From the desk of Dr. JIJIMON K THOMAS

Towering over the Mar Ivanios Vidya Nagar in the northern outskirts of Thiruvananthapuram, the capital city of ‘God’s Own Country’ Kerala, Mar Ivanios College, is the true embodiment of a visionary’s sacred dream. Founded in the model of Santiniketan on 1st August 1949 by Servant of God His Grace Archbishop Mar Ivanios of revered memory, the college has maintained its distinct reputation as a centre of excellence in the academic, cultural and social life of our land through these decades. As we know, the major objective of higher education is to develop virtuous human beings proficient in rational and creative thinking, scientific temper, moral values, etc. leading to the building of an equitable and inclusive society as envisaged by our constitution.

Mar Ivanios College (Autonomous), an institution of higher learning, always cares for a safe and stimulating learning environment and also provides excellent learning experiences with good physical infrastructure and adequate resources. The New Education Policy is designed to provide students with the skills and knowledge they need to succeed in the workplace. The policy also focuses on career-oriented education, providing students with the opportunity to gain real-world experience through internships and other work-based learning opportunities. The leap of modernization and globalization and most importantly the liberalization in higher education have significantly augmented the academic environment of India. To move with this without compromising the quality of learning is a great challenge.

Mar Ivanios College (Autonomous), Thiruvananthapuram is one of the best-run institutions in the country for imparting quality-based education in arts, humanities, science, commerce, and cross-disciplinary areas as well, taking into account the global strategies in higher education. The students are adequately trained intellectually, enriching their moral values and making them conscious of our environment, thus fulfilling the vision of its founder Servant of God, Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

I greet all of you on behalf of the college and wish and pray for you all the best.

Prof. (Dr). Jijimon K. Thomas

Principal

His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum is the patron and manager of Mar Ivanios College.

With a profound love for God and for his fellow human beings, His Beatitude has in a short span of time become the most loved and respected person of Kerala. His Beatitude evinces a great concern for the College personally overseeing the functioning of the College. His Beatitude’s conviction that the essence of Christian faith is love for the human person is evident from the way he takes an active part in the community life of Kerala. The different Christian denominations and Hindus and Muslims hold His Beatitude in great esteem accepting His Beatitude as one among them.

His Beatitude was born on 15 June 1959 as the son of the late Mathew and Annamma Thottumkal at Mukkoor, Mallappally in the civil district of Pathanamthitta and was given the name Isaac. He hails from the traditional Pakalomattom-Powathikunnel family. He completed his primary education from St. Mary’s UP School, Kunnanthanam, and secondary education from St. Mary’s High School, Annikad. Responding to the urge of God within him to surrender his life to the service of his Church and of the larger human community he joined the Infant Jesus Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla in June 1976. Bro. Isaac completed his Pre-degree studies in St. Berchman’s College, Changanacherry. Then he was sent to St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Aluva for the philosophical studies.

In 1978, the Eparchy of Sultan Bathery was erected, bifurcating the Eparchy of Tiruvalla. Bro. Isaac boldly decided to embrace the challenges of a mission diocese and thus opted for the new Eparchy of Sultan Bathery. After completing his philosophical studies and a year of regency, he was sent to the Papal Seminary, Pune for his theological studies. On 22 March 1986, he was ordained a deacon by His Excellency the Most Rev. Valerian D’Souza, the Bishop of Pune. In March 1986 he graduated in theology from the Pontifical Atheneum, Pune. On 11 June 1986, His Excellency the Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Mar Baselios ordained him a priest for the Eparchy of Sultan Bathery.

Fr. Isaac Thottunkal was then sent to Dharmaram College, Bangalore to do Masters in Theology. While doing his Masters, he served as the Vicar of the Malankara Catholic Faithful in Bangalore and contributed much to the founding of the flourishing Malankara Catholic Missions in Bangalore.

