LL HG Zechariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan – July 7 I 1924-1997

Zechariah Mar Dionysius Metropolitan was born on 6th August 1924, as the third son to Chandapilla and Elizabeth of Mulamootil Mangalavila family in Kundara. He was baptised by HH Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II, at Kundara Valliya Palli. He had his preliminary schooling in St Kuriakose School, Kundara. He continued his middle and high schooling in St Stephen’s School, Pathnapuram and Intermediate from CMS College Pathnapuram. He became a member of Tabor Dayara in Pathnapuram in the year 1940, at the age of 15, prompted by the special interest of the founder of the Dayara, HG Thoma Mar Dionysius. He took his B.A. from National College, Tiruchirappalli and his B. Ed. from Meston College, Madras.

He studied for his priesthood under the disciplined tutorship of Thoma Mar Dionysius and was fondly called as Kundra Shemassen. He received his deaconship (Kooroyo) in 1945 from HH Catholicos Baselios Geevarghese II, at Old Seminary, Kottayam and his priesthood in 1951. He was also fortunate to spend about six years in the Old seminary with HH and also with Dn. C T Thomas (later HH Baselios Didymos I)  Fr C. Zachariah served the St Thomas Church Broadway, St Thomas congregation Madurai, Neyveli, Trichy and Thiruvarambur. He started teaching in St Stephen School, Pathnapuram and later was also appointed as the Headmaster of Ponniah School, Trichy in 1959. He served as the office secretary of the Holy Episcopal Synod, member of the Board of Studies for Madras University and as editor of Malankara Sabha Magazine.

In 1971 he was elevated as Ramban, by HH Baselios Augen I. On 15 May 1978, at Pazhanji, His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I Catholicos of the East consecrated him as Metropolitan Zechariahs Mar Dionysius. He was the first Metropolitan head of the newly formed Madras Diocese from 1 January 1979.  The Madras Diocese made phenomenal strides in its growth during his term. His Grace’s zeal for mission and vision of life made him embark on some new outreach program in the field of healthcare viz the Madras Medical Mission, the vision of Zachariah Mar Dionysus is a new hope for cardiac patients. Today, it strives to participate in the healing ministry by seeking to foster an environment of caring, compassion and love that enables it to respond to patient needs in enviable ways. He also founded an hospital at Mathur in memory of his guru, Thoma Mar Dionysus and the hospital guidance centre at Vellore entitled ‘Sneha Bhavan’ aimed at lodging the marginally poor and deprived patients flocking to CMC Vellore.  

For fifty-seven years, he was a member of Mount Tabor Ashram in Pathanapuram. He was a bot only simple in looks and dress, but lead a life of utmost humility, though strict disciplinarian. He treated everyone equally, without any distinctions of any kind. He shepherded his flock under one umbrella. He never has a desire for any sort of luxury in life. A lover of solitude, he followed strict ascetic life and was keen that all inmates followed rigid ascetic lifestyle. He observed lent and fasts, strictly without bothering about his health. He was an exemplary spiritual father, writer, and organiser. He handled Tamil with ease, translated the Holy Qurbana and Thaksa into Tamil and celebrated Holy Qurbana in Tamil too. His was particular and happy to maintain constant communion with God at any cost, through Canonical and personal prayers.

He was known for serene worship with an appealing, melodious voice. Thirumeni was a venerable monk, lover of silence an acclaimed preacher, one who deeply contemplated on the Holy Scripture and his interpretation regarding the Biblical verses is well known. His grace felt that service to the sick, the suffering and to the poor is service to god he sowed among the depressed, seeds of hope and love. His grace experience as a farmer, a teacher, a retreat father, a journalist, a monastery superior, a metropolitan, all made him to be a sound herdsman sent by God which went a long way in shaping the course of the Madras Diocese. His mentor Thoma Mar Dionysus described him as a faithful herdsman, sent by God. He passed away on 7 July 1997 in Madras and was laid to rest in Pathnapuram Dayara.