Geevarghese Mar Dionysius
"Malankara Sabha Bhasuran"
The Great Luminary of Malankara Orthodox Church

Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius is popularly known as "Malankara Sabha Bhasuran" (The Great Luminary of Malankara Orthodox Church) which our Church has bestowed on him in recognition of his rich contribution to Malankara Orthodox Church. Vattasseril Thirumeni was a man of prayer, determination and dynamism. He was a saint who never stooped before falsehood. He bravely fought for the establishment of Catholicate to be the symbol of self-identity and independence of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The unique and historic contribution of Mar Dionysius is the establishment of Catholicate in Malankara in 1912 at Kottayam. He can be called as the architect of the Indian Orthodox Church and thus endeared himself as one of the greatest fathers of the Indian Orthodox Church.

Vattaseril Geevarghese Mar Divanasios was born at Mallappally Pauvothinkal family on 31st October 1858. His father was Vattaseril Joseph Joseph and mother Aleyamma. He had completed his preliminary education at Mallappally and High School education at C.M.S.High School, Kottayam.He was trained under Parumala Mar Gregorios Metropolitan initially at Vettikal Dayara and then to Parumala Seminary. . He entered the service of the Church at an early age.

He accepted Deacon from Mar Gregorios of Parumala on 16th October 1879 and became priest on 18th January 1880.He had posted to Parumala Seminary as a teacher to train Deacons. He had served as Principal of M.D.Seminary and Malpan of Old Seminary.

Pulikkotil Joseph Mar Divanasios Metropolitan gave him Rumban position on 2nd November 1903. He was consecrated as Metropolitan in 1908 and became Geevarghese Mar Divanasios by Abdulla Patriarch on 31st May 1908 at Jerusalem. He had taken position as Malankara Metropolitan on 12th July 1909 after the death of Pulikkotil Mar Divanasios. He was acting as assistant to Pulikkotil Joseph Mar Divanasios from 14th Feb.1908. The greatest achievement of the new Malankara Metropolitan, who was under great pressure from both the colonial powers and the Patriarch of Antioch, was the reinstallation of the Catholicate in Malankara in 1912

He was the founder of spiritual organizations like Student Movement, Women's Organization, and Society of the Cross. The "Faith of the Church "(Mathopadesam) released by him is still valuable for Malankara Church.

He is known as "The Elite of Malankara Church" (Malankara Sabha Bhasuran) because of his active participation to the stability of the throne of Catholicos. He was Metropolitan of Malankara Church from 1909 to 1934.He entered the eternal life on 23rd February 1934, and the body was buried at Old Seminary, Kottayam. February 23rd is celebrated as his memorial day.

In a most holy and joyous atmosphere, the Holy Catholicos Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, supreme head of the Church,beatified Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Divannios in the presence of a big gathering of heads of Churches, priests and devotees, the Holy Catholicos declared Vattasseril Geevarghese as the blessed on his 69th Remembrance Day on 24th February 2003. The four-hour long ceremonies, was led by the Catholicos of the East, Baselius Marthoma Mathews II. The ceremonies commenced with the Holy Qurbana at the chapel of the Old Seminary in Kottayam, where the mortal remains of the saint are interred. Thomas Mar Makarios, Philipose Mar Eusebius and a host of other Metropolitans and priests participated in the ceremonies.

The role played by Mar Dyonisius in ensuring the independence of the indigenous Church would be remembered by all in the coming days. He was totally committed to the Church and his reign would be recorded as the golden age of the Malankara Church, Mar Powathil said. He said the unity of the Church would depend on the will of God.