LL HG Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius – Nov 5 I 1924 – 2007 /(100th Birth Centenary Year)

An Upholder of Orthodox faith and Discipline, his outstanding contribution to the Orthodox Community was the establishment of the new Seminary in Nagpur in 1995, paving the way for the special training of the clergy suitable to North India and a centre of all spiritual activities of the Orthodox people outside Kerala.

H. G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was born on 2nd October, 1924 as the fifth child of Mr. Kurian and Mrs. Mariamma of Kayyalathu family at Pathamuttam, Kotayam, Kerala. He was ordained as deacon on 25 April 1946 at Sleeba Church, Pathamuttam and as a priest on 2 October 1947 by H. H. Geevarghese II, the Catholicos of the East.

He started his humanitarian services from Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh as the parish priest in 1952. He obtained his B.A. from D. N jain College Jabalpur and M.A. degree in History from Mahakoshi Mahavidayala Jabalpur University. Later he went abroad and acquired his degrees of B.D. from General Episcopal Seminary, New York and STM in Theology from Konnett Berkeley Divinity School United States. He also served as vicar of Bombay, Malaysia, Singapore, Bahrain and many other parishes at different times. He was appointed as the Director of St. Thomas Orthodox Church Mission, Bhilai in 1972. He was elected as a bishop on 2 October 1974. He was ordained as Ramban in 15 February 1975 at St. Mary’s Orthodox Church., Puthencav. Later, he was consecrated as a Bishop on 16 February 1975 at Niranam Valiyapally and was given the charge of the Madras Diocese in 1975. In 1979 he was selected as the first Metropolitan of the Diocese of Calcutta. In recognition of his meritorious services to the Church, he was bestowed with the dignity of Doctor of Divinity by General Theological Seminary, New York in 1990.

A knowledgeable educationalist, the most tangible result is the big row of 26 educational institutions, that adorn his Diocese including on Engineering college and an Arts and Science Post Graduate College. Ardent lover of farming and his greatest enjoyment was the sight of green crops around him. ‘Imparting value-based quality education at affordable cost’ to the down-trodden and weaker sections of the society was his vision and mission. It was this spirit of selfless service that led him to the eventual establishment of St. Mary’s Nursery School in Bokaro. The school had a humble beginning but since flourished into a successful and devoted mission with the valuable prayers of the saintly Bishop and the hard work of people associated with it and, of course, the good wishes of our valuable patrons.

Apart from being an eminent educationist and a humanist he was instrumental in multifarious philanthropic activities too. He was a man of Godly Ordain with deep devotion and commitment. He was positively oriented with a unique personality yet solitary in every dimension. He devoted himself for the Christian witness in North India, where he dedicated his entire life and true to his wishes.

Mar Theodosius, an Orthodox evangelist, and humanist, had a wholistic concept of mission, saw mission as the development of the whole man, city or village, the physical, spiritual, economic and social development. He created mission centres Makkodia, Itarsi, Sarni, Bhopal, Bastar Jabalpur etc….

Illustrious bishop, embodiment of love and simplicity, loyal and sincere shepherd, he entered his eternal abode in Muscat on 5th. November 2007. His mortal remains were laid to rest in the very soil where he toiled and sweat. As he was at the humblest summit of his mission, His Grace was called to the Heavenly Abode on 5th November 2007 and is laid to rest at St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai, Chattisgarh, India. The joy of this soul will know no bonds if some of us or our children become the torch – bearers of the flame kindled by him and walk in his footprints.