1925 -1928

Catholicose of Malankara

His Holiness Baselius Geevarghese I was born in 1870 as the second son of Karuchira Paulose. He was ordained as 'Koruya' on 13 June 1885, as deacon in 1892, on 16 August 1896 as priest and on 23 August as Ramban by Metropolitan Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasios. He served as Manager in Thrikunnath Seminary, Aluva from 1908 to 1910.

On February 1913, he was consecrated as Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Philexinos. He was the Metropolitan of Kottayam and Angamaly diocese. He made Vallikattu Dayara his administrative headquarters.

Following the demise of the first Catholicos, a successor was not immediately installed. This delay was due to many circumstantial reasons. Litigations were going on, there was also a thinking that the Patriarch Party need not be provoked too soon again. Besides there were apprehensions as to the repercussions if a Catholicos is installed without the presence of the Patriarch. This tense situation was resolutely faced by Vatasseril Mar Dionysius.  Through this daring act, he proclaimed the independence or individuality and autocephalous status of the Malankara Church. On 30 April 1925 at Niranam, the Holy Synod installed him as the Catholicos of the East. Through prayer and fasting he achieved spiritual strength, which helped him to guide the Malankara Church into green pastures. He passed away on 17 December 1928 at Neyyoor Hospital. He was laid to rest on the northern side of Vallikattu Dayara. His death anniversary is on 17th December.

On 30th April 1925, the Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese, Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos was elevated as Catholicos at the Niranam Church. The following day the new Catholicos consecrated Fr. P.T. Geevarghese as bishop Mar Ivanios at Niranam Church.

Catholicos Geevarghese I passed away following a surgery on 17th December 1928 and was interred at Vallikattu Dayara Vakathanam, near Kottayam.

 

 

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