Venerable Archbishop Mar Ivanios (Heavenly Patron of the School)
Venerable Archbishop Mar Ivanios is held in deep reverence for his devotion to God and man. He is a blessed soul who has inspired many through his prayer life, charismatic personality, broad vision, ascetic ministry, and untiring efforts for peace and human well-being. Mar Ivanios was born in Mavelikara in Kerala on 21st September 1882. He was ordained Deacon on 9th January 1900. He took his M.A. Degree from Madras Christian College in 1907. This won him the familiar appellation, M. A. Achen, as he was the first to acquire this academic distinction among the clergy from the Syrian Orthodox fold. Soon he was appointed Principal of M. D. Seminary High School, Kottayam where he had been a student. On 15th September 1908, he was ordained, Priest. During the period 1913-1919, he occupied, on invitation, the coveted Chairs of Professor of Economics and Syriac in Serampore University College, Calcutta. In recognition of his scholarship, he was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Studies for Eastern Languages of the University for a long spell. His commitment to the cause of women’s education is evidenced by the provision he gained at Diocesan College, Calcutta to admit female students from Kerala. On 15th August 1919, he founded the Bethany Ashram imbibing the Indian spiritual traditions and the monastic spirituality of St. Basil. On 1st May 1925, he consecrated Bishop.
As entrusted by the Synod of the Malankara Church held at Mavelikara in 1926 he took the initiative for the Communion of the Malankara Church with the Universal Catholic Church. But the Synod backtracked from the decision later. Responding positively to the call of the Holy Spirit, Mar Ivanios, with his followers, came into Communion with the Universal Catholic Church on 20th September 1930. Mar Ivanios is rightly revered as the Prophet of Unity. Being the head of the Malankara Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Trivandrum, he shifted his headquarters to Trivandrum in 1932. Archbishop Mar Ivanios, whom G. K. Chesterton referred to as a heroic figure, and a, unique priest from the East, spoke at various foreign Universities and Centres and commanded great respect among scholars in Europe, America, and Australia. In 1947 the University of San Francisco conferred on him the Honorary Doctorate L. L. D. The Chancellor of the University described him as an unqualified patriot, renowned scholar, Eastern visionary, Christian philosopher. In his pastoral ministry, he made remarkable contributions to various aspects of human life. Convinced of the fact that the empowering of people is possible only through education, he established several educational institutions. Being aware that socio-economic well-being is indispensable for leading a worthy life, he initiated various programs for the uplift of the people. His care and concern for them transcended the barriers of religion, caste, creed, and socioeconomic status. On 15th July 1953, he was called to eternal rest.
Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios (Founder Patron of the School)
Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios was the Second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was born on 1 February 1916 in the Mundupalathinkal-Thangalathil family as the second son of Idicula and Annamma, at Kallooppara, Tiruvalla, in the District of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. After completing his primary and middle school studies, he joined the St. Johns School, Eraviperoor, for his secondary school education. It was at this time that the Metropolitan Mar Ivanios started many Bethany churches with the intention of reforming the Orthodox Church, and one among them was located near the Thangalathil family. As a result of that, Geevarghese, who had an inclination towards ascetical life, was able to maintain a good relationship with the Bethany Sanyasis. Very soon, the reunion of a part of the Malankara Church with the Catholic Church became a reality under the leadership of Metropolitan Mar Ivanios. On 21 November 1933, Brother Geevarghese entered the novitiate. He assumed the name Benedict, which means blessed, and on 15 August 1935 he took his temporary religious vows (profession) before Archbishop Mar Ivanios. After his minor seminary studies, he was sent to the papal seminary at Kandy (Sri Lanka) for his priestly studies.
He made his perpetual profession on 24 August 1941. Most Rev. Regno, the Bishop of Candy, ordained him priest on 24 August 1944, and he celebrated his First Holy Qurbono in the Seminary Chapel. After his return in December 1944, Archbishop Mar Ivanios appointed Fr. Benedict to teach Syriac at the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary. He joined St. Joseph’s College, Tiruchirapally, in 1946 for a graduation course in economics and passed the degree with first rank from the University of Madras in 1949. Then he was appointed the first principal of Mar Ivanios College. In 1952, he was elected bishop. He was ordained Remban in the Archbishops House Chapel on 27 December 1952 and made Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum after the name Mar Gregorios. He became the Archbishop in January 1955. He received pallium on 14 May 1959. He dedicated his priestly life to the service not only for the Malankarites or Catholics alone but for human society in general through his ministry. He was the president of Kerala Bishop’s Conference and the Catholic Bishop Conference of India. He travelled extensively across the world. Besides the Education and Agriculture, he showed a keen interest in Labour, Industry, Housing, Social Services, Religious Harmony, Ecumenism, Environment Problem and Media. As an Economist he did a great deal as precept and practice to spread modern ideas from the common people. He implemented a low cost housing scheme for the homeless.
