BIOGRAPHY Mor Koorilos Geevarghese (Metropolitan of Niranam diocese)

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H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mor Koorilos was born in the Karippal Puthenpurayil family at Nalunnakkal, Kottayam district on November 14, 1965 to Mr. P.C. Mathew (Rtd. Principal Sub Registrar, Kottayam) and Mrs. Marykutty Mathew. He was brought up in the Syriac Orthodox faith since his childhood and was baptized at St. Adai’s Jacobite Church, Nalunnakkal, his home parish. His early schooling was done at St. Adai’s Primary School, St. Elias Upper Primary School and Jerusalem Mount High School, Vakathanam. He passed his S.S.L.C exams with first class and joined St. Berchman’s College, Changanacherry where he did his Pre-Degree and B.A. in English literature. Alongside his secular education, he also pursued his Sunday School education. He stood first in the 10th standard examinations in Kottayam diocese and secured the Michael Mor Dionysius memorial gold medal.

After graduation, His Grace joined the reputed United Theological College, Bangalore for his theological studies. He completed his B.D in the year 1990 in first class and was appointed as Research Assistant in the department of Church and Society. By then Metropolitan, the late lamented Perumpallil Geevarghese Mor Greegoriose, granted him permission to accept the offer and he completed the research project in 1991, the year in which he joined the faculty of our Theological seminary in Kerala (M.S.O.T.Seminary). It was during his tenure as Registrar at the Seminary, that our seminary was granted the B.D. affiliation from the Serampore University. In 1992, he was offered a scholarship to do his doctoral studies in England and he joined the University of Kent at Canterbury, England to do his Ph.D in Ecotheology. He had the rare privilege to do his research under the illustrious Anglican Professor Dr. Robin Gill under whose proficient guidance he was able to complete his Ph.D in a record time of three years. On his completion of Ph.D, he rejoined our seminary in Kerala and resumed teaching.

God has been amazingly gracious to him in providing him with enormous opportunities to involve in ecumenical engagements. He had the privilege of serving the Kerala Council of Churches as its Senior Faculty Member (1997-1998), the National Council of Churches in India as its Executive Secretary for Mission and Evangelism (1998-2001). At present, he also serve the World Council of Churches as vice moderator of the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) and he is also a full member of the WCC’s reference group on Human Sexuality. He has attended several international consultations organized by the WCC, CCA, Pro-Oriente, WSCF, the Anglican Communion, the NCCI and other such ecumenical bodies. He has been a member of the Dialogue Commission of our Church. In all this, he has had the honor to represent our Church and he continue to do that with great sense of pride.

In the year 2001, he joined the teaching faculty of the prestigious United Theological College, Bangalore. He served the college as Associate Professor in the department of Theology and Ethics. He was the first member from the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church to be on the faculty of this premier theological institution. He has also taught at other seminaries as visiting professor.

His Grace was ordained a deacon on 6th May 2000 and a priest on 7th July 2001 by H.G. Mor Thimotheos Thomas, Metropolitan of Kottayam and Archdiocese of Greater India. After his ordination, he has served two parishes in Kerala and one parish in Bangalore as Assistant vicar. When he was choosen as the bishop-designate he was serving the St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church at Ithithanam, as its Vicar.

Currently, His Grace is also serving "India Center for Social Change", a charitable trust, working for the welfare of mentally challenged children in Kerala, as its Director. Under his leadership, this institution now has established seven vocational training centers under the name “Theeram” where about 130 boys and girls with mental retardation are undergoing training.

He has published several books and articles both in English and Malayalam. Following are some of the major ones:
    1.  Jeevante Akhosham (Bible Studies, edited in Malayalam), KCC/EDTP, Tiruvalla, 1998
    2.  New Beings and New Communities: Theological Reflections in a Postmodern Context, KCC/EDTP, Tiruvalla, 1998
    3.  Green Liberation: Towards an Integral Ecotheology, NCCI/ISPCK, Delhi, 1999
    4.  Quest for Justice: Perspectives o Mission and Unity (co-edited); NCCI/GURUKUL/ISPCK, Delhi, 2000
    5.  Re-routing Mission: Towards a People’s Concept of Mission, CCA/CSS, Tiruvalla, 2004.
    6.  Kazhchapadukal (Perspecives, Essays in Malayalam), Mor Adai Study Center, Cheeranchira, 2002
    7. Sathya Vishwasa Padanangal (Orthodox Studies, Essays on Orthodox faith in Malayalam),

            Co-Authored with V.Rev.     Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayail, Mor Adai Study Center, Cheeranchira, 2003
    8.  HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education, (co-edited), BTESSC/Sathri, Bangalore, 2004.
 

In 2005 the general council of Niranam diocese elected Fr. George Mathew Nalunnakkal as their bishop-designate which was later approved by the various Church bodies including the supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church Moran Mor Igantius Zakka I Iwas and the head of the Church in India, Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I and also the Malankara Episcopal Synod. Accordingly On 2nd July 2006, Fr. George Mathew was ordained Ramban (Dayroyo) with name 'SAMUEL' by the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the Karingachira St. George's Cathedral.

A day after on Monday the 3rd July 2006, on St. Thomas day, five Rambans including the newly ordained Ramban Samuel were raised to order of Metropolitan by the  spiritual head of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the St. Thomas church in North Paravur.  On Episcopal consecration, the new Metropolitan assumed the title KOORILOS and came to be known as Mor Koorilos Geevarghese. It was in the same church at North Paravur, 130 year ago, the then Patriarch of Antioch & all the East H.H. Ignatius Peter IV ordained four Metropolitans including St. Gregorios of Parumala (Chathuruthil Thirumeni - for Niranam diocese), as per the decision of the historic Mulanthurthy Synod. One of the Metropolitans (Ambatt Mor Kooriloos Geevarghese of Angmali) who was ordained then also bear the same name of the present metropolitan.

Metropolitans His Graces Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon (Malabar), Mor Thimotheos Thomas (Kottayam & outside Kerala), Mor Gregorios Joseph (Kochi), Mor Ivanios Mathews (Kandanad), Mor Milithios Yuhanon (Thumbamon), Mor Yulius Kurikose (Simhasana churches), Mor Dionysius Geevarghese (Simhasana churches), Mor Theophilos Kuriakose (Seminary & Europe) and Mor Severios Kuriakose (Knanaya) assisted His Beatitude the Catholicos during the Holy Episcopal Consecration ceremony.  Dr. Geevarghese Mor Kooriloos on Episcopal consecration was appointed as assistant Metropolitan for Niranam diocese under H.G. Joseph Mor Gregorios. The Sunthroniso of Mor Koorilos was held  at the St. Mary's church, Mazhuvangad, Thiruvalla on 30th July 2006. In 2007, the Holy Episcopal Synod gave His Grace the independent charge of the Niranam diocese.

Patriarchal Bull being read on the occasion of consecration of five Metropolitans at North Paravur St. Thomas Church

Newly ordained Metropolitan Dr. Geevarghese Mor Koorilos blessing the faithful

The five Newly ordained Metropolitans with His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Thomas I Bava at the North Paravur Church