Having successfully completed his Masters in Theology in 1988, Fr. Isaac Thottunkal returned to Sultan Bathery and served as the Rector of the St. Thomas Minor Seminary and as the Parish Priest of the St. Thomas Cathedral in Sultan Bathery. Then he was sent to Rome to do Doctorate in Theology. In 1997, he completed his Doctorate in Ecumenical Theology from the University of St. Thomas Aquinas, Rome.

Having returned to his home diocese, he served as the Spiritual Father of the Minor Seminary, the Chancellor of the Eparchy, and as the Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy. He is the author of three books, namely, Emerging Trends in Malankara Catholic Theology: Vision and Contributions of Cyril Mar Baselios, Sabhackum Samoohathinumayi (Malayalam) and Subisheshadeepthi (Malayalam).

Msgr. Isaac Thottunkal was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum and Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe on 18 June 2001 by Pope John Paul II. He was ordained a Remban on 2 August 2001 at St. Thomas Cathedral, Sultan Bathery by Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Mar Baselios, Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum. He was ordained a Bishop on 15 August 2001 at Thirumoolapuram, Tiruvalla by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Cyril Mar Baselios. He assumed the name Isaac Mar Cleemis.

He served as the Apostolic Visitator to the Malankara Catholic faithful in North America and Europe for two years and during this tenure, he took the initiative to strengthen the existing Malankara Catholic Missions in North America and started a new Mission at Rockland. The Mar Ivanios Malankara Catholic Centre at New Hyde Park, New York is the visible fruit of the vision and the toil of Mar Cleemis who could win the wholehearted cooperation of all the Malankara Catholics in North America in realizing this project. Today this Centre is the headquarter of the Malankara Catholic Church in North America. In America, he served as the Patron of the Indian Christian Forum of North America and of the St. Thomas Ecumenical Federation of India in North America.

On 11 September 2003 His Excellency Isaac Mar Cleemis was appointed Bishop of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla and he was installed in office on 2 October 2003 at St. Johns’ Cathedral, Tiruvalla. In February 2006, he was elected the Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India.

On 15 May 2006, when the Eparchy of Tiruvalla was raised to the status of Archieparchy and the Metropolitan Province of Tiruvalla was erected, His Excellency Isaac Mar Cleemis was appointed the Metropolitan Archbishop by His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos. On 10 June 2006 he was installed as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Tiruvalla at St. John’s Cathedral, Tiruvalla.

The Major Archbishop-Catholicos’ See in Trivandrum fell vacant following the demise of His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos on 18 January 2007. The Holy Episcopal Synod of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church convoked on 8 February 2007 elected Most Rev. Isaac Mar Cleemis as the new Major Archbishop – Catholicos. On 10 February 2007, His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the election of Mar Cleemis as the Father and Head of the Malankara Catholic Church. Mar Cleemis assumed the name Baselios Cleemis. He was enthroned Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Malankara Catholic Church and the Major Archbishop of Trivandrum on 5 March 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Trivandrum. He celebrates his heavenly Patron’s Day on 2 January.

Servant of God Mar Ivanios is held in deep reverence for his devotion to God and man. He is a blessed soul who has inspired thousands through his prayer life, charismatic personality, broad vision, ascetic ministry, and untiring efforts for peace and human well-being.

Mar Ivanios was born in Mavelikara in Kerala on 21 September 1882. He was ordained Deacon on 9 January 1900. He took his MA Degree from Madras Christian College in 1907. This won him the familiar appellation ‘M.A. Achen’ as he was the first to acquire this academic distinction among the clergy from the Syrian Orthodox fold.  Soon he was appointed Principal of M. D. Seminary High School, Kottayam where he had been a student. On 15 September 1908, he was ordained, Priest.

During the period 1913-1919, he occupied, on invitation, the coveted Chairs of Professor of Economics and Syriac in Serampore University College, Calcutta. In recognition of his scholarship, he was appointed the Chairman of the Board of Studies for Eastern Languages of the University for a long spell. His commitment to the cause of women’s education is evidenced by the provision he gained at Diocesan College, Calcutta to admit female students from Kerala. On 15 August 1919, he founded the Bethany Ashram imbibing the Indian spiritual traditions and the monastic spirituality of St. Basil. On 1 May 1925, he was consecrated Bishop.

