Pulikkottil Dionysious Joseph II, also known as Dionysious V (12 November 1833 – 11 July 1909), was the Traditionalist claimant to the

Metropolitanate A metropolis, metropolitanate or metropolitan diocese is an episcopal see whose bishop is the metropolitan bishop or archbishop of an ecclesiastical province. Metropolises, historically, have been important cities in their provinces. Eastern Ortho ...

of the

Malankara Church The Malankara Church, also known as Malankara Syrian Church, was the unified body of '' Puthankur'' Saint Thomas Christians who claim origins from the missions of Thomas the Apostle. This community, under the leadership of Thoma I, oppos ...

from 1865 to 1889, and undisputed 14th Metropolitan from 1889 until his death in 1909.

Early life

Joseph (Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II) was born as the son of Tharu Kurien and Thandamma, daughter of Paingamukku Kuthooru Geevarghese Kathanaar, on 12 November 1833, into the family of Pulikkottil (Kunnamkulam). Pulikkottil is a family which moved from Arthat and settled in

Kunnamkulam Kunnamkulam is a municipal town located in the Thrissur District of Kerala, India, with historical origins tracing back to the Paleolithic age. Renowned for its deep-rooted cultural heritage, vibrant printing industry, and religious diversity, ...

. Tharu Kurien, a member of this family was the nephew of Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious I. In addition to theology and Syriac he learned Sanskrit and Hindustani at

Ordination

He received the deaconship from Cheppad Mar Dionysius on 6 October 1846 and on 18 August 1853 he was ordained as a priest by Metropolitan Yuyakim Mar Kurilos at Challiserry church. On 29 April 1865 at Ameed (modern day

Diyarbakır Diyarbakır is the largest Kurdish-majority city in Turkey. It is the administrative center of Diyarbakır Province. Situated around a high plateau by the banks of the Tigris river on which stands the historic Diyarbakır Fortress, it is ...

), Patriarch Yakoob II elevated him to the rank of Ramban. On 30 April he was consecrated as Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysios.

Malankara Metropolitan

During the eventful forty-four years between 1865 A.D to 1909 he adorned the Malankara Metropolitan's position with extraordinary skill. It was during his period that the Mulanthuruthy Synod presided by Ignatius Peter IV Patriarch of Antioch, division of dioceses and the 'Holy Mooran Koodasha' took place. Through his unstinting effort, spiritual organisations like Sunday School and Students movement, and Church institutions like Parumala Seminary, Kunnamkulam Sehiyon Bungalow, Kottapuram Seminary and Kottayam M.D. Seminary developed.

Golden Jubilee

In 1901, the grand occasion of the golden jubilee of Ordination of Mar Dionysius V was celebrated like a festival in the city of Kottayam.

Student movement

During his reign as Malankara Metropolitan, the prominent clergy, laymen and zealous students including members of the diaspora came together with the idea of initiating a Students' Movement of the Church by late 1907. The first annual conference of this Movement was held at Balikamadom School, Thiruvalla on 1, 2 and 3 January 1908 with the blessings of Mar Dionysius V. During this conference, Rev Fr. V. J. Geevarghese Ramban (of Vattasseril) made a captivating speech on 'The Rituals in our Church'. This Movement grew in strength and stretch, expanding its reach to the students abroad with the motto ''Worship, Study, Service'', assuming the name Mar Gregorios Christian Students Movement commemorating St. Gregorios of Parumala by Mor Athanasius Paulose Kuttikkattil, Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Church, this student movement is now known as Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement

Last days

After entrusting the responsibilities of his office to his successor Mar Dionysius VI, Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II died on 11 July 1909. His mortal remains were interred in the northern side of the chapel in the Old Seminary (Pazhaya Seminary, known as the Orthodox Theological Seminary). The Church observes the day of his memorial on 12 July. The Episcopal Synod honoured his memory by conferring the designation ''"Malankara Sabha-Thejas"'' (Malayalam: മലങ്കര സഭാ തേജസ്‌, meaning 'radiance of the Church').

Succession

Biographies

Of the many biographies of Mar Dionysius V published till date, one of the most authoritative works is 'The Biography of Mar Dionysius V' written and published by Kandathil Varghese Mappillai.

References

External links

http://marthoman.tv/dionysius_ii_pulikkottil/index.html – Life and works of Joseph Mar Dionysius Pulikkottil II Malankara Metropolitan

* ttp://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikottil.htm http://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikottil.htm – Biography of Pulikottil Thirumeni
https://web.archive.org/web/20070927043211/http://www.indianchristianity.org/orthodox/former_catholicos1.html

* ttp://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikkottil.htm http://www.syrianchurch.org/PulikottilII/Pulikkottil.htm – Detailed biography of Pulikottil Thirumeni {{DEFAULTSORT:Dionysious 05 Indian Christian religious leaders Oriental Orthodoxy in India Christian clergy from Thrissur district Syriac Orthodox Church bishops 1833 births 1909 deaths Christian clergy from Kerala Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church bishops Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians