Punnathra Mar Dionysius III – May 19 I Malankara Metropolitan (1785 – 1825)

Punnathra Mar Dionysius III, was born as Kurien in 1785 in the well-known Punnathara family, Kottayam. Soon after his ordination he was appointed as a priest in his home parish Kallumkathra. As a representative of his parish he attended several meetings connected with the establishment of the Syrian Seminary. It was his suggestion during the time of Mar Thoma IX to establish the Syrian seminary at Kottayam, Kerala’s first educational institution. He also welcomed some of the first missionary teachers who arrived from England to teach in the seminary.

Dionysius had a long career in the Malankara Orthodox Church prior to his consecration as Metropolitan. In 1816, following the demise of Mar Dionysius II, who had not appointed a successor and Geevarghese Mar Philexenos did not want to take over the Malankara church. He convened a general assembly of the representatives of the Parish Churches (Malankara palli-yogam) and they selected Punnathara Kurien Kathanar as the next Metropolitan. Kurien Kathanar handed over the responsibilities of Kallumkathra parish to Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan. Thus, Punnathra Kurien Ramban was elected to succeed Mar Dionysius II as the Malankara Metropolitan was ordained as bishop by Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos (Kidangan) of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church on 19 October 1817. Thus, Mar Dionysius III, also known as Punnathra Mar Dionysius was 11th Malankara Metropolitan and Successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas from 1817 until his death. 

During the time of Punnathara Mar Dionysious the Anglican missionaries maintained cordial relations with the Malankara Church. Rev. Joseph Fenn arrived in October 1818 and was made the principal. Rev. Henry Baker arrived in 1819 April went round the parishes establishing schools near the Churches and assisting in the theological education at the Seminary without interfering in the faith and administration of the Church. As a representative of his parish he had attended a number of meetings connected with the establishment of the Seminary.

Punnathara Mar Dionysius, wished to purify the Church, in various erroneous teachings that had crept into the Malankara Church. He convened a meeting on Dec 3 1818, at Mavelikara to suggest improvements and appointed a six- member committee. Thus, the first steps for purification of faith started of our Malankara Church.

During the time of Punnathara Mar Dionysious, the relation with rulers of Travancore and Cochin was very cordial. The, then Ruler of Travancore Maharani Gowri Parvati Bai gave a number of privileges to the Seminary. For the first time in Travancore in 1818, Maha Rani appointed a number Christians as Judges. By 1825 there was an outbreak of Cholera in Kerala. A number of people lost their lives. Due to this disease, Punnathara Mar Dionysius passed on 17 May 1825 and was interred in the Holy Madbaha of Kottayam Cheriapally (St. Mary’s Orthodox Church). The memorial feast of Mar Dionysius III is observed on 19 May.