Mathews Mar Athanasius Episcopa - AbsoluteAstronomy.com

Mathews Mar Athenasius Episcopa was the first missionary bishop of the Mar Thoma Church

Mar Thoma Church

The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church also known as the Mar Thoma Church is a Christian denomination based in the state of Kerala in southwestern India. It has an entirely different identity when compared with other Churches in India. Most Christian churches around the world are divided into...

. As a diocesan Episcopa he did remarkable pioneering work in organizing parishes and new mission fields. His evangelical ardour and concern for the unreached area, made him forge ahead expansion programmes and colonization schemes besides establishing of several institutions.

He was noted for his deep personal dedication to Jesus Christ and his zeal for the spread of the Gospel, continuity in the Evangelical tradition of the Mar Thoma Church

Mar Thoma Church

. He was full of energy and sacrificial spirit.

Early days.

Mathews Mar Athenasius Episcopa was born on June 7, 1900 at Ayroor

Ayroor

Ayroor is a village situated on the western part of Ranni Taluk of Pathanamthitta District in Kerala state, India. Formerly, Ayroor was part of Tiruvalla Taluk in Alleppey District and is considered as part of Edanadu in Kerala. The Pamba River flows by the southern side of this scenic village and...

, in Kerala. He was the son of Thomas Kurudamannil, Ayroor

Ayroor

. His mother was Aleyamma, sister of Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Palakunnathu, Maramon

Maramon

Maramon is a small town on the Pampa River, opposite to Kozhencherry town in the state of Kerala, India. It is 12 km from the Pathanamthitta district headquarters, the town of Pathanamthitta. Maramon is famous because of the Maramon Convention, the largest Christian gathering in Asia...

. Parents called him Mathaichen.

Education.

Primary education was at Ayroor

Ayroor

, Kozhencherry

Kozhencherry

Kozhencherry is a small town in Pathanamthitta district of Central Travancore region in Kerala state, South India. It is on the banks of river Pampa. It is a commercial centre with many of the Banks and trade companies have their establishments here. It is believed that once the Kovilans of...

and at Kottayam

Kottayam

Kottayam is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative capital of the Kottayam district. Kottayam Kottayam (Malayalam: കോട്ടയം) is a city in the Indian state of Kerala, spread over an area of 55.40 km2. It is the administrative...

. For higher studies he joined Kolkata

Kolkata

Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...

(Calcutta) Bishops College high school and Saint Paul's College

Saint Paul's College

Several colleges around the world are called Saint Paul's College or St. Paul's College, including:Australia* St. Paul's College, Adelaide* Emmanuel College: St. Paul's Campus, Melbourne...

. In 1925 he was able to obtain a BA

Bachelor of Arts

A Bachelor of Arts , from the Latin artium baccalaureus, is a bachelor's degree awarded for an undergraduate course or program in either the liberal arts, the sciences, or both...

degree and in 1929 a BEd

Bachelor of Education

A Bachelor of Education is an undergraduate academic degree which qualifies the graduate as a teacher in schools.-North America:...

degree. In 1934, he proceeded to join Wycliffe College

Wycliffe College

Wycliffe College is an Anglican Church of Canada seminary federated with the University of Toronto. It is evangelical and Low church in orientation. On the other hand, the University of Toronto's other Anglican college, the University of Trinity College is Anglo-Catholic in outlook. While being an...

at the University of Toronto

Toronto

Toronto is the provincial capital of Ontario and the largest city in Canada. It is located in Southern Ontario on the northwestern shore of Lake Ontario. A relatively modern city, Toronto's history dates back to the late-18th century, when its land was first purchased by the British monarchy from...

, Canada

Canada

Canada is a North American country consisting of ten provinces and three territories. Located in the northern part of the continent, it extends from the Atlantic Ocean in the east to the Pacific Ocean in the west, and northward into the Arctic Ocean...

Keezhillam school.

