Geevarghese Philoxenos

Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos aka Puthencavil Kochu Thirumeni (born K. T. Geevarghese) was an administrator, orator and an advocate of Orthodox and the Catholicate of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India. He served as Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese from 1930 to 1951.^[1]

Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos
Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese
Church	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Appointed	3 November 1930
Term ended	17 April 1951
Predecessor	Geevarghese Mar Gregorios
Successor	Augen Mar Themothios
Previous post(s)	Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese
Orders
Ordination	1929 by St. Mar Dionysious
Consecration	3 November 1930 by Baselios Geevarghese II
Personal details
Born	Geevarghese Kizhakkethalakal (1897-06-10)10 June 1897 Puthencavu, Kerala
Died	17 April 1951(1951-04-17) (aged 53) Marathamkode (Kunnamkulam), Kerala

Birth

Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos was born on 10 June 1897 at Puthencavu, a village on the banks of the River Pamba, as the second son of Thoma Kathanar of Kizhakethallekal family and Rachelamma of Chungathil family of Koipuram.^[2]

Early life and education

He was known as Geevarghese as a child and was the second of 4 brothers and 1 sister. He completed his primary education in Puthencavu, middle school education at Mavelikara and high school education at Chengannur. He obtained his Intermediate certificate from Calcutta, and went on to complete his BD at Serampore College, where he had traveled to, along with Fr P T Geevarghese (who later became Geevarghese Mar Ivanios). After completing his Bachelor of Divinity degree, he joined the MD Seminary School as a teacher in 1921. He then went on to complete his MA in English Literature from the Calcutta University in 1926.^[3]

Priestly life and ordination

Guard of Honor accorded to Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos and Mar Dionysius at Kunnamkulam

He was ordained as a Deacon and Priest in 1929 by St. Mar Dionysious, who was his mentor. He was ordained as Ramban on 6 November 1929 and consecrated as Bishop with the name Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos, Metropolitan of Thumpamon, at the Parumala Seminary on 3 November 1930 by HH Baselios Geevarghese II. As he was the youngest bishop at the time, he was referred to as 'Kochu Thirumeni'. Following his consecration he served as the Metropolitan of the Thumpamon diocese^[4] (of which Parumala Kochu Thirumeni was the Second Metropolitan) from 1931–1951.^[1]

Achievements

During his lifetime, Kochu Thirumeni headed many organizations and established many educational institutions:

• Catholicate High School, Pathanamthitta
• Metropolitan High School, Puthencavu,^[5] which counts among its alumni eminent personalities such as Justice J B Koshy, among others
• Teachers Training College, Pathanamthitta
• Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta (the college was originally planned by Kochu Thirumeni, but was started after his death)

He also served as the President of the Sunday School, and Gospel Team. Other institutions that he set up include:

• Othera Dayara
• Bethel Aramana^[6] The Headquarters of the Chengannur Diocese.
• Pongalady Church (Paranthal)
• Thumpamon Martha Mariam Center
• Theological College, Makkamkunnu
• Eraviperoor Hospital

Kochu Thirumeni was a strong influence on many of the clergy and along with Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius persuaded H.H Baselos Marthoma Mathews I to go for Theological studies at Calcutta.^[7] He also led the legal battles^[8] against Mar Ivanios to regain control over some of the schools which were handed over to the latter for management while Mar Dionysius, undertook a trip to Mardin^[9]

Death

Funeral of Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos

Kochu Thirumeni died on 17 April 1951 at 54, at the Marathamcode Mar Gregorios Chapel, where the room and the bed he used are maintained as relics of his life. His remains were interred at St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Puthencavu where the remains of Mar Thoma VI and Mar Thoma VIII are also entombed.^[10]

The following lines are inscribed on his tomb:

His Presence was Joyful,
His Voice Sweet,
His Words Inspiring,
His Manners Endearing,
His Smile Unforgettable.

