About - His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan
Having inherited the missionary zeal from his father, Vicar General Very Rev K E Oommen, His Grace graduated from U C College Alwaye and took up the work in the Ashram at Ankola along with Rev. P J Thomas. His Grace received theological education at UTC, Bangalore and St. Augustine’s College, Canterbury. His Grace became an ordained minister of the Church in 1944 and was consecrated as Bishop with Alexander Mar Theophilus and Thomas Mar Athanasius in 1953.
His Grace was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. His Grace was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954, and at Upsala in 1968. His Grace has been President of different Organizations in the Church and on the Governing Councils of different Colleges. His Grace has attended the second Vatican Council making very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. His Grace has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities, through a registered organization named STARD (South Travancore Agency for Rural Development) he has helped economically backward communities of South Travancore to improve their lot and help them achieve self-reliance.
The administrative acumen of His Grace is far beyond what words can express. His Grace is a spiritual leader, dynamic enabler, prolific orator, voracious reader, pungent writer, tactful negotiator, valiant defender of the law, compassionate at heart and a wonderful team man. His Grace respects diversity of opinion, but would not easily budge or compromise ethical principles. His Grace retains his lovable-ness, humility and simplicity. His Grace is a person with a golden tongue, acceptable to all people irrespective of cast, colour or religious commitments.