(Celebrations held on 10th December 2001)

The Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church on  9th December 2001 commemorated the 125th anniversary of the ordination of Saint Gregorious as Metropolitan.   It was on 10th Dec. 1876, His Grace was ordained by the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East 'Moran Mor Ignatius Peter IV (III)' at the famous St.Thomas Church, North Paravur where the mortal remains of Metropolitan of Jerusalem 'St. Gregorios Abdul'Galeel' (AD 1681) is entombed.

Kadavil Mor Athanasius Paulose, Konattu Mor Julius Geevarghese (both ordained on 3rd December 1876) and Ambattu Mor Kurillos Geevarghese (ordained together with Chathuruthy Mor Geevarghese) were the other three who were consecrated as Metropolitans, by the Patriarch at the same Church.

Patriarch Mor Ignatius Peter IV

During the entire period of the Patriarch's Apostolic visit to Malankara, Mor Gregorios (then Ramban Geevarghese) accompanied his Holiness as his personal secretary and it was on the insistence of the Patriarch,  Ramban Geevarghese agreed to be a Metropolitan.  'Mor Gregorious' was named as such by the Patriarch on his ordination, it being the honorable title of the Metropolitan of Jerusalem.  Patriarch while ordaining Mor Gregorious desired to appoint him as the Metropolitan of Jerusalem, but later the idea has to be dropped on the request of Malankara Church. 

Earlier, Mor Gregorious played an important role in the convening of the historical Mulunthuruthy Synod (1876) and for the drafting of Mulunthuruthy Padiyola, in which the history and faith of the Malankara Church is emphatically recorded.  Ramban Geevarghese also had the rare privilege to assist the Patriarch, when the 'Holy Muron' (Holy Chrism) was consecrated in Malankara for the first time.  Later it was Mor Gregorious who was authorized to collect Reshessa (an amount given to the Holy Throne by every family) and he continued this service with utmost sincerity till his last.  

Article related to the collection of 'Ressessa' by Parumala Mor Gregorious

{Source:- Excerpts from the biography of Parumala Mar Gregorious, published in 1903 by Varghese Mappillai of Malayala Manorama, Ref- Page 35}

[Click here or the above image to access the page]

On Sunday the 9th December 2001, a public function was organized at the North Paravur St. Thomas Church to commemorate the 125th year of ordination of Mor Gregorious.   Earlier on the day, the Catholicate-designate Mor Dionysius Thomas (Catholicose H.B. Baselios Thomas I), 'Mor Clemis Abraham' the Chief Metropolitan of the East and all other Metropolitans of the Malankara Syrian Church participated in the celebration of the Holy Qurbono.  The Holy Episcopal Synod convened soon after, recalled the achievements of the Mulunthuruthy Synod and also the involvement of Saint Gregorious (then Ramban Geevarghese) in that historical synod.