Mohammedsajib at 19:54, 10 February 2026

2026-02-10T19:54:18Z

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{{Short description|Indian saint (1858–1934)}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=November 2020}}
{{Infobox saint
| honorific_prefix= [[Saint]]
| name = Geevarghese Dionysius of Vattasseril (Mar Dionysius VI)
| honorific_suffix=[[Malankara Metropolitan]]
| image = Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril.jpg
| imagesize =
| alt = Portrait of Saint Geevarghese Dionysius of Vattasseril
| caption = Portrait of St. Geevarghese Dionysius of Vattasseril
| titles = The Great Luminary of Malankara Church
| birth_name = Geevarghese
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1858|10|31|df=yes}}
| birth_place = [[Mallapally]]
| home_town = [[Kottayam]]
| residence =
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|2|23|1858|10|31|df=y}}
| death_place = [[Kottayam]]
| venerated_in = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]],

| canonized_date = 24 February 2003
| canonized_place =
| canonized_by = [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II]], Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan
| major_shrine = [[Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam|Old Seminary]], [[Kottayam]]
| feast_day = 24 February
| attributes =
| patronage =
| issues =
| suppressed_date =
| suppressed_by =
| influences = [[St. Gregorios of Parumala]]
| influenced = [[Baselios Geevarghese II]]
| tradition =
| major_works = Doctrines of the Church
| module =
}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
| type =
| honorific_prefix =
| name = Dionysious VI of Vattasseril
| honorific_suffix = [[Malankara Metropolitan]]
| title =
| image =
| image_size =
| alt =
| caption =
| native_name =
| native_name_lang =
| church = [[Malankara Church]]
| province =
| metropolis =
| diocese =
| see = [[Apostolic Throne|Apostolic Throne of St Thomas]]
| elected = 1908
| term = 
| term_start = 1909
| term_end = 1934
| quashed = 
| predecessor = [[Dionysious V]]
| successor = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|MOSC]]: [[Baselios Geevarghese II|Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicos]] &
[[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church|MSOC]]: [[Coorilos Paulose|Mar Coorilos Paulose]]
| opposed = 
| ordination = 18 January 1880
| ordained_by = [[Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala]]
| consecration = 31 May 1908
| consecrated_by = Patriarch [[Ignatius Abded Aloho II]]
| rank = [[Malankara Metropolitan]]
| birth_name = Geevarghese
| birth_date = {{Birth date|1858|10|31}}
| baptised = 
| birth_place = [[Mallappally]], [[Kerala]]
| death_date = {{Death date and age|1934|02|23|1858|10|31}}
| death_place = [[Kottayam]]
| tomb = [[Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary|Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam]]
| religion =
| residence =
| parents =
| occupation =
| previous_post =
| education =
| alma_mater =
}}

'''Geevarghese Dionysius Vattasseril''', also '''Dionysius VI''', '''Dionysius Geevarghese II''' or, popularly, '''Vattasseril Thirumeni''' (31 October 1858 – 23 February 1934), was a [[bishop]] of the [[Malankara Church]] and 15th [[Malankara Metropolitan]]. In 2003, Dionysius was canonized as a saint by the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Malankara Orthodox Church]], and his feast day is celebrated on February 23 each year. He is known as 'The Great Luminary of Malankara Church' (Malayalam: ''Malankara Sabha Bhasuran''), a title which the Church bestowed on him in recognition of his contribution to the Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://stgregorioscathedral.com/feasts-fasts/2017/2/23/st-geevarghese-mar-dionysius-vattasseril|title=St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Vattasseril|date=23 February 2017 }}</ref>

{{Nasrani People}}

==Early life and education==
Geevarghese was born in Vattasseril family, the fifth child of Joseph Vattasseril of [[Mallappally]] and Aleyamma, Kolathu Kalathil of [[Kurichy]], on 31 October 1858.<ref name=DCBA1 /> Among his siblings, Ouseph Punnoose was also a priest. Following his elementary education at C. M. S. Middle School in Mallappally he completed his high school education from C. M. S. High School, [[Kottayam]].<ref name=vattasseril/> On 12 October 1876, while still a high school student, he was ordained as a sub-deacon by Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Peter III at [[Puthuppally, Kottayam|Puthuppally]] St. George Church.<ref name=malankara>[http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=149&Itemid=329 "Saints of the Malankara Church", Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]</ref>

