Former Auxiliary Bishops of Trivandrum

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His Excellency Benedict Mar Gregorios

(1953-54)

His Excellency Benedict Mar Gregorios (1953-1954):

He was baptised by the name Varghese. As a teenage boy Varghese came closer to the ideal of Bethany Ashram. He was attracted by the personality of Mar Ivanios and later became a member of Bethany Ashram and adopted the name Benedict. He studied Philosophy and Theology at Papel Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was ordained a religious priest of Bethant Ashram by then Bishop of Kandy H.E Bernad Reinjo O.C.B in 1944. As a dynamic young priest he taught Syriac for some time in St. Aloysius Seminary in Trivandrum. He was sent for higher studies in Economics to St. Joseph's College, Trichy (1946–1949). He became the first principal of Mar Ivanios College. Rev. Fr. Benedict Thangalathil OIC of the Congregation of the Order of the Imitation of Christ was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum by His Holiness Pope Pius XII. His Grace Archbishop Mar Ivanios consecrated…

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His Excellency Lawrence Mar Ephraem

(1980-1997)

His Excellency Lawrence Mar Ephraem (1980-1997):

Rev. Fr. Lawrence J. Thottam was born on 15 May 1928 an ancient family of Kakathottam at Vellelumbu, Nellikkakuzhy in the Neyyattinkara Taluk as the eldest son of Justus and Victoria.  In the initial days of the Reunion Movement, his parents joined the Malankara Catholic Church.

           He had his elementary education in an English Medium School at Kanjiramukalam.  He had a special relationship with Fr. Pothanamoozhy (later Bishop Pothanamoozhy) who was Secretary to the Archbishop Mar Ivanios and the Rector of the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary.  He joined the St. Mary’s  School Pattom and successfully completed the tenth standard in 1944. Later he started his studies in St. Aloysius Minor Seminary. He was sent to St. Joseph’s Inter-diocesan Seminary, Mangalore in 1946.  He was ordained priest by Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios on 14 May 1953.…

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His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignathios

(1998-2006)

His Excellency Joshua Mar Ignathios (1998-2006):

He joined St. Aloysius Seminary in Trivandrum in 1967, and completed his pre-degree at Mar Ivanils College Trivandrum. He had his philosophy and theology training at St. Joseph's Seminary, Tiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu, from 1970–78. He was ordained as a priest on 2 April 1978 by the Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios. He served in the parishes at Kirathoor, Manjathoppu, Vimalapuram, add Susaipuram from 1978 to 1983. He graduated from Christian College, Marthandom, Tamil Nadu, and secured his master's degree from Madurai, Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu, in 1984. He took Bachelor's and master's degrees in Education from Kamaraj University, Madurai in 1985 and 1987 respectively. Rev. Fr. Koshy Kizhakkethil, a priest of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum by His Holiness Pope John Paul II. His Grace Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios consecrated him on 29 June 1998 in the name Joshua Mar Ignathios.

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His Excellency Isaac Mar Cleemis

( 2001-2003)

His Excellency Isaac Mar Cleemis (2001-2003):

His Excellency Isaac Mar Cleemis was born on 15 June 1959 as the son of the Mathew and Annamma Thottunkal at Mukkoor, Mallappally in the civil district of Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India. He was given the name Isaac. He hails from the traditional Pakalomattom-Powathikunnel family. He completed his primary education in St. Mary’s Govt. UP School, Kunnanthanam and secondary education in St. Mary’s High School, Annikad. Responding to the urge of God within him to surrender his life to the service of his Church and of the larger human community, he joined the Infant Jesus Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla in June, 1976. Bro. Isaac completed his Pre-degree studies in St. Berchman’s College, Changanacherry. Then he was sent to St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva for the philosophical studies..

In 1978, the Eparchy of Bathery was erected bifurcating the Eparchy of…

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His Excellency Joseph Mar Thomas

(2005-2010)

His Excellency Joseph Mar Thomas (2005-2010):

Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thomas,  was born in the small village of Vadaserikkara, presently in the district of Pathanamthitta, on 20th April 1952 to Late Mr. K.C. Thomas and Sosamma Thomas. He had his primary education in the Govt. L.P. School, Vadasserikkara and completed his schooling at Vadasserikkara High School. He then joined the St. Aloysius Seminary in June 1968. He did his Pre-degree choosing Economics, History and Political Science as his optional subjects from Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. Thereafter, he joined the Pontifical Seminary, Alwaye for completing the Bachelors degree in Theology (B.Th). Later as part of his priestly studies he did his Bachelor of Philosophy (B.Ph)  at Carmelgiri Seminary, Alwaye. He was ordained as Priest by His Grace Dr. Benedict Mar Gregorios the late Archbishop of Trivandrum, on 23rd December 1978 at St. Antony’s Church, his home Parish at Vadaserikkara. After his ordination Rev. Fr Joseph…

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His Excellency Samuel Mar Irenios

(2010-2018)

His Excellency Samuel Mar Irenios (2010-2018):

His Excellency Samuel Mar Ireniosborn on 13 May 1952 hails from Kadamminitta in Pathanamthitta District of Kerala, India in the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum.  His parents are late K. C. Thomas and Annamma.  After his High School Education in Kadammanitta, he joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary Trivandrum.  On completing the bachelor’s degrees in Philosophy and Theology from St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary Aluva he was ordained priest on 22 December 1978 by Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregorios.  He completed secular degrees of BA, MA, MPhil and PhD from the University of Kerala.  After being Appointed Lecturer in Mar Ivanios College, he later served as the Principal of St. John’s College Anchal and retired as the Principal of Mar Ivanios College Trivandrum.  From 1979 he served several parishes such as Erathumpamon, Muttathukonam, Pampukala, Vattakarikkam, Kuttichal, Vengode, Manjakala, Kunnapuzha, Kalliyal, Thirumala, Chalai, Palayam, Thiruvallam, Karakulam, Kallayam, Chenckalchoola, Anchal,…

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