Philipose Mar Cheysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, The Bishop with Golden Tongue
Most Rev. Dr.Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan, known as man with “Golden Tongue” famous across the country for his unique speech coupled with humour and humanity. He has been guiding Malankara Mar Thoma Church founded by Saint Thomas, disciple of Jesus Christ for years with a vision of uplifting poor and downtrodden in the society. Mar Chrysostom one of the senior bishops across the globe has a reach among all sections of people in the society barring religion and cultural differences. He is dearest among the believers as well as non believers. Apart from this, surprisingly he has admirers among political parties and even from film field.
Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan born Philip Oommen has been a bishop for 64 years, 2 months and 2 days, which makes him the longest-serving bishop in India. He is addressed and referred to as Chrysostom Thirumeni or Valiya Thirumeni. His 100th Birthday was celebrated on 27 April 2017 at Mar Thoma Church Auditorium, Tiruvilla, Kerala. .
Philipose’s father was Vicar General K. E. Oommen, Kalamannil, Adangapurathu, Kumbanad. His mother was Sosamma of Nadukke Veettil, Karthikappally. He did his schooling at Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor schools, and went on to graduate from Union Christian College, Aluva.
In 1950, the Church Mandalam (representative assembly) consecrated three more bishops; Oommen was one of those selected. During his bishop-ship, he was the president of the National Council of Churches, India and has attended World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and Uppsala in 1968. He also attended the Second Vatican Council.
On 23 May 1953, Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius Episcopa ordained Rev Philip Oommen as Episcopa and gave him the episcopal title, Philipose Mar Chrysostom. Rev M.G.Chandy (Alexander Mar Theophilus later Alexander Mar Thoma ) and Rev P.Thomas (Thomas Mar Athanasius) were also ordained on the same day.In 1954, Mar Chrysostom joined St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury, the United Kingdom to further his theological studies.
He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978. After Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan stepped aside from the daily administration of the Church due to physical ailments on 15 March 1999, Mar Chrysostom was designated Officiating Metropolitan.Mar Chrysostom was installed as Metropolitan on 23 October 1999 when Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan was made Valiya Metropolitan. (Senior 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.
The special cover issued on the occasion of Birth centenary of most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom features his portrait. The special pictorial cancellation is a round concentric circle enclosing the logo of Malankara Church. This special cover issued on 27-04-2017 (KL/15/2017).