==Life in the Church==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
He studied at the Orthodox Theological Seminary (Old Seminary or Pazhaya Seminary), Kottayam for four years.<ref name=MOSCIN>{{cite web |url= https://mosc.in/saints/st-geevarghese-mar-dionysius-vattasseril/ |title= St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Vattasseril |author= |date= |website= Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church |publisher= |access-date= 22 January 2026 |quote=}}</ref> He acted as the secretary to [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|Gregorios Geevarghese of Parumala]]. Geevarghese soon became a great [[Syriac studies|Syriac]] scholar under the careful tutelage of [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|St. Gregorios]], who taught him at [[Parumala Seminary]]. He also learned Theology and Syriac language from Metropolitan [[Baselios Paulose I]] at [[Monastery of Saint Thomas, Vettikkal]]. On 16 October 1879, the sub-deacon Geevarghese was ordained as a full deacon and on 18 January 1880 he was ordained to priesthood by [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|St. Gregorios]] himself.<ref name=MOSCIN /> For some time, Fr. Geevarghese oversaw the theological education at Parumala Seminary. As per the existing tradition, he had been ordained for Parumala Seminary. During the period 1881–1908 he was the manager of the Seminary. In 1895, Fr. Geevarghese accompanied St. Gregorios on his visit to the Holy Land along with [[Coorilos Paulose of Panampady|Paulose Ramban]].

===Malankara Malpan===
By 1880, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese had become an authority in the Syriac language, Canons of the Church, Church History, Faith and Doctrine, the Church Fathers, Patristics and Theology. In recognition of his expertise in Syriac and theology he was designated as Malankara Malpaan (a Doctor and Teacher of the Church).<ref name=DCBA1/> In 1887, he was appointed the Syriac teacher at the Old Seminary. Malpan Fr. Geevarghese spent his spare time reading, studying, and thinking which translated to his many writings.<ref name=NEA>{{cite web |url= https://www.neamericandiocese.org/feasts/feasts_details/31 |title= St. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Vattasseril |author= |date= |website= Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church |publisher= |access-date= 22 January 2026 |quote=}}</ref> He also used his scholarship to edit and publish the order of Church worship to be used by the laity as an aid for participation in worship. He wrote and published a book titled ''Syriac - Chapter I'' for students of the language. During this period, he also authored the book ''Doctrines of the Church'' (Mathopadeshasarangal) which remains one of the most authoritative and popular works describing Orthodox dogma and ecclesiastical traditions with thorough Scriptural explanations. In 1903, he translated the Holy Service book from Syriac to the local language Malayalam and published it with the blessings of the Church authorities.

===Principal of M. D. Seminary School===
In 1896, by the decision of Managing Committee of the Church, he was appointed as Principal of M. D. Seminary School, Kottayam.<ref name=DCBA1 /> He served as the Principal for eight years, while teaching at the Old Seminary at the same time. His colleagues at the Seminary include the eminent Syriac scholar Rev. Fr. Mathen Malpan of Konat.

===Bishopric===
The Malankara Association meeting which convened at [[Parumala Seminary]] on 2 December 1902 nominated Fr. Geevarghese and Kochuparampil [[Koorilos Paulose|Paulose]] Ramban (later Malankara Metropolitan of the "Bava Kakshi" or the Patriarch faction in the [[Malankara Syrian Church]]) to the office of Metropolitan Bishop. On 2 November 1903 (the first Feast day of St. Gregorios), Fr. Geevarghese Malpan was blessed as a Ramban (monk) at Parumala Seminary by [[Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II|Dionysius V]] (Pulikkottil Joseph Dionysius II). Following this, he moved to the Old Seminary. The Malankara Association meeting of 14 February 1908 officially elected him along with Kochuparampil Paulose Ramban for consecration as Metropolitan. In the same year, the Patriarch of Antioch [[Ignatius Abded Aloho II]] asked the two elected monks to reach Jerusalem during the Great Lent for the ordination. The two-week-long journey began on 13 April 1908. The party which also included [[Baselios Geevarghese II|Kallasseril Punnoose Ramban]] (later Catholicos Geevarghese II), Karottuveetil Fr. Yuyakkim (later Metropolitan Yuyakkim Ivanios) and Dn. Mathews Paret (later Mathews Ivanios) arrived at Jerusalem on 23 April (Holy Saturday). After some delay, the Patriarch Ignatius Abded Aloho II arrived from Turkey. On 31 May 1908, the ordination took place at Sehion House (where Jesus had the Last Supper). Fr. Geevarghese was enthroned as Geevarghese Dionysius Metropolitan by the patriarch.<ref>{{cite book|url=https://img1.wsimg.com/blobby/go/605fd98b-bd66-47c2-84a5-0445aff20154/downloads/class10-part2-eng.pdf?ver=1595626367699|title=Jerusalem Division Class X (English): Part II|date=November 2015|publisher=Orthodox Syrian Sunday School Association of the East|access-date=12 October 2022|pages=80–81}}</ref> The ceremony was attended by representatives of Coptic and Greek Orthodox Churches. Dionysius was appointed as the Bishop of the Malankara Church in general and as the assistant to the Malankara Metropolitan [[Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II|Dionysius V]] The newly ordained bishop served as the Assistant Malankara Metropolitan for almost a year; he became Malankara Metropolitan in 1909.<ref name=MOSCIN />

