Benedict Mar Gregorios
Encyclopedia
Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios (February 1, 1916 – October 10, 1994) was the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
.
Mar Gregorios a.k.a. "Thangalathil Thirumeni" was born and brought up in the Malankara Jacobite Church. He was baptised by the name Varghese. As a teenage boy Varghese came closer to the ideal of Bethany Ashram. He was attracted by the personality of Archbishop Mar Ivanios. And Later he became a member of Bethany Ashram and he adopted the name Benedict. He studied Philosophy
and Theology
at Papal Seminary
, Kandy
, Sri Lanka
. He was ordained a religious priest of Bethany Ashram by Archbishop Mar Ivanios in 1944. As a dynamic young priest he taught Syriac for some time in St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum
. He was sent for higher studies in Economics to St. Joseph's College, Trichy (1946–1949). He became the first principal of Mar Ivanios College
. He was appointed Bishop in 1952. He was consecrated in January 1953. He received the name Benedict Mar Gregorios. After the demise of Archbishop Mar Ivanios he became the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
in 1955. He was an Archbishop of the people. Large number of parish communities were formed in Syro-Malankara Catholic church during this period. Archbishop Mar Gregorios paved the way to establish Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum and Mar Gregorios College of Arts and Science, Chennai. After 41 years of Episcopal ministry Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios died on October 10, 1994. His body was entombed in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum
.
St. John's College, Anchal
, a first grade arts and science college in Kollam district was established by His Grace.St. John's College Anchal became the nerve centre of the total development of a remote rural village in to a fast developing township.
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...
.
Mar Gregorios a.k.a. "Thangalathil Thirumeni" was born and brought up in the Malankara Jacobite Church. He was baptised by the name Varghese. As a teenage boy Varghese came closer to the ideal of Bethany Ashram. He was attracted by the personality of Archbishop Mar Ivanios. And Later he became a member of Bethany Ashram and he adopted the name Benedict. He studied Philosophy
Philosophy
Philosophy is the study of general and fundamental problems, such as those connected with existence, knowledge, values, reason, mind, and language. Philosophy is distinguished from other ways of addressing such problems by its critical, generally systematic approach and its reliance on rational...
and Theology
Theology
Theology is the systematic and rational study of religion and its influences and of the nature of religious truths, or the learned profession acquired by completing specialized training in religious studies, usually at a university or school of divinity or seminary.-Definition:Augustine of Hippo...
at Papal Seminary
Papal Seminary
Papal Seminary, Pune, India, is a Catholic educational institute, primarily meant for the training of future priests of India. At the moment it caters to the formation of about 180 Seminarians from all over India.- Pope Leo XIII :...
, Kandy
Kandy
Kandy is a city in the center of Sri Lanka. It was the last capital of the ancient kings' era of Sri Lanka. The city lies in the midst of hills in the Kandy plateau, which crosses an area of tropical plantations, mainly tea. Kandy is one of the most scenic cities in Sri Lanka; it is both an...
, Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka
Sri Lanka, officially the Democratic Socialist Republic of Sri Lanka is a country off the southern coast of the Indian subcontinent. Known until 1972 as Ceylon , Sri Lanka is an island surrounded by the Indian Ocean, the Gulf of Mannar and the Palk Strait, and lies in the vicinity of India and the...
. He was ordained a religious priest of Bethany Ashram by Archbishop Mar Ivanios in 1944. As a dynamic young priest he taught Syriac for some time in St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum
St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum
St. Aloysius Malankara Syrian Catholic Seminary is the minor seminary of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Trivandrum, Kerala, India. It is situated on the Bethany Hills, Nalanchira, Trivandrum. The seminary offers priestly training for Minor Seminarians of the Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum....
. He was sent for higher studies in Economics to St. Joseph's College, Trichy (1946–1949). He became the first principal of Mar Ivanios College
Mar Ivanios College
Mar Ivanios College is an educational institutuion situated in Trivandrum, the capital city of Kerala, India. The college is located on a small scenic hilltop with a sprawling campus area of hundreds of acres in Bethany Hills, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram....
. He was appointed Bishop in 1952. He was consecrated in January 1953. He received the name Benedict Mar Gregorios. After the demise of Archbishop Mar Ivanios he became the second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...
in 1955. He was an Archbishop of the people. Large number of parish communities were formed in Syro-Malankara Catholic church during this period. Archbishop Mar Gregorios paved the way to establish Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum and Mar Gregorios College of Arts and Science, Chennai. After 41 years of Episcopal ministry Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios died on October 10, 1994. His body was entombed in St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum
St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum
St. Mary's Malankara Syrian Catholic Cathedral Basilica Pattom , Trivandrum is the central place of worship of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. It is the See of the Major Archbishop Catholicos of Trivandrum...
.
St. John's College, Anchal
St. John's College, Anchal
St John's college is a one of the higher educational institutions of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The college is situated at Anchal, Kerala, India. It is one of the Malankara Syrian Catholic colleges established and administered by the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum in accordance with the...
, a first grade arts and science college in Kollam district was established by His Grace.St. John's College Anchal became the nerve centre of the total development of a remote rural village in to a fast developing township.