Philipose Mar Chrysostom

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Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan
Mar Thoma Metropolitian
Enthroned 1999
Ended 2007
Predecessor Alexander Mar Thoma
Successor Joseph Mar Thoma
Born April 27, 1918
Christianity Portal

Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan, who is commonly addressed and referred to as Chrysostom Thirumeni, Valiya Thirumeni, or simply Thirumeni, is the former Metropolitan Bishop of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church.

Contents

[edit] Early Life

Thirumeni was born on April 27, 1918 and is the son of Vicar General Very Rev. K.E. Oommen. Thirumeni belongs to the Adangapurathu Kalamannil family, a branch of ancient Sankarapuri family . He graduated from Union Christian College, Alwaye, Kerela, India.

[edit] Priesthood

He began work in the Ashram in Ankola with P.J. Thomas. He studied at United Theological College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India and St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury, United Kingdom.

He was ordained as Deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on January 1, 1944 and Kasseessa on June 3, 1944. He was ordained as Ramban on May 20, 1953 and consecrated as Episcopa on May 23, 1953 with Alexander Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan and the late Thomas Mar Athanasius Episcopa. He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978.

On March 15, 1999 Thirumeni became the first and only person to have been designated Officiating Metropolitan after Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan stepped aside from the daily administration of the Church due to physical ailments. Thirumeni was installed as Metropolitan on 23 October 1999, after the death of the Alexander Mar Thoma.

During his ministry, Thirumeni has been in charge of different dioceses in Kerala and was also Missionary Bishop for many years. He was President of the National Christian Council of India and attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and at Upsala in 1968. He has been president of the different organizations of the Church and the governing councils of different colleges. He attended the Second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. He has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities. Through a registered organization named STARD (South Travancore Agency for Rural Development) he has helped economically backward communities of South Travancore to improve their lot and achieve self-reliance.

On 28th August 2007, Thirumeni announced his resignation as supreme head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on grounds of old age and ill-health [1]

Having inherited the missionary zeal from his father, Vicar General K.E. Oommen, he graduated from UC College Alwaye and took up the work in the Ashram at Ankola along with P.J. Thomas. He received theological education at UTC Bangalore and St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury. He became an ordained minister of the church in 1944 and was consecrated as Bishop with Alexander Mar Theophilus and Thomas Mar Athanasius in 1953.

He was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. He was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954, and at Upsala in 1968. He has been President of the different Organisations of the Church and the Governing Councils of different Colleges. He has attended the second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. He has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities. Through a registered organization named STARD (South Travancore Agency for Rural Development) he has helped economically backward communities of South Travancore to improve their lot and achieve self-reliance.

The administrative acumen of His Grace is far beyond what words can express. He is a spiritual leader, dynamic enabler, prolific orator, voracious reader, pungent writer, tactful negotiator, valiant defender of the law, compassionate at heart and a wonderful team man. He respects diversity of opinion, but would not easily budge or compromise ethical principles. He retains his lovable ness, humility and simplicity. He is a person with golden tongue, acceptable to all people irrespective of cast, colour or religious commitments.

[edit] Dates

Date of Birth: April 27, 1918
Ordained as Deacon: January 1, 1944
Ordained as Kasseessa: June 3, 1944
Ordained as Ramban: May 20, 1953
Consecrated as Episcopa: May 23, 1953
Designated as Suffragan Metropolitan: May, 1978
Designated as Officiating Metropolitan: March 15, 1999
Installed as Metropolitan: October 23, 1999
Designated as Valia Metropolitan: October 2, 2007

[edit] Metropolitian's Navathy Home Project

The Mar Thoma Church has recently started a project called Navathy (90) which is dedicated to His Grace the Mar Thoma Metropolitian. Philipose Mar Chrysostom is turning 90 years, and he has done a lot to help the poor in Kerala. He is the longest reigning bishop in India, probably in the world (completed 54 years as a bishop). The Navathy Project is aimed at building 1500 homes for the homeless in Kerala, irrespective of cast, creed or religion. His Grace makes people laugh and makes them think about God's love towards others. Each home costs Rs. 60,000 and Mar Thoma Parishes around the world are donating to this cause.

  • Project Team
    • Chairman- Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan
    • Vice Chairman- Rt. Rev. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa
    • Convener- Rev. P.T. Thomas

[edit] See Also

[edit] References

    1. Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. (1952). Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.. Pub: K.M. Cherian.
    2. Mathew N.M. (2003). St. Thomas Christians of Malabar Through Ages’’, C.S.S. Tiruvalla. ISBN 81-4821-008-8 and CN 80303
    3. Zac Varghese Dr. & Mathew A. Kallumpram. (2003). ‘’Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History’’. London, England. ISBN 81/900854/4/1
    4. Chacko, T.C. (1936) Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charithra Samgraham’’. (Concise History of Marthoma Church), Pub: E.J. Institute, Kompady, Tiruvalla.
    5. Eapen, Prof. Dr. K.V. (2001). ‘’Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram’’. (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
    6. Ittoop Writer, (1906). ‘’Malayalathulla Suryani Chistianikauleday Charitram’’. (History of Syrain Christians in the land of Malayalam)
    7. Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1.(2006), Volume II (2007). Volume III (to be released in 2008) Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla
    8. "His Grace the Most Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom." Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. 22 June 2006 <http://www.marthomasyrianchurch.org/valia_metro.htm>.

[edit] External Links

Preceded by
Alexander Mar Thoma		 Metropolitans of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church
1999 – 2007		 Succeeded by
Joseph Mar Thoma
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