Award for Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar

The Kozhikode–based Vagbhadananda Trust has announced that His Grace the Most Rev. (Dr.) Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar has been chosen for the award instituted by it for his unparalleled contribution in religious sphere.

The award will be presented at a programme at the Jaya Auditorium here on November 18.

This is the first award of the Vagbhadananda trust to be presented annually to persons for their contribution in the social, cultural and religious spheres.

Chrysostom Thirumeni was born on April 27, 1918. After graduating from Union Christian College, Aluva, he began working in the Ashram in Ankola with Rev. P.J. Thomas.

He studied at United Theological College in Bangalore, and St. Augustine's College in Canterbury, United Kingdom.

He was ordained as Deacon of the Mar Thoma Church on January 1, 1944 and Kasseessa on June 3, 1944. He was ordained as Ramban on May 20, 1953 and consecrated as Episcopa on May 23, 1953 with (Rt.) Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Theophilus, Suffragan Metropolitan and the late (Rt.) Rev. Thomas Mar Athanasius Episcopa. He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978.

Chrysostom Thirumeni was installed as Metropolitan on October 23, 1999 after Alexander Mar Thoma was called to his eternal home.

Chrysostom Thirumeni was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. And it has been proved that the administrative acumen of His Grace is far beyond what words can express.

Chrysostom Thirumeni was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954, and at Upsala in 1968. He has been president of the different organisations of the Church and the Governing Councils of different colleges.

He has attended the second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause.

Thirumeni has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities and through a registered organization named STARD (South Travancore Agency for Rural Development) he has helped economically backward communities of South Travancore to improve their lot and achieve self–reliance.

He is an extraordinary spiritual leader, dynamic enabler, compassionate at heart, prolific orator, voracious reader, pungent writer, tactful negotiator, valiant defender of the law, and a wonderful team man.

He respects diversity of opinion, but would never budge or compromise ethical principles. People, who know him closely, has testified about his lovable character, impressed by his humility and simplicity, acceptable to all people irrespective of cast, colour, linguistic, racial or religious commitments.