The Servant of God Mar Ivanios, has been Conferred the title ‘Venerable'.

Thiruvananthapuram 14 March 2024: Pope Francis has declared Archbishop Mar Ivanios, the founder of the Malankara Reunion Movement, the first Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, and the founder of the religious Congregation Order of Imitation of Christ (OIC) and Sisters of Imitation of Christ (SIC), as ‘Venerable’. 

Pope has also declared two others as saints, two as martyrs, and five as blessed. The thanksgiving Holy Mass and commemorative services led by the Malankara Syriac Catholic Church will be held today (Friday) at 4 pm at St. Mary's Major Archi-Eparchial Cathedral, Pattom, where the tomb of Mar Ivanios is located. 

Born on 21 September 1882, as the son of Thoma Panicker and Annamma of Mavelikkara in a very traditional Christian family named Panikkaruveettil, P.T. Geevarghese joined M.D. Seminary High School, Kottayam in 1897 after completing his primary studies. He then went on to pursue higher studies from Madras Christian College and Serampore College, Calcutta. 

He received the ordination to diaconate from Mar Divannasios of Pulikottil, who was the Metropolitan of Malankara Church. On 15 September 1908, he was ordained a priest by Vattasseril Mar Divannasios Metropolitan. Soon after the ordination to priesthood he was appointed as the Principal of M.D. Seminary High School. Later he became a professor at Serampore University. 

He returned home fascinated by the monastic way of life and established a Monastery at Ranni Perunnadu called ‘Bathany” on 15 August 1919. On 1 May 1925, Fr. P.T. Geevarghese was ordained as the Metropolitan of Bethany at Parumala, and Geevarghese adopted the name Mar Ivanios. On 20 September 1930, along with Bishop Mar Theophilos and three others, embraced the Catholic Church in front of the then Bishop of Kollam, Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger, at the Bishop's House Chapel at Thankassery in Kollam. 

In 1932, Mar Ivanios received the pallium from Pope Pius XI following his trip to Rome. On 11 June 1932, the Malankara Syriac Catholic Hierarchy was established in the Universal Church. He was appointed as the first Metropolitan of the Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram. On 15 July 1953, he died and was buried at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom. 

On 25 February 1998, the Church officially commenced the process of canonisation of Mar Ivanios. On 14 July 2007, Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis Catholicos proclaimed Mar Ivanios a servant of God. On 23 June 2014, as part of the canonisation process, the tomb of Ivanios was opened and inspected it. 

After an exhaustive examination of Mar Ivanios' writings and correspondence, a comprehensive report spanning nearly 100,000 pages was meticulously compiled and submitted to the Holy See. Upon careful scrutiny of this detailed dossier, recommendations were put forth to Pope Francis for the declaration of Mar Ivanios as "Venerable." 

In a momentous announcement, Pope Francis endorsed these recommendations, propelling Mar Ivanios' cause forward to the next phase in the journey toward beatification and, ultimately, canonization. This milestone marks a significant advancement in the recognition of Mar Ivanios' exemplary life and virtues, underscoring his potential sanctity and the profound impact of his legacy within the Catholic community.

By Catholic Connect Reporter