Philipose Mar Chrysostom

Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan born Philip Oommen has been a bishop for 63 years, 6 months and 14 days, which makes him the longest-serving bishop in India. He is addressed and referred to as Chrysostom Thirumeni or Valiya Thirumeni.

Early life and education

Philipose's father was Vicar General K. E. Oommen, Kalamannil, Adangapurathu, Kumbanad. His mother was Sosamma of Nadukke Veettil, Karthikappally.^[1] He did his schooling at Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor schools, and went on to graduate from Union Christian College, Aluva.

He was ordained as a deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on 1 January 1944 and Kasseessa on 3 June 1944. He was ordained as Ramban on 20 May 1953.

Consecration

In 1950, the Church Mandalam (representative assembly) consecrated three more bishops; Oommen was one of those selected. During his bishopship, he was the president of the National Council of Churches, India and has attended World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and Uppsala in 1968. He also attended the Second Vatican Council.

Status metropolitan

Episcopa

On 23 May 1953, Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius Episcopa ordained Rev Philip Oommen as Episcopa and gave him the episcopal title, Philipose Mar Chrysostom. Rev M.G.Chandy (Alexander Mar Theophilus later Alexander Mar Thoma ) and Rev P.Thomas (Thomas Mar Athanasius) were also ordained on the same day.

In 1954, Mar Chrysostom joined St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, the United Kingdom to further his theological studies.

Suffragan Metropolitan

He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978. After Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan stepped aside from the daily administration of the Church due to physical ailments on 15 March 1999, Mar Chrysostom was designated Officiating Metropolitan.

Metropolitan

Mar Chrysostom was installed as Metropolitan on 23 October 1999 when Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan was made Valiya Metropolitan. (Senior Metropolitan)

Valiya (Senior) Metropolitan

On 28 August 2007, Thirumeni announced his resignation as supreme head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on grounds of old age and ill-health^[2]

Navathy Home Project

Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan completed 90 years on 27 April 2008. As part of the celebration Mar Thoma Church devised a project, Navathy Home Project, to support and enable 1500 families in India, irrespective of cast, creed or religion, to build a home of their own. (Malayalam – navathy – ninetieth anniversary). The cost of each home was Rs. 1,50,000. (US$2400). Each house consisted of a sit out, a drawing room, a bedroom, a kitchen, a dining room and a toilet. Mar Thoma Church members donated so much that the project was a great success, that it extended from India up to Mexico.

Filmography

100 years of Chrysostom is an upcoming Indian Malayalam biographical documentary film about Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan. Directed, produced and written by Blessy.^[3]

See also

• Mar Thoma Church
• Throne of St. Thomas
• Syrian Malabar Nasrani
• Saint Thomas Christians
• Christianity in India
• List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis
• Juhanon Mar Thoma
• Alexander Mar Thoma
• Joseph Mar Thoma

References

Further reading

• Eapen, K. V. (2001). Malankara Marthoma Suryani Sabha Charitram. (History of Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church). Pub: Kallettu, Muttambalam, Kottayam.
• Mathew, N. M. Malankara Marthoma Sabha Charitram, (History of the Marthoma Church), Volume 1 (2006), Volume II (2007), Volume III (2008). Pub. E.J.Institute, Thiruvalla.
• Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church. His Grace the Most Rev Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom, 2006.
• Zac Varghese & Mathew A. Kallumpram. Glimpses of Mar Thoma Church History. London, England, 2003. ISBN 81-900854-4-1.
• George C. Abraham. A Golden Tongue to Glorify his Master- Wit and Wisdom of Mar Chrysostom, Dawn India Books, Thiruvalla, India, 2002.

External links

• Official website of the Mathoma Syrian Church