Monday, February 26, 2018

I am hereby communicating the sad news of the death of Emeritus Archbishop, Most Rev. Kagithapu Mariadas. He passed away this afternoon at about 2.30 p.m., in St. Joseph's Hospital, Visakhapatnam. The. funeral Mass will be on Wednesday, 28th February, at St. Peter's Cathedral, Gnanapuram, Visakhapatnam. Please pray for his eternal rest and pray for all of us in the Archdiocese of Visakhapatnam.

Archbishop Kagithapu Mariadas was born on September 07, 1936 in Gnanapuram parish in the Diocese of Visakhapatnam. He was ordained as a priest on June 10th,1961 for the congregation of Missionaries of Francis de Sales by Pope John Paul II. After finishing his studies in Rome, he served as Cannon Law Professor at St. Peter's Seminary in Bangalore.While he was working as professor, he was appointed as the bishop of Guntur on December 19, 1974 but was consecrated on May 5, 1977. In the year of 1982 he was appointed as Bishop of Visakhapatnam. When Visakhapatnam was made Metropolitan Archdiocese on Oct. 16, 2001, he was appointed as the Archbishop. Upon reaching, the age of retirement he offered resignation and Pope Benedict XVI accepted his resignation on July 3, 2012,

Archbishop Mariadas was residing at Jubilee Home for the last five years. On December 25th night, that is, Christmas day night, he fell down in the room and had head injury with internal bleeding. Last two months he was undergoing treatment  in St. Joseph's hospital, Visakhapatnam. When there were all the signs of good recovery, this unexpected tum of events took place. There was deterioration of pulse rate and fluctuating oxygen levels and at about 2.30 p.m. he has passed away, rather peacefully. Let us pray that his soul may rest in peace .

Seeking your prayers,

Yours sincerely in the Lord,

+ Prakash Mallavarapu

Archbishop of Visakhapatnam.