Our Beloved Bishops

(Sitting L-R) Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma | Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom
Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus
(Standing L-R) Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius | Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos
Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius | Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas | Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Timotheos
Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos | Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos

Valia Metropolitan

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valia Metropolitan

Parents

Vicar General Very Rev. K.E. Oommen and

Mrs. Sosamma

Born on

April 27, 1918

Ordained as Deacon

January 1, 1944

Ordained as Kassissa

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

Contact

Jubilee Home,
Maramon, Kozhencherry,
Pathanamthitta Dist. - 689 549
0468-2211212 (O & Fax), 2211210 (P)
E-mail : valiyametropolitan@gmail.com

Having inherited the missionary zeal from his father, Vicar General Very Rev K E Oommen, he graduated from U C College Alwaye and took up the work in the Ashram at Ankola along with Rev. 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.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.

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Metropolitan

His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan

Parents

Maramon Palakkunnathu Kadone Lukose

and Puthoor Mariamma

Born on

June 27, 1931

Ordained as Deacon

June 29, 1957

Ordained as Kassissa

October 18, 1957

Ordained as Ramban

January 11, 1975

Consecrated as Episcopa

February 8, 1975

Designated as Suffragan Metropolitan

March 15, 1999

Installed as Metropolitan

October 2, 2007

Diocese

(Niranam-Maramon Diocese)

Contact

Poolatheen,
Thiruvalla - 689 101
Pathanamthitta Dist
0469-2630313 (O)2601210 (P)
9961963090, 94473 70700 (M)
Fax: 0469-2602626
E-mail : metropolitan@marthoma.in

Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan belongs to the Palakkunnathu family in Maramon from which have come Abraham Malpan, the reformer and the first four Bishops of the Church after the reformation. He had his theological training at the United Theological College, Bangalore and Protestant Episcopal Seminary in Virginia, USA.

He also studied in theological institutions in Canterbury, Oxford and was awarded the honorary degree of Doctor of Divinity by Virgnia Seminary where he studied. He was the President of the National Council of Churches in India and Member of Executive Committees of different development agencies like CASA and ECLOF. At present he is one of the senior Presidents of CCA and the chairman of CASA.

He is in charge of the Niranam Maramon and Adoor Dioceses.

Suffragan Metropolitan

Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan

Parents	Niranam Mattackal Venparambil V K Oommen and Mariamma Oommen
Born on	1938, August 29
Ordained as Deacon	1966, May 7
Ordained as Kassissa	1966, July 9
Ordained as Ramban	1980, April 26
Consecrated as Episcopa	1980, May 1
Installed as Suffragan Metropolitan	2004, July 3

After his childhood education at Niranam, he graduated from the Union Christian College, Alwaye and completed his B. Ed training from Titus II College, Tiruvalla. He started his career as a teacher at the Ashram High School, Perumbavoor. Following this he went for Theological training at the Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur in 1966 . He again returned to Perumbavoor, Ashram English High School and also pasturing the parishes in Perumbavoor, Vengoor, Krariali, Kothamanglam, Koratii, Mamala, Methala etc. He then completed his Masters at the Princeton Theological Seminary in 1974 and his Doctoral studies at the Boston University, USA in 1976. During his education at Princeton and Boston he was also the Vicar of the Congregations in Boston, New York, Philadelphia, and Washington D.C

His contribution in the educational field is noteworthy while he ministered at Ashram English High School, Alwaye Settlement High School, St. Thomas High School- Mysore, St. Thomas Residential School - Trivandurm. He was also Vicar of the parishes in Mysore, Kozencherry, Bombay - Santa Cruz etc.

He was consecrated as a Bishop on the 1st of May, 1980 and served in the following Diocese: Adoor - Mavelikara Diocese, Kottayam �Ranni Diocese, Madras- Kunnamkulam Diocese, South Zone of Bombay Delhi Diocese, Malaysia Singapore Australia Diocese, Kottayam � Kochi Diocese, North America Europe Diocese, Madras � Calcutta, Chennai � Bangalore Diocese and currently at the Chengannur � Mavelikara Diocese since 2005. His contribution to the strengthening of the Mission work in all the dioceses and also responding to the spiritual and social needs of each region is explicit in the various Projects and Missions started in different Diocese. Some of the important projects such as Asha Bhavan � Pathanapuram, Mochana De- addiction Centre � Kottayam, Thrikkunapuzha Mission, Haripad Centre, Pathanamthitta - Working Women�s Hostel, Santhigiri Ashram � Alwaye, Sinai Centre � New York, Karuthal � Cancer Care and Counselling Centre, Higher Education Loan Project, Navadharshan De- addiction Centre � Kidangannur, Mar Thoma Mission School and Mission Hostel Narasapuram, Ministry for Widow, Widowers and Aged, Sadhu Sadanam � Venmony, Bodhana Project, Bodhadhara Project, VISA-Vivaha Sahayam Project, Dalit Development Project. His leadership in the success of the Metropolitan�s Navathy Project by collecting more than Rs. 16 Crores and providing more than 2050 houses for the homeless in India has been one of the most unique contribution in the history of the Christian Community in India

His Grace has served as the President of the Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam, Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam, Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association, Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika Sangom, Mar Thoma Dayara and Sanyasini Samooham, Vaideeka Selection Committee, Backward People�s Development Committee. At present he is the President of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, Theological Commission of the Mar Thoma Church, Planning Commission etc

The Ecumenical Contribution of His Grace in the National and International Christian circles is noteworthy. His Grace has served as the President of the National Missionary Society of India, Bible Society of India, Kerala, Auxiliary, World Mission of India, Ecumenical Christian Center (ECC), Bangalore , Theological Literature Society, Kerala. He has also served as the Secretary of the Nilackal Ecumenical Trust of all Episcopal churches in Kerala, Executive Committee Member of the Christian Conference of Asia (CCA) and Executive and Central Committee Member of the World Council of Churches (WCC). He is also the member of the Ecumenical Meeting of Bishops, Friends of the Focolare Movement and member of the Ecumenical Solidarity Visit to Sudan .

Episcopas