Besides being a spiritual leader, he was an eloquent speaker, a linguist, an educationist and economist. He established many prestigious educational institutions and Mar Gregorios EMHS, Pravachambalam was one among them. He left his ineffaceable marks in the social and religious psyche of India. During times of social calamities and religious instability, he was sought after to reinstate peace and harmony in society. He was a champion of religious harmony. He had proved his expertise in the social, educational, and economic fields of Kerala and was appreciated by all, irrespective of caste, creed, and religion. In a meeting held in 1994 to appreciate and congratulate Mar Gregorios on his sacerdotal golden jubilee, Mr. K. R. Narayanan, the then Vice President of India, complimented that Mar Gregorios is a world citizen and the perfect example of secularism in our country. He had keenly attended all the sessions of the Second Vatican Council extensively, contributing to its richness. He had strongly asserted during the discussions on the Dogmatic Constitution of the Church in the Modern World that the developed countries must help developing countries not merely out of charity but out of justice.
The various projects he initiated for the elevation of the poor produced plentiful fruits, and they were well recognized and appreciated by society. The world has witnessed the presence of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church through Archbishop Mar Gregorios and flourished in strength and vigor during his sovereniety. Forty-one years of service in the Church came to an end on October 10, 1994, and his mortal remains rest adjacent to the tomb of his predecessor and master, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, the Servant of God.
Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius (Patron of the School)
Most Rev. Dr. Thomas was Eusebius was born on 6 June 1961 as the fourth child of Mr. N.T. Varughese and Mrs. Sosamma Varughese of Naickamparambil family at Mylapra in Pathanamthitta District of the eparchy of Pathanamthitta. His home parish is Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra. After completing his schooling from Govt U.P. School Moozhiyar and Sacred Heart High School, Mylapra, he joined St. Aloysious Minor Seminary, Pattom. After completing Pre-Degree from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum, he completed priestly education from Papal Seminary, Pune. On 29 December 1986 he received the order of priesthood from Benedict Mar Gregorios of happy memory and secured the Masters Degree in Philosophy from Jnana Deepa Vidhya Peeth, Pune. In 1988 he returned to Trivandrum and was assigned to teach Philosophy and English at the St. Mary’s Malankara Seminary, Trivandrum. In 1993 Father Thomas was sent to Rome for his doctoral studies. In 1997 He got his doctorate in Philosophy from the Gregorian University, Rome. After returning from Rome, he continued his service at the Malankara Seminary. From 2007 to 2010 he served as the Dean of Philosophy at the Malankara Seminary.
During his long tenure at the Malankara Seminary, he also served as the Vicar of the parishes at Kudassanadu, Poozhikkadu, Pandalam, Kurambala, Puthencavuvila, Thoongampara, Punnavoor, Kattuvila, Bartton Hill, Chenthipur, Kallayam and Kavadithala. He was a visiting professor at the St. Thomas Seminary Vadavathoor, the Vincentian Seminary Bangalore, Carmel Hill Seminary Trivandrum and the Benedictine Seminary Kappadu. He also served as the Secretary of the Synodal Commission for Clergy of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Priests’ Personnel of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum, Member of Major Archdiocesan Council, Bursar of the Sarvodaya Schools, Trivandrum, etc.. The Gregorian University Rome published his doctoral dissertation titled Through Self-Discovery to Self-Transcendence – A Study of Cognitional Self-Appropriation in Bernard Lonergan. He has written many scholarly articles.
On 14 July Pope Benedict XVI established an Apostolic Exarchate for the Syro-Malankara Catholic faithful in USA and Father Thomas Naickamparambil was appointed the first bishop of the Exarchate and Apostolic Visitator to the Syro-Malankara Catholic faithful in Canada and Europe. On 21 September, 2010 he was consecrated a bishop by His Beatitude Baselios Cleemis Catholicos at the St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom and assumed the name Thomas Mar Eusebius. On 3 October, 2010 he was installed as the first bishop of the Exarchate at the Kellenberg High School, New York. He was appointed the Bishop of the Exarchate of Malankara Catholic Church in USA and the Apostolic Visitator to Canada and Europe on 14 July 2010. On 4 January 2016, Pope Francis raised the Exarchate to the status of an Eparchy by name, St. Mary Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada and appointed Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius as the first bishop of the Eparchy. On 23 January 2016 the new Eparchy was officially inaugurated and His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Eusebius was installed as the first Bishop of the Eparchy at the St. Vincent de Paul Malankara Catholic Cathedral, New York.
On 4 August 2017 the Eparchy of Parassala was established bifurcating the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum and His Excellency Thomas Mar Eusebius was appointed the first bishop of the Eparchy. The official inauguration of the Eparchy and the installation of Mar Eusebius was held on 23 September 2017. His Excellency’s heavenly patron is St. Eusebius of Caeserea whose feast is celebrated on May 30.
