Benedict Gregorios
| Aboon Benedict Mar Gregorios | |
|---|---|
| Archbishop of Trivandrum | |
 | |
| Native name | ബെനെഡിക്ട് മാർ ഗ്രീഗോറിയോസ് |
| Church | Syro-Malankara Catholic Church |
| See | Trivandrum, India |
| Appointed | 27 January 1955 |
| Term ended | 10 October 1994 |
| Predecessor | Geevarghese Mar Ivanios |
| Successor | Cyril Baselios Catholicos |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 24 August 1940 |
| Consecration |
29 January 1953 by Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Varghese Thangalathil |
| Born |
1 February 1916 Kalloopara, Pathanamthitta, Kerala |
| Died |
10 October 1994 (aged 78) Trivandrum, Kerala |
| Previous post | St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum |
Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios (1 February 1916 – 10 October 1994) (Malayalam: ബെനെഡിക്ട് മാർ ഗ്രീഗോറിയോസ്) was the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.[1]
Life
Mar Gregorios or "Thangalathil Thirumeni" was born and raised in the Malankara Jacobite Church. He was baptised by the name Varghese. As a teenage boy Varghese came closer to the ideal of Bethany Ashram. He was attracted by the personality of Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios and later became a member of Bethany Ashram and adopted the name Benedict. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was ordained a religious priest of Bethany Ashram by Archbishop Mar Ivanios in 1944. As a dynamic young priest he taught Syriac for some time in St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum. He was sent for higher studies in Economics to St. Joseph's College, Trichy (1946–1949). He became the first principal of Mar Ivanios College.
He was appointed Bishop in 1952 and consecrated in January 1953. He received the name Benedict Mar Gregorios. After the demise of Archbishop Mar Ivanios he became the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 1955. Large number of parish communities were formed in Syro-Malankara Catholic Church during this period. Archbishop Mar Gregorios paved the way to establish Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum and Mar Gregorios College of Arts and Science, Chennai. After 41 years of Episcopal ministry Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios died on 10 October 1994. His body was entombed in St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum.
St. John's College, Anchal, a first grade arts and science college in Kollam district was established by Gregorios. St. John's College Anchal became the nerve centre of the total development of a remote rural village into a fast developing township.
References
- ↑ "Archbishop Benedict Varghese Gregorios Thangalathil". Catholic Diocese of Bathery. Retrieved 15 February 2013.
Sources
Fr. Thomas Inchaykkalodi, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, Vol. 1, Bethany Publications, Kottayam, 2006.
External links
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Wikimedia Commons has media related to Benedict Gregorios. |
- "Syro-Malankara Catholic Church – homepage"
- Syro-Malankara Catholic Church – alternative site built by Malankarites
- Malankara Catholic Church UK
| Catholic Church titles | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Geevarghese Mar Ivanios |
Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum 1955–1994 |
Succeeded by Cyril Baselios Catholicos as Major Archbishop of Trivandrum |