At the age of 21 he left home to go to the North Travancore which was an underdeveloped area. It had been selected as a mission field of the Evangelistic Association. In 1929 he and fellow workers started a school at Keezhillam as a means to reach out and help the people living in that area, with a group of fellow workers, having only their faith in God as their resource. They worked hard and opened the way for education for hundreds of children in poor families. In those days education wasn’t free and many of the people couldn’t afford schooling. By giving concessions in fees to such students, they were encouraged to study and the money for their education was taken from the meagre salary of the teachers who were gracious enough to accept it as a way of serving the Lord. Gradually education began to spread in those areas and people began to see the truth of the Gospel in the lives of their teachers. Many from that area like Rev K.C Paily

Rev K. C. Paily Kavanakudy
Born on February 18, 1907 in a middle class family at Pulluvazhy, a small village in North Travancore (Kerala)in India. After completing his studies at Pulluvazhy, Muvattupuzha and Kottayam he joined at St. Thomas High School Keezhillam as Teacher. He joined hands with Rev C.T.Mathew (Became Bishop of Marthoma Church)and Rev. P.C. Cherian to Make the school to be one of the top Schools in Kerala. Later in 1946 he was ordained as a presbyter of Marthoma Church by Abraham Marthoma metropolitan
He became on of the founders of St. Thomas Evangelical Church Of India http://www.steci.org In 1961 In 1975 he became the Bishop Commissary of the church for two years. He joined his Eternal Home on June 30, 1987

(He,Dr.T. John and Rev P.C Cherian worked together to make the school to be one of the top schools in Kerala ), Very Rev. A A Pylee, who was one of the Vicars General of the Church stands testimony to this fact. The school at Keezhillam developed to be a High School in 1947 with a well- managed boarding home. Rev K.C Paily was the boarding master for a long time and Rev. P.C. Cherian became the Head Master

Perumbavoor School.

Rev. C T Mathew (Mar Athanasius) moved to Perumbavoor seeing the need of that area. He was supported by a small group of friends including Rev.C.I.Abraham and Mr.A. Cherian (who later became a judge). A High School was opened and classes began on June 1, 1931. Here teachers worked on fellowship basis, on the pattern of the Union Christian College, Aluva and of Madras Christian College, Chennai

Chennai

Chennai , formerly known as Madras or Madarasapatinam , is the capital city of the Indian state of Tamil Nadu, located on the Coromandel Coast off the Bay of Bengal. Chennai is the fourth most populous metropolitan area and the sixth most populous city in India...

. A group of dedicated teachers under the leadership of Rev. C T Mathew, the headmaster, became the nucleus of an Ashram. The school was known as the Ashram High School. The teachers shared everything in common and lived a life of fellowship as the first century Christians, devoting all their time to the welfare of the students. The boarding home and the school became highly reputed across the state.

Ordination.

Soon after opening the school at Keezhillam, he was ordained as a Semmasan (deacon) by Abraham Mar Thoma in 1929. While at Perumbavoor

Perumbavoor

Perumbavoor is a suburban region of Kochi city and a municipality in Ernakulam District in the Indian state of Kerala. It lies in the North Eastern tip of the Greater Cochin area and is also the headquarters of Kunnathunad Taluk. It is a Main Satellite Centres of Kochi City. Perumbavoor is famed...

, in 1933 he was made a Kassessa. (priest). Then while he was studying at Wycliffe College

Wycliffe College

, Rev.C.T.Mathew was selected by the Prathinidhi Mandalam (Church Parliament) to be an episcopa of the church.

Consecration.

Rev.C.T.Mathew along with Rev.C.M.John were consecrated as Episcpas on December 30, 1937 at Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...

, by Titus II Mar Thoma

Titus II Mar Thoma

-See also:* Mar Thoma Church* Syrian Malabar Nasrani* Saint Thomas Christians* Christianity in India* List of Catholicoi of the East and Malankara Metropolitans* List of Syrian Malabar Nasranis* Titus I Mar Thoma* Abraham Mar Thoma-For further reading:...

Metropolitan assisted by Abraham Mar Thoma

Abraham Mar Thoma

Abraham Mar Thoma Metropolitan was the Head of the Mar Thoma Church from 1944-1947. He was called Maret Kochu Thirumeni by his people...