===Malankara Metropolitan===
On 26 November 1911, the Malankara Association convened at the Old Seminary and elected Geevarghese Dionysius as the successor to Malankara Metropolitan Dionysius V. The next year he assumed full office of Malankara Metropolitan following the demise of Dionysius V and served and led the Church in that capacity until his death in 1934 when he and the Church triumphed in establishing the official constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Varghese |first1=Alexander P. |title=India: History, Religion, Vision and Contribution to the World |date=2008 |publisher=Atlantic Publishers & Dist |isbn=978-81-269-0903-2 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=y7GKwhuea9kC |language=en |pages=364–368}}</ref>

===Rift of the Malankara Syrian Church===
By the early 1910s, there was a rift in the Malankara Church and the two factions emerged, with the Metropolitan faction (Later as [[Malankara Orthodox Church]]) remaining in support and under the Malankara Metropolitan Dionysius of Vattasseril, while the faction supporting the Patriarch (known as Patriarch faction) elected a new Malankara Metropolitan [[Coorilos Paulose of Panampady]] under the Patriarch of the Antioch.<ref>{{cite book |last=Korah thomas|first=Antony|date=1993|title=The Christians of Kerala|page=97|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=39LYAAAAMAAJ&q=koorilos%20Paulose|publisher=[[University of Michigan]]}}</ref>

{{s-start}}
{{s-rel|Malankara Syrian Church Titles}}
{{succession box
| before = [[Pulikkottil Joseph Dionysious II]]
| title = [[Malankara Metropolitan]] of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Malankara Syrian Church]]
| years = 1909–1934
| after = [[Baselios Geevarghese II]]}}
{{s-end}}

==Legacy==

He was an outstanding orator who was well aware of the importance of the vitality and Christian persuasiveness of the [[Bible]] when delivering the speeches to the faithful. Prayers and fasting were the pillars of his spiritual foundation. In addition to the liturgical hours of prayer, he spent much time in private prayers and silent meditations behind closed doors. In spite of his busy schedule, he was also able to focus on three to four lessons from the Holy Bible every day. Despite the many spiritual qualities he shared leadership qualities like domineering charisma and progressive mindedness. The Malankara Orthodox Church recognizes him as a living saint of his time on earth.<ref name=vattasseril>{{Cite web|url=http://www.stgregorioschurchdc.org/cgi/xpage.cgi?doc=vattasseril.doc|title=Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius}}</ref>

