(1)  At the Vettickal Chapel

Geevarghese Corepiscopa stayed at the nearby "Vettickal Kurisupalli" (later Vettickal Dayro) while serving as a Priest of the Mulunthuruthy MarThoman Church.  This 'Vettickal Kurisupalli' that was built in the last quarter of the 12th century, was initially a Chapel of the Mulunthuruthy MarThoman church.   A 'stone Cross' was already established in this place around 75 years before, in AD.1125 itself.  The two famous Kattumangattu Metropolitans, 'Valiya Bawa' (Mor Kurillos I, founder of the Thoziyoor Church) & his younger brother 'Elaya Bawa' stayed at this Chapel for many years.  The mortal remains of the 'Elaya Bawa' (Mor Kurillos Geevarghese, died 1809) was interred in the 'MADBAHO' of this Kurisupalli.  But later, unfortunately this Chapel was neglected.  With the arrival of Chathuruthy Geevarghese Corepiscopa, the Chapel again become a centre of activity in the Church.

'Vettikkal  Dayro' (Monastery),  Near  Mulunthuruthy

There the young Chathuruthy Corepiscopa spent most of the time in prayer and fasting.  During lent, he took food only after 3 p.m. and that too was limited.   The 3rd century Coptic Monk, St.Anthony was his role model.   Geevarghese Corepiscopa preferred to follow a strict Monastic life.   His fame as a Monk spread in and around the place.   He shared his own experiences, about the illness he had in his childhood & his miraculous recovery, with those who approached him.  He advised them to pray for the intercession of Mother Mary.    Many were visiting the Chapel for Prayers with this Monk.  Gradually Vettickal Chapel become the epicenter of the Monastic movement of the Church in that area.  

During the Apostolic visit of the Patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Peter III, Chathuruthy Ramban (Parumala Thirumeni) was his secretary for about two years.  The Patriarch on knowing the strong desire of the Ramban to lead a monastic life, suggested to convert the place at Vettikkal into a Monastery.  Though the Syrian Church in the Holy land and middle east had many a numbers of monasteries built through centuries, in Malankara until then there was not even a single monastery.  Chathuruthy Ramban naturally was very enthusiastic on His Holiness suggestion and consequently he submitted the proposal to the Mulunthuruthy MarThoman church. (Kurisupalli until then was under the ownership of this church.)

On 22nd August 1876, the Mulunthuruthy MarThoman church surrendered this Kurisupally and its premises to the Malankara Church and the visiting supreme head of the Church the 'Patriarch of Antioch' through a circular, allowed it to function as a Monastery.  In 1877 the foundation stone of the Vettickal Dayro - the first monastery of the Malankara Church - was laid at the site and in the same year the new 'Madboho' of the church was consecrated by all the Metropolitans including Chathuruthy Kochu Thirumeni.

Parumala Thirumeni & Kochuparambil Paulose Ramban

It was around that time, Kochuparambil Rev.Fr.Paulose of Mulunthuruthy (later Mor Koorilose Paulose, the "Malankara Metropolitan" of the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church entombed at Panampady church) became a close associate of  Parumala Thirumeni.   Kochuparambil Paulose Kassisso managed the affairs of the Vettikkal chapel when Chathuruthy Ramban (Parumala Thirumeni) was away with the Patriarch of Antioch as His Holiness's secretary.   'Paulose Kassisso' after being ordained as 'Ramban' in 1877, took charge of the Vettickal Dayro when Chathuruthy Kochu Thirumeni permanently left the place to administer the southern dioceses.  Parumala Thirumeni  was very impressed of the monastic life led by the Ramban Paulose.  It was this Ramban Paulose, who reconstructed the 'Dayro' into a two storied structure.  He had the fortune to accompany Parumala Thirumeni, during his famous visit to the Holy City of Jerusalem in AD 1895.  Like Parumala Thirumeni, he too led a pious and Godly life all through.

{With the demise of Mor Kurillos in 1917, Vettickal Dayro came under the jurisdiction of the Malankara Metropolitan, Mor Athanasius Paulose (Valiya Thirumeni of Aluva) and later under Paulose Mor Severious (founder of Koratty Sion Seminary), the Metropolitan of the Kochi diocese under the Holy See of Antioch.  It continued to function as a Dayro even after the reunification of the two Malankara Churches in 1964.   Following the sad split in the Malankara Church in early 1970's, this Dayro came under the administration of Orthodox Syrian Church (Catholicose faction) and its diocesan headquarters functioned there for some years.  Holy relics of Chathuruthy Kochu Thirumeni was interred in this church after its reconstruction during this period.}

(2)  Ordination  as  RAMBAN ('Rabban' in Syriac)

Starting of a new Seminary at Parumala

After the death of the Patriarchal delegate Yuyakim Mor Kurillos in 1872, Pulikottil  Joseph Mor Dionysius  was left alone as Metropolitan of the Malankara Church.   By then, the 'reformists' had taken full control of the 'Old Seminary'  at Kottayam.  So besides fighting a legal battle, Mor Dionysius was forced to start Seminaries for the proper training of  Deacons.  The 'reformist' activities were more vigorous in the Kottayam and Southern Travancore areas.   Many Parishes in the south Travancore including that at Kottayam, came under the influence of 'reformist' group (later Marthoma Syrian Church).  Outside this area, the 'reformists' had influence only at Kunnamkulam.  So Joseph Mor Dionysius planned to start a seminary in the southern Travancore and  finally the place at Parumala was located. He choose the young Syriac Scholar, Chathuruthy Very Rev.Geevarghese Corepiscopa of Mulunthuruthy as the head of the seminary.  

On Sunday the 7th April 1872 (M.E.1047, Meenam 26) , at the age of 24,  Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius ordained the young  Geevarghese Corepiscopa, as  'RAMBAN' at the Mulunthuruthy MarThoman Church and appointed him as the Malpan of the new Seminary at Parumala. 

(There is a doubt over the exact date of the said ordination. Some believe that it was on Saturday the 6th April 1872)

But even after his enthronement,  Ramban Geevarghese continued the stay  at 'Vettikkal Dayro' for completing the copying and translation of some religious books from Syriac with the permission of the Metropolitan Joseph Mor Dionysius. (These manuscripts are still preserved in some churches.)     

So Malpan Fr.Yakoob of Chalakuzhy family from Thiruvalla, was temporarily appointed as the chief 'Malpan' (teacher of theology and Syriac) of the new Seminary at Parumala .

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