Baselios Yeldo

Saint Baselios Yeldo 1593 – 29 September, 1685) also known as Yeldo Bava, was the Maphrian of the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church, from 1678 until his resignation in 1684.

Yeldo was born in 1593 in the village of Bakhdida near Mosul and at a young age, he joined the Monastery of Mar Behnam and become a monk. In 1678, he was consecrated maphrian by the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Abded Mshiho I.

From 1665 to 1681, Gregorios Abdal Jaleel, metropolitan bishop of Jerusalem, reorganised the Malankara Syrian Church and established ties between the church and the Syriac Orthodox Church. However, his death in 1681 allowed greater Portuguese interference into church affairs, prompting Mar Thoma II, metropolitan bishop of Malankara to appeal for assistance from the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Abded Mshiho I.

The situation was discussed by Ignatius Abded Mshiho I and Yeldo amongst other prelates at the Monastery of Mor Hananyo in 1684. In response, Yeldo resigned his position as Maphrian and volunteered to travel to India, despite the concerns from fellow prelates over his age and health. Yeldo then returned to Monastery of Mor Mattai to make preparations for the journey to India. Yeldo was joined by his brother Jamma, Ivanios Hidayat Allah and other two monks, Joea and Matthew of the monasteries, Monastery of Mor Mattai and Monastery of Mor Behnam respectively.

Yeldo and his entourage travelled south to Basra and sailed to Surat, arriving in mid 1685, from which they proceeded south towards the Malabar Coast. Fearing Portuguese persecution, they were forced to travel secretly and arrived at Kothamangalam on 14 September 1685. Whilst travelling, the group encountered a tiger which was repulsed by Yeldho when he made the sign of the cross in its direction, forcing it to run away.

Upon arriving, Yeldo ordained Evanios Hidayat Allah as metropolitan and helped Mar Thoma II to reorganise the church and preach amongst locals. However, Yeldho died on 29 September and was buried the following day.

Baselios Yeldo was proclaimed a saint by Baselios Geevarghese II of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, on 2 November 1947. Later, Ignatius Zakka I Iwas also declared him as a saint on 20 October 1987.

The name Yelda(East Syriac)/Yeldo(West Syriac) means Christmas. Yelda/Yeldo lent(Nativity lent) starts on December 1 till December 25. Various spellings are used to write Yeldo (യെൽദൊ) in English viz.Yeldho, Eldho, Eldo. Basil is the short form for Baselios which mean King or Emperor. This name originally is from Greek- Basileus. Many people come and pray at the Tomb of Yeldo and promise that if they were blessed with a baby, they would name their baby as 'Yeldo' or 'Basil'. It is believed that people having these names are more than one lakh nowadays.