Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma
Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma XX was an Indian prelate who served as Metropolitan of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church from 1999-2007 and Valiya Metropolitan from 2007 until his death. He was the world's longest serving bishop, serving for. He was addressed and referred to as Chrysostom Thirumeni or Valiya Thirumeni after his retirement. He was also a known humorist. He was awarded India's third highest civilian award, the Padma Bhushan, in 2018.
Early life and education
Philip Oommen was born to the Adangappurathu Kalamannil family which is a part of the Shankarapuri family one of the oldest Aristocracy family converted by Thomas the Apostle which has produced several priests. Tirumeni's father was Vicar General K. E. Oommen, Kalamannil, Adangapurathu, Kumbanad, Thiruvalla. His mother was Sosamma of Nadukke Veettil, Karthikappally.He attended Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor schools, and went on to graduate from Union Christian College, Aluva. He was ordained as a deacon of the Malankara Mar Thoma Church on 1 January 1944 and Kasseessa on 3 June 1944. He was ordained as Ramban on 20 May 1952.
Consecration
In 1950 the Church Mandalam consecrated three bishops, including Philip Oommen. On 23 May 1953, Philip Oommen Ramban was consecrated as Philipose Mar Chrysostom Episcopa. During his tenure he was the president of the National Council of Churches, India and attended World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and Uppsala in 1968. He also attended the Second Vatican Council.Status metropolitan
EpiscopaOn 23 May 1953, Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius Episcopa ordained Oommen as Episcopa and gave him the episcopal title Philipose Mar Chrysostom. M. G. Chandy and P.Thomas were ordained on the same day.
In 1954, Mar Chrysostom joined St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, UK to further his theological studies.
Suffragan Metropolitan
He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978.
Officiating Metropolitan
After Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan stepped aside from the daily administration of the church due to ill-health on 15 March 1999, Mar Chrysostom was designated Officiating Metropolitan.
Metropolitan
Mar Chrysostom was installed as Metropolitan on 23 October 1999 when Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan was made Valiya Metropolitan.
Valiya Metropolitan
On 28 August 2007, Thirumeni announced his resignation as supreme head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on grounds of old age and ill-health