Geevarghese Mar Osthathios

Geevarghese Mar Osthathios (9 December 1918 – 16 February 2012) was a senior bishop of the Indian Orthodox Church.^[1] He was the metropolitan of the Niranam diocese in 1975–2007. He was a theologian, orator and writer. ^[2]

Childhood and Education

He was born on 9 December 1918 to Kochitty and Mariamma Kochitty of Munduvelil family in Mavelikara. He obtained his B.D from Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, M.A from Drew University in America and his S.T.M from Union Seminary, Bangalore.

Priesthood

He received the order of Korooyo (reader) from Metropolitan Augen Mar Timotheos on 9 August 1947 and his priesthood from Baselios Geevarghese II, Catholicos on 10 May 1956. He was nominated to the post of Metropolitan by the Malankara Association which met at Niranam on 2 October 1974. Metropolitan Daniel Mar Philexinos ordained him as a Ramban at St. Mary's Cathedral Puthencavu. He was consecrated as a bishop by Baselios Augen I, Catholicos of the East on 16 February 1975 at Niranam Valiya Palli. He was appointed as the Metropolitan of the Niranam Diocese on 1 April 1975.

Other positions

He was the member of Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. He was a faculty member of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, President of the Mission Board of the Indian Orthodox Church and the Director of St. Paul's Mission Training Centre, Mavelikara. He is the founder of a good number of charitable programmes, mission centers and institutions which include Marriage Assistance Foundation, Sick Aid Foundation, Save A Heart Foundation, House Building Aid Fund, Mission Training Centre, M.G.D Ashram Balabhavan Karunagiri, St. Paul's Asram Puthuppady, Haripad Mission Centre, Yacharam St.Gregorios Balagram, Bethanya Bhavan, St.George Balikagram Pune, etc.

Publications

1. Theology of a Classless Society ISBN 978-0-7188-2415-0
2. Sharing God and a sharing world ISBN 81-7214-253-6
3. The sin of being rich in a poor world: Holy Trinity and social justice

References