Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Ivanios of Indian Orthodox Church passes away

By Express News Service

KOTTAYAM, April 13, 2013: Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, 72, Metropolitan of the Kottayam Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the beloved Mar Ivanios Thirumeni for many of the Orthodox faithful, passed away owing to age-related ailments. Mar Ivanios, who was under treatment for renal problems at a private hospital here, breathed his last around 7.30 am on Friday.

The mortal remains will be laid to rest at Mar Baselios Dayara at Njaliyakuzhi near Kottayam, a monastery which was founded by him in order to spread the radiance of Orthodox spirituality and monasticism. The funeral services will begin at 1 pm on Saturday. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church supremo Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II and Baselios Marthoma Didymos I will lead the funeral proceedings. The mortal remains which was brought to Pampady Dayara in the morning for the faithful to pay homage was taken to the Mar Baselios Dayara at Njaliyakuzhi, in the evening in a procession. Mar Ivanios used to reach here for meditation till his death.

Geevarghese Mar Ivanios was born on November 14, 1940, at the Keeyath family, Othara, Tiruvalla, as the son of George and Annamma. After his schooling, he did his BSc from Fathima Matha College, Kollam. Further to that he took his post-graduation in Hebrew and Syriac from Mansfield College, England. He also took a Masters in Theology from Oxford University. Meanwhile, he learnt Sanskrit and Latin.

He was ordained a deacon in 1963 and a priest in 1973 by Mathews Mar Kurilos. There upon, he worked as the vicar of Karappuzha Chapel. In 1979, Marthoma Mathews I ordained him to the rank of a Ramban. Geevarghese Ramban was elected a bishop on December 28, 1982, convened at MGM High School Tiruvalla. He was later consecrated as Mar Ivanios Episcopa on May 15, 1985, at St Mary’s Orthodox Church, Puthiyakavu, Mavelikkara. Since then, he was serving the Kottayam Diocese as Bishop. He was elevated a metropolitan in 1991.

From 1971 onwards, he had been teaching at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, and has authored books, ‘Hridaya Sudhikaranam,’ ‘Nirlepam,’ and ‘Mounathinte Lavanyam.’

He was diagnosed with cancer in 1978 and admitted to Adayar Cancer Institute, Chennai. However, he survived the disease and worked hard for sick and sufferers.

K G Itty (Retired manager, Punalur Paper Mills), the late Captain K G Thomas, K G Jacob (Abu Dhabi), K G Abraham (Doha) and Mary Jose Kurien (Kottayam) are his siblings.

The New Indian Express