Baselios Geevarghese I

Baselios Geevarghese I

The Beselios Geevarghese I of the East, popularly known as Vallikkattu Bava, was the second Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India. He was installed in the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas in 1925, and died after a short tenure of three years on December 17th 1928. Bava was revered as a saint by orthodox believers and the tomb in which his mortal remains are interred attracts pilgrims from all over Malankara.

Early life

Bava was born in the ancient orthodox Vallikkattu Karuchira family in Vakathanam, Kottayam district on January 11 1870. After basic education at his native place, Vakathanam, at Kottayam he mastered in Syriac, the liturgical language of the church. He opted to become a "sanyasi" priest and at a very young age of sixteen he was ordained as a deacon. The bishop Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasius (Aluva) was his spiritual teacher with whom he spent years as secretary. He was ordained as a priest and remban by Kadavil Mar Athanasius in ME 1072.

After the demise of his teacher, he moved from Aluva to Vallikkattu dayara at Vakathanam, where he spent the rest of his life. He was elevated to bishophood at the age of 44 at the historical Niranom church in 1913. He was ordained jointly by the (deposed)Patriarch of Antioch Abded Messiah and the Catholicos Baseliose Paulose I. The new bishop assumed the name Geevarghese Mar Phelexinose and was given charges of Kottayam and Angamaly dioceses.

As Catholicos

In the year 1925 he was elevated to the supreme ecclesiastical position in Malankara Orthodox Church. He was ordained the Catholicos of the East and assumed the title, Baselios Geevarghese I. Following an operation for appendicitis, he died on 17th December 1928.

Work and Reputation

Vallikkattu Bava was considered a saint even during his lifetime. His life style was noted for simplicity, austerity, and punctuality. Bava used to keep a personal diary, which has become an authentic source of history of his times. Bava translated parts of gospels, and many liturgical works from Syriac to Malayalam. Publication of the first Sabha Panchangam (calendar) goes to his credit. He had evinced a keen interest in church architecture and many churches and buildings built during his times bear testimonies to his architectural skills. An account of his sea trip to Ceylon as a part of a church delegation is considered a beautiful piece of Malayalam travelogues written at that time.

Death

His mortal remains are interred in the tomb at Vallikkattu dayara, where he spent most of his life. The dayara was renovated in 1982 by the then Baselios Marthoma Mathews I and has emerged as one of the very important spiritual and pilgrimage centres of the Malankara Church. He was succeeded by Baselios Geevarghese II


Wikimedia Foundation. 2010.

Игры ⚽ Поможем сделать НИР

Look at other dictionaries:

  • Baselios Geevarghese II — The Third Catholicos of Malankara and Malankara Metropolitan His Holiness Baselius Geevarghese II of the Indian Orthodox Church (1874 1964), was born to Ulah anan and Naithi of the Kallaserri family in Kurichi, Kottayam India on 16 June 1874. On… …   Wikipedia

  • Baselios Paulose I — His Holiness Baselios Paulose I (Catholicos of the East) Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Diocese Kandanad Enthroned 1912 Reign ended 1914 …   Wikipedia

  • Baselios Augen I — His Holiness Baselios Augen I (Catholicos of the East) Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Enthroned 1964 Reign ended 1975 Successor Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I …   Wikipedia

  • Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II — His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II (January 30, 1915 January 26, 2006) was the Supreme head of Indian Orthodox Church, which is also known as Malankara Orthodox Church. He was the 89th successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St …   Wikipedia

  • Geevarghese Mar Ivanios — 1st Metropolitan Archbishop of Syro Malankara Catholic Church Church Syro Malankara Catholic Church See Trivandrum, India In Office 1930–1953 Predecessor …   Wikipedia

  • Geevarghese Timotheos Chundevalel — (* 2. Februar 1928 in Amayannoor) ist Altbischof von Tiruvalla. Leben Geevarghese Timotheos Chundevalel empfing am 24. August 1953 die Priesterweihe und wurde in den Klerus des Eparchie Tiruvalla inkardiniert. Johannes Paul II. ernannte ihn am 30 …   Deutsch Wikipedia

  • Baselios Paulose II — This article is about Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church from 1975 to 2002. For the incumbent Catholicos of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (2010 present), see Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II. Aboun More… …   Wikipedia

  • Geevarghese Mar Divannasios — infobox bishopbiog name = Aboon Geevarghese Mar Divannasios Catholic See =Syro Malankara Catholic Church Diocese of Bathery| Title =Bishop of Bathery Period =1996 Present| Predecessor = Moran Mor Cyril Mar Baselios Successor = Incumbent post =… …   Wikipedia

  • Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I — His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I (27 March 1907 8 November 1996) was the Supreme head of the Indian Orthodox Church, which is also known as Malankara Orthodox Church. He was the 88th successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St …   Wikipedia

  • Baselios Thoma Didymos I — His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymus I Catholicos of The East and Malankara Metropolitan Catholicos of the East Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didymus I …   Wikipedia

Share the article and excerpts

Direct link
Do a right-click on the link above
and select “Copy Link”