Thomas Mar Athanasius-Chengannur

His Grace
Thomas Mar Athanasius
Metropolitan of Chengannur Orthodox Diocese

Thomas Mar Athanasius
Malankara Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese
Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Orders
Ordination 15 May 1985
Personal details
Born 3 April 1938
Puthencavu, Travancore
Nationality Indian
Residence Bethel Aramana, Chengannur
Parents K.T. Thomas and Aleyamma Thomas

Thomas Mar Athanasius was consecrated as a bishop of the Malanakara Orthodox Syrian Church on 15 May 1985 by Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. Four other Bishops,Mathews Mar Epiphanios(Kollam Diocese), Philppose Mar Eusabius(Thumpamon Diocese),Geevarghese Mar Ivanios(Kottayam Diocese) and Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II were also ordained.

On 1 August 1985 Athanasius became the first Metropolitan of the then newly formed Chengannur Orthodox Diocese.[1]

Athanasius was born to Mr. K.T.Thomas and Mrs. Aleyamma Thomas on the 3rd of April, 1938 in Kizhakkethalackal family at Puthencavu, Chengannur, Alappuzha Dist. He was the grandson of Kizhakkethalackal Thoma Kathanar and the nephew of Geevarghese Mar Philoxinos (Puthencavil Kochuthirumeni). Athanasius is 42nd in the priestly generation and the 5th bishop in the Vadakkethalackal family. The other bishops in the family are Simon Mar Dionysios, Yuakim Mar Ivanios, Abraham Marthoma and Geevarghese Mar Philoxinos.

HAthanasius had his elementary education at Puthencavu and Alappuzha and High School education at Metropolitan High School, Puthencavu and M.T.Seminary High School, Kottayam. After completing Intermediate Course from CMS College, Kottayam, he graduated with Physics as major from S.B.College, Changanacherry and did B.Ed. from N.S.S. College, Changanacherry. He completed B.D. from the prestigious Serampore College, Calcutta and later took Master in Education from M.S. University of Baroda.

Hundreds of Athanasius's "children" are doctors, engineers, teachers, architects, researchers and varied professionals.

He organised congregations in western India such as Andheri and Bandra in Maharashtra; Udaipur in Rajasthan; Vapi, Balsar, Surat, Baruch, Anand, Bhavnagar, Mehsana, Rajkot, Porbandar and Veravel in Gujarat. He is the founder Principal of Basil School, Baroda, and founded 6 other schools in Gujarat. These six schools including The Gujarat Refinery English Medium School are under The Trust of the Society of St. Basil; the founder of the Society of St. Basil was the late Geevarghese Mar Philoxinos of Puthencavu.

Besides being the Metropolitan of the Diocese of Chengannur, Athanasius served The Malankara Sabha in various capacities; such as the Secretary of The Holy Episcopal Synod, the Manager of the Catholicate and M.D. Schools, the President of Akhila Malankara Balasamajam, the President of Akhila Malankara Prarthana Yogam and the President of the Church Accounts Committee and the President of the Church Finance Committee. Currently, he is the president of “Divyasandesam” - Visual Media Communications, the President of Malankara Orthodox Church Publications and the President of Akhila Malankara Orthodox Gayaka Sangham.

References

  1. ↑ The Hindu Friday, Mar 25, 2005

External links