Geevarghese Mar Osthathios

Diocese of Niranam

Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Church is widely known in India and abroad as a prophet of social justice and as a propagator of the Universal Religion of Love. He was born in Cherukole, Mavelikara, Kerala in 9th December 1918. His former name was M V George. He completed high school education in his native place and theological education from Leonard College, Jabalpur and Union seminary, New York. He secured MA from Drew University, New York and honorary Doctorate from Serampore University, Calcutta, India. He taught in Orthodox Theological Seminary Kottayam for over fifty years.

He was ordained as ‘Korooyo’ in 1948 by HG Augen Mar Thimotheos Metropolitan. HH Baselious Geevarghese II ordained him as a priest at Devalokam in 1956. He was ordained as the Metropolitan in Niranam St Mary’s Church 16th February 1958 .

In 1958 he founded St Paul’s Ashram and Children Home. He is the founder of Mission Training Centre, mavelikara which gives training to lay missionaries of love and evangelism. He also started more than 40 humanitarian institutions, movements and projects all over India for poor people, HIV positive patients and their children, cancer patients, leprosy patients and their children and orphan, old age homes for men and women.

He has written about 59 books of which 13 are in English. He is also a poet who has written more than fifty songs. The spiritual and revolutionary ideas in the songs inspire the mind of the faithful urging them to repent and dedicate themselves fully to the God.

He has participated in so many national and international conferences as a leader, preacher and a resource person. He was the member of Faith and Order Commission and World Mission and Evangelism and was the advisor of the WCC assembly in Nairobia in 1975.