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St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril (Dionysius VI)
Encyclopedia
Saint Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril, born Gheevarghese, was the Malankara Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Church
.
on 31 October, 1858. Following his elementary education at C. M. S. Middle School in Mallappally he completed his high school education from C. M. S. High School, Kottayam
. In 1876, while still a high school student, he was ordained as a sub-deacon by Patriarch Peter IV.
and in 1880 he was ordained as a priest
by Gregorios. By 1880, Thirumeni had become an authority in the Syriac, Church History, Faith and Doctrine, the Church Fathers, and Theology. In recognition of his expertise in Syriac and theology he was designated as Malankara Malpan.
He spent his spare time reading, studying, and thinking which translated to his many writings, such as Doctrines of the Church. He also used his scholarship to edit and publish the order of Church worship to be used by the laity as an aid for participation in worship. He was appointed as Principal of M. D. Seminary, Kottayam. In 1903, he was blessed as a Ramban (monk). He also served as the Manager of Parumala Seminary. In 1908 he was consecrated as Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Metropolitan and served as the Assistant Malankara Metropolitan. The next year he became the Malankara Metropolitan and served and led the Church in that capacity until his death in 1934 when he and the Church triumphed in establishing the official constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
.
Early life
Thirumeni was born to Joseph Vattasseril of Mallappally and Aleyamma, Kolathu Kalathil of KurichyKurichy
-Location:Kurichy is a small village in [changanacherry] in the district of Kottayam in southern India. It lies on the main Central Road which runs through the entire state of Kerala. The nearest towns to Kurichy is Changanacherry and Kottayam...
on 31 October, 1858. Following his elementary education at C. M. S. Middle School in Mallappally he completed his high school education from C. M. S. High School, Kottayam
Kottayam
Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...
. In 1876, while still a high school student, he was ordained as a sub-deacon by Patriarch Peter IV.
Life in the Church
Thirumeni studied at the Orthodox Theological Seminary (Old Seminary or Pazhaya Seminary), Kottayam for four years. Geevarghese soon became a great Syriac scholar under the careful tutelage of Gregorios of Parumala, who taught him at Seminary. In 1879 Thirumeni was ordained as a full deaconDeacon
Deacon is a ministry in the Christian Church that is generally associated with service of some kind, but which varies among theological and denominational traditions...
and in 1880 he was ordained as a priest
Priest
A priest is a person authorized to perform the sacred rites of a religion, especially as a mediatory agent between humans and deities. They also have the authority or power to administer religious rites; in particular, rites of sacrifice to, and propitiation of, a deity or deities...
by Gregorios. By 1880, Thirumeni had become an authority in the Syriac, Church History, Faith and Doctrine, the Church Fathers, and Theology. In recognition of his expertise in Syriac and theology he was designated as Malankara Malpan.
He spent his spare time reading, studying, and thinking which translated to his many writings, such as Doctrines of the Church. He also used his scholarship to edit and publish the order of Church worship to be used by the laity as an aid for participation in worship. He was appointed as Principal of M. D. Seminary, Kottayam. In 1903, he was blessed as a Ramban (monk). He also served as the Manager of Parumala Seminary. In 1908 he was consecrated as Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Metropolitan and served as the Assistant Malankara Metropolitan. The next year he became the Malankara Metropolitan and served and led the Church in that capacity until his death in 1934 when he and the Church triumphed in establishing the official constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Legacy
Vattasseril Thirumeni was a good orator who was well aware of the importance of the vitality and moral persuasiveness of words when delivering the speeches to the faithful. In addition to not publicizing his own spiritual advancement he also avoided spiritual hypocrisy and arrogance throughout his life. Prayers and fasting were the pillars that were Vattasseril Thirumeni’s spiritual foundation. In addition to the liturgical hours of prayer, Thirumeni spent much time in private prayers and silent meditations behind closed doors and away from the attention of people. In spite of his busy schedule, he was also able to focus on three to four lessons from the Holy Bible everyday. Despite Vattasseril Thirumeni’s literal application of Christ’s instruction to pray in private and not for others to see, many recognized that he was a living saint amongst them.See also
- Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
- Mar Thoma IMar Thoma I-See also:*Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Malankara Church*Dutch East India Company*Syrian Malabar Nasrani-Further reading:...
- Mar Thoma IIMar Thoma II-Further reading:*#Mathew, N.M. ‘’Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram’’, , Volume 1., Volume II . Volume III Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla...
- Mar Thoma IIIMar Thoma IIIMar Thoma III was the third metropolitan bishop who sat on Malankara throne and led the Malankara Church from 1686 to 1688. His leadership was only for a short time. With great respect, people called him Valiappooppen .-Introduction:...
- Mar Thoma IVMar Thoma IV-Further reading:*#Juhanon Marthoma Metropolitan, The Most Rev. Dr. . Christianity in India and a Brief History of the Marthoma Syrian Church.. Pub: K.M. Cherian....
- Mar Thoma VMar Thoma V-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-Further reading:...
- Mar Thoma VIMar Thoma VI-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma V...
- Mar Thoma VIIMar Thoma VII-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Mar Thoma VI...
- Mar Thoma VIIIMar Thoma VIII-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church* Mar Thoma Church* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans-For further reading:...
- Mar Thoma IXMar Thoma IX-See also:* Indian Orthodox Church*Jacobite Syrian Church*Mar Thoma Church*Syrian Malabar Nasrani*Saint Thomas Christians*Christianity in India*List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans*List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis-For further reading:...
External links
- Vattasseril Thirumeni: http://vattasseril.thirumeni.com
- News site of Malankara Orthodox church