BIOGRAPHY Mor Geevarghese Polycarpus (1933 - 2011) Former Metropolitan of Evangelical Association of the East  &  Honavar Mission

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Mor Polycarpus was born to Mr. Mathew Philipose and Mrs. Eliyamma in 1933 April 05 of Nadayil Mulanilkkunnathil Famil, Chennithala, near to Mavelikkara, Pathanamthitta District, Kerala State. St. George JSO Church, Chennithala was his home parish. Mor Polycarpus had his schooling at Eramathoor Ilavumood Primary School and NSS High School, Mannar. He completed SSLC in 1950. Though he joined Govt. Polytechnic, Mavelikkara to study Civil Engineering, he had an inner call to dedicate his life to Serve the church and dropped out of the college soon.This divine call brought him to the Evangelistic Association of the East (EAE) headquarters in Iringole, near to Perumbavoor in 1995. Since then he had been a part of EAE and served the organization and church in various capacities. He was ordained as Korooyo in the year 1956 by Late Lamented Mor Yulius Elias Qoro at Manjanikkara St. Ignatius Dayaro. Mor Yulius Elias ordained him as Kassisso in 1957 at Manjanikkara Dayaro. He started his pastoral service in Kozhichal and Kottamala parishes in 2 Kasarkod district (Kerala). During his tenure there until 1959, he established the churches at Pakanjikaad and Meenthulli.

In 1959, he was transferred to South Canara district of Karnataka which became his area of work for the next 50 years. Though, the area was very backward and there was enough temptations from the dissident faction of the Syriac Orthodox Church, his determination, strong will and unwavering faith and loyalty to the Holy Throne of Antioch pushed him through all the crisis. He started new congregations and established new churches throughout south Canara district. In 1962, he was invited to work for the St. Antony's Mission soceity ( Honnavar Mission) by the then Director of Honnavar Mission, V. Rev Kurikkal George Cor - Episcopa. In 1962, he shifted his residence to Honnavar in
North Canara district of Karnataka and was appointed as the Manager of the various educational institutions and Orphanages functioning under Honnavar Mission. During his stay in Honnavar, he completed his B.A(Hons) from Kamala Baliga College, Kumta, Mangalore University. During this time, he also became fluent in Hindi, Kannada, Konkani and Tulu. During this time he also had a small stint in Politics and functioned as the Uttara Kannada District Congress Committee (DCC) Vice - President until 1970. It was during his tenure as Manager that St. Antony's High School, Honnavar and St. Antony's High Shool, Udane. During his stay in Honnavar, he renovated the churches in Athyadi and Madyodi.

In 1978, as per the recommendation of the EAE Managing committee, he was elevated as Cor - Episcopa by Late Lamented Baselios Paulose II Catholicos. In 1978, he established St. George High School in Nellyadi which was later elevated as Junior College in 1985. During his stay in Honnavar, he brought children of the migrant Syrian Christian families from different parts of Karnataka and provided them education in Honnavar. In 1985, he was elected as the EAE Administrator. In 1986, when the then EAE Metropolitan Late lamented Dr. Mor Athanasius Paulose Kadvil DD, PhD, retired from all administrative responsibilities, he was elected unanimously as the Metropolitan - designate by the EAE Managing committee.

On May 26th 1990, he was tonsured as Ramban at the Patriarchal Cathedral by His Eminence Archbishop Mor Ivanios. On May 27th 1990, the new Ramban was ordained as Metropolitan by His Holiness Mor Ignatius Zakka-I Iwas Patriarch and was given the name 'Polycarpus'. The new metropolitan was also given the additional responsibility as Director of the Honnavar Mission. Since then until his demise on 6th March 2011, he has been leading his flock in EAE and Honnavar Mission. On 9th March 2011, the Metropolitan's body was laid to rest  at the St. Antony's Syrian Orthodox Cathedral in Jeppu, Mangalore in Karanataka State.

Source: http://www.malankarasyriacvoice.com/2011/News/mor_polycarpus_biography.pdf

Photos from the funeral service of Mor Polycorpus Geevarghese held  at the St. Antony's Cathedral, Jeppu, Mangalore on 10th March 2011

 

• More Photos from the funeral service of Mor Polycorpus Geevarghese held  at the St. Antony's Cathedral, Jeppu, Mangalore on 10 th March 2011 

• Exclusive page on the funeral services by SOCMNet.org

• Video clippings from the funeral services

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