Suffragan Metropolitan and Kuriakose Mar Koorilose of Malabar Independent Syrian Church

Malabar Independent Syrian Church

The Malabar Independent Syrian Church, also known as the Thozhiyur Sabah , is a Christian church centred in Kerala, India. It is one of the churches of the Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century.Considered part...

. Rev. C.T.Mathew was given the episcopal title Mathews Mar Athenasius and Rev.C.M.John, Juhanon Mar Timotheous (later Juhanon Mar Thoma

Juhanon Mar Thoma

Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan was the Head of the Mar Thoma church from 1947–1976, who gave leadership to the church and at the same time actively participated in social and political arenas. He was respected by people from all walks of life, from all religions and from all age groups. He is...

and Metropolitan.)

North Kerala area.

His deep devotion and sacrificial life and the spirit of fellowship were the special characteristics of his service as Bishop. This spirit of adventure and trust in God made him a master builder of the Church. Wherever he saw the need, he ventured into action even when no resources were in sight. Undeveloped areas in Malabar became his concern as the Diocesan Bishop. He went to un-accessed areas and helped small congregation of people who had migrated from Central Travancore, seeking opportunity to make a living. They were helped to settle down and developed as on small communities in a spirit of co-operation. Nilambur and Chungathara and other places up to Gudalloor were all reached by him and the small congregations were encouraged and supported in various ways.

Travancore area.

Later when he was in charge of the diocese in Central Travancore

Travancore

Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...

, he concentrated his efforts in developing the congregations among the new settlers in Chittar

Chittar, Kerala

-Overview:Chittar is a geographically high-range area situated in the south eastern part of Kerala. It is a Panchayat and is included in the Ranni taluk in Pathanamthitta District. It is located 29 km away from Pathanamthitta town at its east. Nearby Panchayats are Seethathodu, Perunad,...

, Seethathodu

Seethathodu

Seethathodu is a village in Pathanamthitta district, located in Kerala state, India, near Chittar Town.Geographically Seethathodu is High-range area. 90 percent of the area is dense reserve forest, a part of Goodrical Range, Periyar Tiger Reserve. Rest of the place is populated and main cultivation...

, Angamoozhy

Angamoozhy

Angamoozhy is a village in Pathanamthitta district located in Kerala, India.Angamoozhy is located near kakkad power station and Sabarimala temple.Geographically Angamoozhy is High-range area....

and other places which were very difficult to reach in those days.

Outside Kerala.

When the Evangelistic work of the Church expanded he was the first Missionary Bishop of the Church, travelling all over India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

, visiting the scattered congregations and encouraging the Ashrams. He was present in many international Evangelistic conferences in Tokyo

Tokyo

, ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family...

and other places. He was the first Bishop of the Mar Thoma Church

Mar Thoma Church

to visit our congregations in Malaysia and Singapore

Singapore

Singapore , officially the Republic of Singapore, is a Southeast Asian city-state off the southern tip of the Malay Peninsula, north of the equator. An island country made up of 63 islands, it is separated from Malaysia by the Straits of Johor to its north and from Indonesia's Riau Islands by the...

Other developments.

He opened dispensaries and clinics and schools while also caring for their spiritual needs. The Olivet Aramana at Chengannur

Chengannur

Chengannur , is a municipal town in Alappuzha district of the state of Kerala in South India. Chengannur is located in the extreme eastern part of Alappuzha district. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram on the MC Road. Chengannur is connected to Kollam and Kottayam by NH 220...

, the Retreat Centre at Maramon

Maramon

and the Kalalayam at Ayroor

Ayroor

came into being as a result of his enterprising spirit. It was owing to his farsight that the Charal Mount which has since become a favourite camp sight was bought and made available for the church.

Last days.

Even though suffering from diabetes for many years, nothing could stop him from all out endeavour in the cause of the spread of the Gospel. After a short period, he succumbed to his illness and was called to his heavenly reward on November 30, 1973 at the age of 73.He was that the in the Bishops’ cemetery in the SCS Compound, Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla

Tiruvalla , is a city and a Taluk headquarters located in Pathanamthitta district in the State of Kerala in South India, spread over an area of 27.94 km2...

External links

http://marthomasyrianchurch.org

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