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Alexios Mar Thevodhosios Metropolitan was born on August 28, 1888 as M.M.Alexander alias Chandy, in a traditionally priestly family at Niranam.. Mathai and Kunjadamma of Mattackal are the name of his parents.He had his school education at M G M High School, Thiruvalla and M D High School, Kottayam and College education (1912-15) in C.M.S College Kottayam. Alexander was called to the Ministry of God at the age 0f nineteen in 1907, and received ordination as Sub-deacon. Dn.Alexander, following college education, joined Barisol Divinity College in East Bengal 1915 and later in 1918 Serampore college for theological studies. He received his deaconship from Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysios. In that year Dn. Alexander was ordained as a priest by Yuyakim Mar Ivanios at Parumala Seminary and called as Fr.Alexios.
While studying at Serampore college, Fr.Alexios came in to contact with Fr.PT.Geevarghese Panicker Both of them made plan and they together established an Ashram or monastry on the side of Mundamala in Perinad near Ranni in 1918 . The land was donated by E.J.John Elanjikal, niranam and some others . This monastery was named as Bethany. Later Fr.Geevarghese Panickar joined Catholic church Fr.Alexios along with other devout orthodox monks worked patiently , and restlessly to form the present Bethany Ashram Today Bethany has a landed property of more than 250 Acres ,and complex of institutions as monasteries, convents, schools and hospital. at various parts of kerala .
Malankara Association elected Fr.Alexios as Metropolitan candidate and Catholicos Basalios Mar Geevarghese II consecrated him as Metropolitan Alexios Mar Thevodhosios on April 7, 1938 by at Karmel kunnu Dayara, Mulanthuruthy. Diocese of Quilon (Kollam) and the Outside Kerala were assigned to the Metropolitan's charge. In 1957 Mar Alexios formed the Indian Orthodox Mission at Madras.
Mar Theodosios also had taken keen interest in representing the Malankara Church in International Inter-Church forums and projecting its image to western Churches. Till 1953 he was a member of Central Committee of WCC
Mar Theodosius, was an embodiment of goodness and spiritual values, H G followed the life-style of the “Great Sanyasis or sages” of ancient India. During the crisis period of the Church,the able leadership of Mar Theodosius. could save the church from the dissidents. H.G left for his heavenly abode on August 6th 1965 on the ” day of Epiphany “ Mortal remains interred in Bethany Ashram chapel Ranny- Perunad.. We comemorate the anniversary on 6th August.
