LL Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius IV – Oct 12 I Malankara Metropolitan I (1781 – 1855)

Philipose Mar Dionysius was born in 1781, as the son of Kunjandy Mathen Tharakan Anjilimootil and Annamma of Maliyekkal, Maramon in the Anjilimootil family in Pallippad, near Cheppad, Karthikapally Taluk of Alapuzha district in Kerala, India.

Punnathara Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XI) died on May 17, 1825. To select a successor representatives of the parishes met together at Pallikara palli, Thiruvalla under the leadership of Mar Philexinos II of Thozhyoor Church who was the Malankara Metropolitan at that time. The names of Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Kathanar, Kalloopara Adangapurathu Ouseph Kathanar and Kottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. After prayer they cast lots and the lot fell to Philipose Kathanar, twice.

Philipose Ramban was consecrated by Kidangan Geevarghese Mar Philixenos on August 27, 1825 at Kottayam Cheria Palli. The ruler of Travancore issued a Royal Proclamation acknowledging him as Malankara Metropolitan, with Episcopal title Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysious. Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius IV was 107th Successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and the 12^th Malankara Metropolitan from 1825 to 1855 of the Malankara Church and the fourth bishop in the Malankara Church to get this title Dionysius. His tenure was a period of trails and turmoil.

He handled all the issues that propped up and protected Malankara Church.  When he became the head of Malankara Church, the Church maintained cordial relationship with CMS missionaries from England. They started to interfere in the liturgy, belief and administration of Malankara Church. Without the permission of Malankara Metropolitan, they began using Anglican liturgy, for worship in Old Seminary Chapel, Kottayam. These foreign missionaries suggested to reform the ‘Qurbana norms’ according to the protestant standards. Cheppad Thirumeni decided to convene the historic Synod of the representatives of the Church in Puthiyacavu Church, Mavelikara in 1836, January 16 in order to discuss the recommendations of the missionaries. The ‘Mavelikkara Padiola’ was formulated in order to strongly resist the new reforms of the foreign missionaries, which rejected the CMS teachings and Liturgy. He gave strong leadership to Church during the time of CMS Missionaries and Reformation in Malankara Church.

His favourite Disciple, Abraham Malpan, who later formed Marthoma Church, became a strong advocate of reformation in Malankara Church. Cheppad Thirumeni timely Suspended him from teaching at seminary and curbed the growth of Reformation movement in Malankara Church. His courage to take action against his favorite disciple was indeed a very important decision to protect our faith. These actions protected the Orthodox faith.

In 1829, Dionysius IV consecrated Geevarghese Koorilose (Kuthoorey) (1829–56), as a Metropolitan, who later was instrumental in the formation the Thozhyoor church. In 1846, the Patriarch sent Metropolitan Yuyakim Mar Kuriyos of Antioch to Malankara. Later Cheppad Thirumeni gave up the position of Malankara Metropolitan and retired from administrative matters. He passed away on 9th October 1855. He was laid to rest in St. George Church, Cheppad. His Death Anniversary is on October 12^th