Friday, June 29, 2012

SG .Geevarghese Mar Ivanios


First Metropolitan Archbishop Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
& Father of re-union movement
Born
September 21, 1882, Mavelikkara
Died
July 15, 1953
Servant of GOD
14 July, 2007
Founder of
Bethany Ashram

Mar Ivanios, the First Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.He was, the Father of re-union movement, the founder of Bethany Ashram and decalred as Servant of God on 14th  July, 2007, by Major Archbishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos .

Mar Ivanios was born on September 21, 1882, to Thoma and Annamma Panicker of the Puthicavu parish in Mavelikkara. He was born on the Feast of the Nativity of Mother Mary according to the Julian calendar, and was baptized a short time later with the name George or Geevarghese. He was sent to Madras Christian College where he would receive his Master’s Degree in History and Economics. He was the first among the Jacobite clergy to receive a Master’s degree. Geevarghese Semmashen was ordained as priest On August 28, 1908.
Seven years, from 1912 – 1919,  he was a professor at Serampore. On May 1, 1925, Geevarghese Achen was ordained Bishop of Bethany; he took the name Ivanios after the Apostle John, the patron saint of Bethany. In 1926, with the full approval and complete support of the Synod of Bishops, Mar Ivanios began communicating with Rome regarding reunion. After four painstaking years, Rome was ready for reunion.

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