Kuttikkattil Paulose Mar Athanasios, popularly known as Aluvayile Valiya Thirumeni, was the Metropolitan of the Angamaly Diocese of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church.
Valiya Thirumeni was born in the village of Aluva. His English education took place at the Alwaye Government High School, and he was later sent to the Syrian seminary at Kottayam, under the direct care of Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II. He completed the seminary course and simultaneously passed the matriculation exam at the CMS College Kottayam.
After graduation, Valiya Thirumeni was appointed as a teacher (malpan) in Thrikkunnathu seminary, teaching there until 1895. Later the diocesan Metropolitan Paulose Mar Athanasios Kadavil entrusted him with supervising the construction of St. Mary's Church at Thrikkunnathu.
On 25 November 1898, Valiya Thirumeni was ordained as a priest (Kassisso) by Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios Chathuruthiyil. On 28 November, he was elevated to monk (ramban) by the then Malankara Metropolitan H.B Pulikkottil Mar Dionysius 5.
In December 1917, Kochuparambil Paulose Mor Koorilos died, Valiya Thirumeni was selected to lead the Malankara Church. He took office in January 1918.
Thirumeni also founded the Brotherhood of St. Antonios and the St. Mary's Sisterhood, with the aim of building a base for the monastic movement in Malankara. He also encouraged the development of a centre for theological studies at Thrikkunnathu Seminary.
In 1931, Patriarch Mor Ignatius Elias III visited India to strive for peace in the Malankara Syrian church. Thirumeni accompanied Patriarch Mor Ignatius Elias 3 throughout the apostolic visit and participated in the meetings that were held with the aim of achieving a long-standing peace. However Patriarch Elias died before accomplishing his peace mission, and was entombed at the St. Ignatius Monastery, Manjinikkara. Thirumeni led the ceremony of the Patriarch's last rites
Mor Ignatius Aphrem I Barsoum of the Patriarch of Antioch gave him a honorary title "Defender of the True Faith" (Sathya Viswasa Samrakshakan).
In 1945, due to his advancing age, Mar Athanasios requested additional help. Fr. Geevarghese Vayaliparambil and Ramban Paulose Mulayirickal were elected and consecrated bishops Geevarghese Mar Gregorios Vayaliparambil and Mulayirickal Paulose Mar Severios by Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem I. Vayaliparambil Mar Gregorios served under Mar Athanasius in the Angamali diocese and Mar Severious was assigned to the Kochi diocese.
In 1951 Abraham Mor Clemis was ordained to the Knanaya diocese, and in 1952, Paulose Mor Philoxenos was consecrated. He assumed the charge of the diocese just two weeks befordeath of Mar Athanasios.
Valiya Thirumeni died on 25 January 1953 at the age of 84. The next day he was buried at the northern side of the madbho (altar) of St. Mary's Church in Thrikkunnathu Seminary.
On 18 September 2009, the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Was permitted the reciting of the name of St. Athanasius Paulose in the 5th Tubden. Henceforth, his name was remembered in all Malankara Jacobite Syrian churches worldwide, after the names of St. Gregorios Abdul Jaleel and St. Osthatheos Sleeba.
The Mar Athanasios College of Engineering at Kothamangalam, the Mar Athanasios High School at Nedumbassery, and the Mar Athanasios English Medium School at Puthencuriz are all named afterr Valiya Thirumeni. In 2006, the Mar Athanasios Cathedral was founded in Puthencruz.
Published by the Sunday School Magazine
2021 June 27
The family concluded the conference
2016 October 14,15,16
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