor Hananyo near Mardin and was ordained deacon by Peter IV. Elias was ordained priest in 1892 by Peter IV, and during the Massacre of Diyarbakir in 1895, Elias gave refuge to approximately 7000 Armenian refugees in the Monastery of Mor Quryaqos. In 1912, he was transferred to Mosul where he served until his elevation to the patriarchate in 1917. After the death of the Patriarch Abded Aloho II died in 1915, Mor Iwanius was elected Patriarch and assumed the throne in 1917.