Mar Dionysius VI and his fellow clergies have played a central role in elevating the primate of Malankara Orthodox Church to the title [[Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan|Catholicos of the East]].<ref name=WCC>{{cite book|title=Dictionary of the Ecumenical Movement|chapter=Oriental Orthodox Churches|page=756-757|publisher=World Council of Churches|location=Geneva|editor1-last=Lossky|editor1-first=Nicholas|editor2-last=Bonino|editor2-first=José Miguez|editor3-last=Pobee|editor3-first=John|date=1991}}</ref><ref name=CNEWS>{{cite web|url=https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-churches/oriental-orthodox-churches/the-malankara-orthodox-syrian-church/|title=The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association|access-date=9 October 2022}}</ref><ref name=cec>{{cite book|title=The Catholic Eastern Churches|url=https://archive.org/details/catholiceasternc0000attw|author=Attwater, Donald|chapter=The Malankarese|publisher=Bruce Publishing Company|date=1935|edition=1937 revised|page=[https://archive.org/details/catholiceasternc0000attw/page/197 197]}}</ref> By establishing the Catholicate in Malabar, the visionary Metropolitan succeeded in defending the sovereignty and independence of the St. Thomas Christians of India, though the rift between the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and the Malankara Orthodox Church were never resolved and has grown worse over time with regular legal arguments and some physical altercations. Mar Dionysius VI also prepared a first draft of the Church Constitution with the aid of Patriarch [[Ignatius Abdul Masih II]] and of using his profound knowledge in the Canons of the Church. This draft was used to prepare the Church Constitution of 1934.<ref name=DCBA1 /> In his last encyclical, he wrote to the entire Malankara Church: {{cquote|And I commit in each of you the responsibility to upkeep that institution which most of you along with myself truly believe to be indispensable for the survival, prosperity and progress of our Church, and which has been till now painstakingly guarded by all of us, namely the Catholicate.}}

==Death==
{{Unreferenced section|date=September 2024}}
Dionysius VI experienced physical suffering on 13 February 1934, and suffered from paralysis on 16 February. On 21 February, Baselios Geevarghese II administered him the service of Anointing.<ref name=DCBA1 /> Two days later, Dionysius VI died on 23 February 1934, and was buried the next day in the Chapel of Old Seminary, Kottayam, near the tombs of his predecessors.

In his speech that day, Baselios Geevarghese II said: {{cquote|On this first Saturday of the Great Lent, on this day of remembrance of the global Malpan [[Ephrem the Syrian|Mar Aprem]], the great Malpan of Malankara has entered eternal rest. On this day of remembrance of the Martyr [[Theodore the Martyr|St Thevodoros]] who laid his life for our Lord, our Metropolitan, who is eligible to be called ''Confessor'' for suffering similar persecution for the Church, is being interred.}}

==Canonization==

Dionysius VI was exalted as a saint and confessor to the faithful.<ref name=DCBA1>{{cite web |url= https://dcbasia.org/biography/vattasseril-dionysius-geevarghese |title= Bishop Vattasseril, Dionysius Geevarghese, 1858 – 1934 |author= |date= |website= Dictionary of Christian Biography in Asia |publisher= |access-date= 22 January 2026 |quote=}}</ref> On the 69th feast day of Dionysius VI (24 February 2003), he was canonized by the Episcopal Synod of Malankara Orthodox Church headed by [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II|Baselios MarThoma Mathews II]], [[Malankara Metropolitan]] and Catholicos of the Malankara Church. The Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II might have foreseen this when he instructed the sentence "''The time will not dim his glory''" to be engraved on the tomb of Dionysius VI. 23 February is observed as the saint's feast day.

St. Dionysius is the second Indian Saint to be canonized by the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]], after [[Gregorios of Parumala]].<ref>{{cite web |url= https://mosc.in/saints/ |title= Saints |author= |date= |website= Malankara Orthodox Church |publisher= |access-date= 5 February 2026 |quote=}}</ref>

==Churches, monasteries and orphanages==
Honoring the Saint's memory, several churches and educational institutions have been established including St. Dionysius Church, Perukavu (Trivandrum), [[St. Dionysius Orthodox Church|St. Dionysius Church]]<ref>{{cite web| url=http://www.sdocalain.com/st-dionysius/ | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304000420/http://www.sdocalain.com/st-dionysius/ | archive-date=2016-03-04 | title=St. Dionysius}}</ref> in [[Al Ain]], United Arab Emirates, St. dionysius orthodox church Desertland, Dammam (under diocese of Thrissur), St. Dionysius Indian Orthodox Church, Auckland, New Zealand,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/people/StDionysius-Indian-Orthodox-Church-Auckland-New-Zealand/100071843858490/|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, Dasarahalli,<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.facebook.com/St.Dionysius.Orthodox.Church.Dasarahalli|title=Facebook|website=www.facebook.com}}</ref> [[Bangalore]], St. Dionysius Orthodox Chapel, Aravali ([[Gurugram]]) and Dionysius Senior Secondary School in Mallappally, Kerala,<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.mdrishivalleyschool.com/ |title=Home |website=mdrishivalleyschool.com}}</ref> to name a few. M. G. D. Ashram<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://geevarghesemarosthathios.org/images/mgdm.html |title=Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios Metropolitan |access-date=8 December 2014 |archive-date=17 March 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140317092046/http://www.geevarghesemarosthathios.org/images/mgdm.html |url-status=dead }}</ref> (monastery) at Panayampala, Kerala was founded in 1980 with St. Dionysius as its Patron Saint. The Ashram has an orphanage (Balabhavan) in its care since 2000.

