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The Metropolitan, Vattasseril
Geevarghese Mar Dionysius was the beacon of Malankara Church. He had
held up freedom as his birthright. His life story enrolls before us
the saga of his sacrifices and long-standing devotion to
Christianity. He has achieved immortality through the establishment
of the Catholicos.
Geevarghese was born on 1858 October 31st in the Vattasseril family
in Pauvathikunnel, Mallappally as the son of Joseph and Aleyamma. He
learnt the basic lessons from Kottuvalanji Chacko Asan. After
completing his studies at the C.M.S. High School, Kottayam, he
joined the Vettical Dayara. He had been impressed by the magnetic
personality and enlightening speech of Parumala Thirumeni.
Geevarghese achieved proficiency in Syriac and Church history. He
became Dean in 1879 and Priest in January 18th, 1880. He received
the title of Ramban on 2nd November 1903 from Pulikkottil Joseph Mar
Dionysius Metropolitan. Vattasseril Thirumeni performed mentions
service to the church as the Malpan of the Old Seminary, as the
principles of M.D .Seminary and as the Manager of Parumala Seminary.
His monumental work “Mathopadesa Sarangal” (The Essence of
Religious Advice) is the collection of the brief notes that he had
prepared for teaching his students at these seminaries. It is an
authoritative work in which the faith and customs of the Malankara
Church are explained on the basis of the Bible. It is a very clear
proof the Metropolitan mastery of the Syriac. Church history and
Canonical ideas. The intensity of faith that the Metropolitan had
intended from his Guru and had purified through meditation always
stood in good stead. In moments of crisis this deep faith in the
Almighty defended the church. He had also written the work, ‘The
Suriani Text Book”.
The Vattasseril Ramban was
ordained as Metropolitan on 3rd May 1908 at Jerusalem. On his return
to Kerala he engaged himself in Church affairs and acted as the
assistant of Joseph Mar Dionysius. On His demise Vattasseril became
the Metropolitan of the Malankara Sabha in 1909.
1910 was a problematic year in the history of the Malankara Church.
Vattasseril was isolated in the midst of the other Metropolitans who
were willing to abandon their faith for the sake of power. He did
not fall a prey to the persuasions of the Patriarch Abdulla but
stood firmly for the freedom of the church. In 1911 the Patriarch
tried to silence the Vattasseril Thirumeni by suspending him. But
the church could not accept the suspensions as it was not canonical.
In 1912 Ahathulla Bava came here from Antioch and removed the
suspension. With this Catholicos came into effect in Malankara. This
was the golden dawn of freedom for the true believers of this
country. Till then they had been disturbed by the indolence of
native church officials and the implementation of power by
foreigners.
Many Movements have taken shape from the foresight of Vattasseril
Thirumeni. The Students Movement and the Vanitha Samajam are
examples of this. Through the
Students Movement he encouraged the personality development of
students which would enable them to take up responsibilities in
life. He could mould the character and workmanship of young men and
women. He advised them to retain this principles and philosophy of
life at all odds. The aim of the Vanitha Samajam was to bring women
from the backyards of then homes to the mainstream of society.
The Metropolitan reminded the people that woman in the centre of the
family. Every family can attain education and purity mainly through
women. He tried to uplift the backward classes through the
activities of the ‘Sleeba Dasa Samooham”.
Another great achievement of the Thirumeni was the conversion of the
system of worship into Malayalam.
Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius was the modern Mosses who
could lead the church forward in the changing times. He passed away
on 23 February 1934.
The Metropolitan was entombed in the Old Seminary Chapel at
Kottayam.
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