Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Osthathios passes away

Geevarghese Mar Osthathios MTV Photo

KOTTAYAM (KERALA, INDIA): Dr Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, senior Archbishop of Orthodox Church of the East (Indian Orthodox Syrian Church), passed away at St Gregorios Mission Hospital, Parumala, in Pathanamthitta on Thursday February 16, 2012.
Mar Osthathios was the metropolitan of the Niranam diocese from 1975 to 2007. He was a renowned theologian, orator and writer. He was born on December 9, 1918, to Kochitty and Mariamma Kochitty of Munduvelil family in Mavelikkara. He graduated from Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, and took MA from Drew University in the US. He also studied in Union Seminary, Bangalore.
Mar Osthathios got the order of Korooyo (sub-deacon) from Metropolitan Augen Mar Timotheos on August 9, 1947. He received priesthood on May 10, 1956. He was nominated to the post of Metropolitan by the Malankara Syrian Christian 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 His Holiness Baselios Augen I, Catholicos of the East on 16 February 1975 at Niranam Valiya Palli. He was appointed a Metropolitan of the Niranam Diocese on April 1, 1975. When H.E. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostomos Metropolitan took over the charge as the Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese on 3 January 2007 His Eminence was declared as the Senior Metropolitan of the Diocese.
He was a member of Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and Senior faculty of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. He has served as president of the Mission Board of the Indian Orthodox Church and the director of St Paul’s Mission Training Centre, Mavelikkara.

He founded several charitable programmes, mission centres and institutions, including Marriage Assistance Foundation, Sick Aid Foundation, Save A Heart Foundation, House Building Aid Fund, Mission Training Centre, MGD Ashram Balabhavan Karunagiri, St Pauls Ashram Puthuppady, Harippad Mission Centre, Yacharam St Gregorios Balagram, among others.