==Further reading==
*{{cite book |last=Samuel |first=Rev. Dr. V. C. |title=Truth Triumphs: Life and Achievements of Metropolitan Mar Dionysius VI |publisher=M. O. C. Publishers, Kottayam, India |year=1986 }}
*{{cite book |last1=Cheeran |first1=Rev. Dr. Joseph |last2=Kottackal |first2=K. V. Mammen |last3=Pulikkottil |first3=Adv. P. C. Mathew |title=വട്ടശ്ശേരിൽ തിരുമേനി: മലങ്കരസഭയുടെ കോട്ട (ജീവചരിത്രം) |language=ml |trans-title=Vattasseril Thirumeni: The Fortress of Malankara Church (Biography) |publisher=Kottackal Publishers, Manganam, Kerala |date=February 2002|edition=3rd |orig-year=2001 |url=http://www.marthoman.tv/Vattasseril/vattasseril.pdf}}
*{{cite book |last=Kochukoshy I. A. S. |first=C. K.|title=ധീരോദാത്ത വിശുദ്ധൻ |language=ml |trans-title=The Saint with Exemplary Courage |publisher=St. Dionysius Foundation, Kottayam, Kerala |date=February 2011 |edition=2nd |orig-year=1994 |url=http://www.marthoman.tv/Books/Dheerodatha_Vishudhan.pdf}}
*{{cite book |last=Paret |first=Z. M. |series=മലങ്കര നസ്രാണി (Malankara Nasraani)|title=വട്ടശ്ശേരിൽ മാർ ദിവന്നാസ്യോസ് |language=ml |trans-title=Mar Dionyisus Vattasseril |publisher=J. M. Chemmarappally, Kottayam |year=1965 }}
*{{cite book |last=Paret |first=Z. M. |series=മലങ്കര നസ്രാണി (Malankara Nasraani)|title=നിത്യാക്ഷരങ്ങൾ |language=ml |trans-title=Eternal Letters|publisher=J. M. Chemmarappally, Kottayam |year=1965 }}
*{{cite book |last=Chandanappally |first=Dr. Samuel |series=മലങ്കരസഭാ പിതാക്കന്മാർ (Fathers of Malankara Church)|title=വട്ടശ്ശേരിൽ മാർ ദിവന്നാസ്യോസ് |language=ml |trans-title=Mar Dionyisus Vattasseril }}

==See also==
* [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
* [[Mar Thoma I]]
* [[Mar Thoma II]]
* [[Mar Thoma III]]
* [[Mar Thoma IV]]
* [[Mar Thoma V]]
* [[Mar Thoma VI|Mar Thoma VI (Dionysius I)]]
* [[Mar Thoma VII]]
* [[Mar Thoma VIII]]
* [[Mar Thoma IX]]
* [[Mar Dionysius II|Dionysius II]]
* [[Mar Dionysius III|Dionysius III]]
* [[Mar Dionysius IV|Dionysius IV]]
* [[Mathews Mar Athanasius Metropolitan|Athanasius]]
* [[Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II|Dionysius V]]
* [[Baselios Geevarghese II]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.orthodoxherald.com/2010/03/04/saint-dionysius-of-vattasseril/ Saint Dionysius of Vattasseril]

{{Authority control}}

{{Christianity in Kerala}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Vattasseril, Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of}}
[[Category:1858 births]]
[[Category:1934 deaths]]
[[Category:People from Pathanamthitta district]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church saints]]
[[Category:Indian Christian saints]]
[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops]]
[[Category:20th-century Christian saints]]
[[Category:20th-century Oriental Orthodox bishops]]

Dionysius Vattasseril - Revision history

Mohammedsajib at 19:54, 10 February 2026