Geevarghese Divannasios Ottathengil
H.E Most Rev. Dr.Geevarghese Mar Divannasios Ottathengil was the Bishop of Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Puthur since in 2010. His feast day falls on 29 November. On January 24, 2017, His Grace submitted his resignation from office due to health.[1] The Holy Synod had accepted his resignation and appointed Rev Fr. George Kalayil, the vicar general, as interim administrator of the Eparchy.
Biography
Rev. Dr.Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the first bishop of the Eparchy of Puttur, was born on 1 November 1950 in the ancient Syrian Christian family of Ottathengil to N.S Varghese and Mariamma Varghese at Thalavady near Thiruvalla in Central Travancore. In 1956, his family migrated to South Canara in Karnataka. They stayed at several places in the district of South Canara and finally settled at Ichilampady, a small beautiful village in the district. In 1962 his family embraced catholic faith.
After finishing school he started his seminary formation in 1966 at Infant Mary Minor Seminary in the Eparchy of Tiruvalla. In 1970 he was sent to St. Paul’s Seminary at Trichy for Philosophical and Theological studies. During his seminary formation he spent time learning Karnatic music. Having completed his priestly formation he was ordained a priest on 20 April 1978 by Benedict Mar Gregorios.
After his ordination, Varghese Ottathengil was appointed assistant vicar of five parish stations at Nilambur. Later he was the vicar of four parishes at Narangathode, Onjil, Mycavu and Manalvayal. In 1980 he was sent to Rome for higher studies. He completed his Ph D in spiritual theology. After his doctoral studies, he returned to Bathery in 1987 and was appointed vicar of Palanthadom parish in the district of Kasargod. In the same year he took charge as the Rector of the minor seminary in the Eparchy of Bathery, and also served as the vicar of the cathedral parish.
He was appointed the Rector of the Major Seminary of the Malankara Catholic Church in May 1990, which was in its early stages. The seminary developed further during his seven-year tenure as rector. In 1996 the seminary hosted the CBCI General Body Meeting.
On 18 December 1996 Pope John Paul II appointed Varghese Ottathengil as the Bishop of Bathery, after Cyril Mar Baselios. He was consecrated a bishop on 5 February 1996 at Bathery by Cyril Mar Baselios. He received the name Geevarghese Mar Divannasios. His sacerdotal Silver Jubilee was celebrated in 2003. He was the Administrator of the Malankara Catholic Church during the short period after the demise of Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos.
On 25 January 2010, as per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and having consulted the Apostolic See of Rome, His Excellency Most Rev. Dr.Geevarghese Mar Divannasios from the Eparchy of Bathery and appointed him the first Bishop of the newly erected Eparchy of Puttur.