KOTTAYAM: Dr Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, senior metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Church, passed away at St Gregorios Mission Hospital, Parumala, in Pathanamthitta on Thursday.
Mar Osthathios was the metropolitan of the Niranam diocese from 1975 to 2007. He was a renowned theologian, orator and writer. He was born on December 9, 1918, to Kochitty and Mariamma Kochitty of Munduvelil family in Mavelikkara.He graduated from Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur, and took MA from Drew University in the US. He also studied in Union Seminary, Bangalore.
Mar Osthathios got the order of Korooyo (sub-deacon) from Metropolitan Augen Mar Timotheos on August 9, 1947. He received priesthood on May 10, 1956. He was nominated to the post of Metropolitan on October 2, 1974. He worked as Ramban at St Mary’s Cathedral, Puthencavu. He was consecrated as a bishop on February 16, 1975, at Niranam Valiya Palli. He was appointed a Metropolitan of the Niranam Diocese on April 1, 1975. He was a member of Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches and Senior faculty of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. He has served as president of the Mission Board of the Indian Orthodox Church and the director of St Paul’s Mission Training Centre, Mavelikkara.
He founded several charitable programmes, mission centres and institutions, including Marriage Assistance Foundation, Sick Aid Foundation, Save A Heart Foundation, House Building Aid Fund, Mission Training Centre, MGD Ashram Balabhavan Karunagiri, St Pauls Ashram Puthuppady, Harippad Mission Centre, Yacharam St Gregorios Balagram, among others.