Archbishop Emeritus Antony Anandarayar of Pondicherry-Cuddalore in India succumbed to COVID-19 on Tuesday, May 4. He was 76.
He was laid to rest on May 5 at the Immaculate Conception Cathedral in Pondicherry.
“He was admitted in the hospital for COVID-19 treatment and his health condition deteriorated on Tuesday morning as the oxygen saturation level dipped,” read a statement from the Conference of Catholic Bishops of India.
Archbishop Anandarayar was born on July 18, 1945, in Varadarajanpet in Kumbakonam diocese.
He joined the St. Agnes’ Minor Seminary in Cuddalore and did his philosophical and theological studies at St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore.
He was ordained priest on Dec. 21, 1971, and served at St. Joseph’s Boarding in Cuddalore from 1972 to1976.
He held various positions in St. Peter’s Pontifical Seminary in Bangalore as professor, vice rector, and rector from 1981 to 1996.
He was appointed as Bishop of Ootacamund diocese on Jan. 12, 1997, and was named Metropolitan Archbishop of Pondicherry-Cuddalore on June 10, 2004.
Archbishop Anandarayar was chairman for the CCBI Commission for Canon Law and other Legislative Texts from 2006 to 2015.
His retirement from active episcopal ministry was accepted by Pope Francis on January 27 this year. He was a priest for 50 years and a bishop for 24 years. - Frank Krishner / RVA News
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