As entrusted by the Synod of the Malankara Church held at Mavelikara in 1926 he took the initiative for the Communion of the Malankara Church with the Universal Catholic Church. But the Synod backtracked from the decision later. Responding positively to the call of the Holy Spirit, Mar Ivanios, with his followers, came into Communion with the Universal Catholic Church on 20 September 1930. Mar Ivanios is rightly revered as the Prophet of Unity. Being the head of the Malankara Catholic Church and the Archbishop of Trivandrum, he shifted his headquarters to Trivandrum in 1932.

Archbishop Mar Ivanios, whom G. K. Chesterton referred to as a “heroic figure” and a “unique priest from the East,” spoke at various foreign Universities and Centres, and commanded great respect among scholars in Europe, America, and Australia. In 1947 the University of San Francisco conferred on him the Honorary Doctorate L. L. D. The Chancellor of the University described him as an “unqualified patriot, renowned scholar, Eastern visionary, Christian philosopher . . . .”

In his pastoral ministry, he made remarkable contributions to various aspects of human life. Convinced of the fact that the empowering of people is possible only through education, he established several educational institutions including Mar Ivanios College. In his letter to the Pro-Vice-Chancellor of Travancore University in 1945, he expressed his desire to establish a college which would offer “courses different from the conventional ones which our present-day colleges usually offer” and thus “open up new paths in offering such courses.” It was also envisaged that the college will provide “all the avenues for co-curricular activities.” This clearly reveals his futuristic vision in higher education.

Being aware that socio-economic well being is indispensable for leading a worthy life, he initiated various programmes for the uplift of the people. His care and concern for them transcended the barriers of religion, caste, creed, and socioeconomic status. On 15 July 1953, he was called to eternal rest.

Thousands of people hail him as a Saint. On 15 July 2007 the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Catholic Church declared him Servant of God as part of the Cause of Canonization.

His Grace Most Rev. Benedict Mar Gregarious was the Archbishop of Trivandrum for more than four decades, heading the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, till the day of his demise on 10th  October 1994. He was a person loved and honored by all, irrespective of caste or creed. With his charisma and dynamism, he involved himself in almost all the developmental activities of the State. He gave a new dimension to spirituality by recognizing the role of action in human life. His contribution to the fields of Education, Agriculture, Rural Development, Housing Economics, and Culture has been very significant and acclaimed as commendable on the part of the Religious Head. He was the first Principal of Mar Ivanios College and also the Patron of the College for four decades

Born in 1916 at Kallooppara in Thiruvalla,  T.E. Vargheese joined the Bethany Ashram, receiving the name Benedict, symbolic of the renunciation of his household life to embrace spiritual life in the priesthood. He was ordained as a priest on 24 August 1944 and was introduced as the Bishop of  Trivandrum on 29 January 1955. He was the president of Kerala Bishop’s  Conference and the Catholic Bishop Conference of India. He traveled extensively across the world.

Besides the Education and Agriculture, he showed a keen interest in Labor, Industry, Housing, Social Services, Religious Harmony, Ecumenism, Environment Problem, and Media. As an Economist he did a great deal as precept and practice to spread modern ideas from the common people.

He implemented a low-cost housing scheme for the homeless. Under the ten-point “Health for a Million Programme” activities were organized under the following heads.

• Education for Health and Development

• • Nutrition Programme

• Special Care for Children

• • Juvenile Guidance
• Maternity care
  • Family Planning  Through Responsible Parenthood

• Socio-Economic Development

• • Environmental Sanitation

• Disease Control, Healing the Sick, Rehabilitation  of the Disabled

• Nature Cure and Yoga Treatment

Besides being a spiritual leader, he was an eloquent speaker, a linguist, an educationist, and an economist. He rightly interpreted the vision of the founder, Archbishop Mar Ivanios to the society and the Gospel of Love to millions.