Kochu Thirumeni's tomb is a pilgrimage destination for Malankara Orthodox Christians.^{[citation needed]}

Feasts and honors

The commemoration feast of Kochu Thirumeni is held on 16 and 17 April every year (usually coinciding with 18th & 19th of Kumbham, as per the Malayalam calendar).

On 17 April 2013, his 62nd Commemoration he was conferred the title of 'Ratna Deepam' of the Catholicate by HH Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, as per the decision of the Episcopal Synod^[11][12] and the declaration was read out by HG Thomas Mar Athanasius, Kochu Thirumeni's Nephew.

Further reading

• Rev. Fr. Dr.Mathew Koshy,Puthencavu Mar Philoxenos- Malankarayude Mahatwamulla Saithu
• Adv. P.C. Mathew Pulikottil and Mr. K.V. Mammen Kottackal,Puthencavu Kochu Thirumeni – Katholicattinte Karuthanaya Vakthavu, Kottakal Publishers^[13]
• Samuel Chandanapally,Malankara Sabha Pithakkanmar,1990, CeeDees Books
• Rev. Fr. John Thomas Karingattil, Malankara Sabhayude Yugashilpi
• KV Mammen, Catholicateinte Ratnadeepam , 2013

See also

• George Mathan
• Puthencavu Mathan Tharakan

References

1. Mammen, Pulikottil, KV, Adv. PC Mathew (1982). Puthencavu Kochu Thirumeni – Katholicattinte Karuthanaya Vakthavu. Kottayam, India: Kottakal Publishers.{{cite book}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
2. Kuriakose, M C (1951). Bethelile Thamara (PDF) (in Malayalam). Malayala Manorama. p. 5. Archived from the original (PDF) on 10 August 2014. Retrieved 16 July 2013.
3. Koshy, Rev. Fr. Dr.Mathew (1986). Puthencavu Mar Philoxenos- Malankarayude Mahatwamulla Saithu (in Malayalam). MOC Publications.
4. "Bishops of Thumpamon Diocese". Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Archived from the original on 15 April 2012. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
5. "Website of Metropolitan Higher Secondary School, started by H G Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos". Metropolitan Higher Secondary School. Catholicate & MD Schools Corporate management. Archived from the original on 13 June 2013. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
6. "Bethel Araman – HQ of the Chengannur Diocese". About the Chengannur Diocese. Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church – www.mosc.in. Archived from the original on 21 July 2011. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
7. "HH. Baselios Marthoma Mathews I". A brief history of HH. Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church – Diocese of South West America. Retrieved 21 July 2013. Dn. K.T. Varghese (Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos of Puthencavu) and Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius (St. Dionysius) persuaded him to go for Theological studies at Calcutta.
8. Kiran Raj (23 September 2012). "The Catholicate, our pride: A Betrayal!". MGOCSM Diaspora. Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Students Movement. Retrieved 21 July 2013.
9. Karingattil, Rev. Fr. John Thomas (2005). Malankara Sabhayude Yugashilpi (in Malayalam). Pandalam, Kerala, India: Bodhi Books.
10. Chandanapally, Samuel (1990). Malankara Sabha Pithakkanmar (in Malayalam). Patanamthitta, Kerala: Ceedees books.
11. Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (23 March 2013). "Kalpana" (PDF). Declaration issued by the Catholicos conferring the title of Ratna Deepam on HG Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos (in Malayalam). Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Retrieved 21 July 2013.^{[permanent dead link]}
12. Baselios Marthoma Paulose II (22 April 2013). "Kalpana in English" (PDF). Kalpana declaring the title of Catholicate Ratna Deepam to be conferred on H G Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos. Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Retrieved 21 July 2013.^{[permanent dead link]}
13. "Excerpts from Puthencavu Kochu Thirumeni – Katholicatinte Karuthanaya Vakthavu" (in Malayalam). Archived from the original on 16 February 2014.

External links

• Article on Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos Archived 19 April 2019 at the Wayback Machine at Prabhamayam-india.com