Ordination to the Episcopate (1925)

The year 1925 marked a significant turning point in the life of Abo Geevarghese, as he was consecrated as a bishop, taking on the name Geevarghese Mar Ivanios. While this decision was momentous for the Malankara Orthodox Church and the Bethany Ashram, it was not one that he accepted lightly. His journey to the episcopate was defined by humility, reflection, and a deep commitment to his ascetic ideals.

Initially, Abo Geevarghese was reluctant to accept the nomination as bishop. A man dedicated to asceticism and simplicity, he had committed himself to the rigorous lifestyle of the Bethany Ashram. As described,

“He was a quest after divine bliss sought through ascetic orders—living in mud huts, sticking to the strict regimen set for themselves by the ashramites, eating out of earthen bowls, steps forward penury and self-negation.”¹

Faced with the decision, he sought clarity through prayer and reflection, placing the matter before God. At the time, he was also deeply concerned about the postulants who had been waiting since 1918 for formal incorporation into monastic life. He recognized that Metropolitan Mar Dionysius VI would not fulfill this request, which weighed heavily on his heart. Ultimately, Abo Geevarghese decided to yield to the Metropolitan's request, but with one condition: he would accept ordination only as the Bishop of Bethany, free from the administrative obligations of a diocese.²

In his own words, he reflected on the unique nature of his ordination:

“I have not received Episcopal ordination for any of the seven Episcopal dioceses belonging to the Malankara Jacobite Church; no one has enthroned me like this, or no one has appointed me as a bishop of one of them. […] I have not written or uttered a word cursing Saint Leo, the Pope. I have made known to the bishop who ordained me that I cannot even say a word cursing him.”³

This statement referred to the ancient Jacobite tradition that required bishops to denounce the Council of Chalcedon and Pope Leo I as part of their ordination. Abo Geevarghese refused to participate in this practice, which made his episcopal ordination even more extraordinary.

On January 1925, during the Feast of the Mother of the Seed, Abo Geevarghese was elevated to the position of Remban at the Thirumoolapuram Church.⁴ Then, on May 1, 1925, at the age of 42, he was ordained Bishop of Bethany at the Niranam Church. The ceremony was conducted by Catholicos Mar Gregorios, the Metropolitan of Niranam, and two other bishops.⁵

The name Geevarghese Mar Ivanios was chosen for his episcopal title, honoring Saint John the Apostle (Ivanios in Greek), who was known as the messenger of peace and love. Mar Ivanios remarked,

“Although I have taken the name of the Apostle who was a messenger of peace and love, to live up to his name would require the blessings of the other bishops and the prayers of all gathered here.”⁶

Following the ordination, a public meeting was held in the church premises to felicitate the Catholicos and the newly consecrated Bishop Mar Ivanios. During his speech, Mar Ivanios articulated the ideals of the Bethany Ashram, the mission of a Syrian Christian, and the responsibilities of the Catholicos. He also boldly called for the reunion of all Christians in Kerala under one Church, “under one Shepherd.” ⁷

In his address, Mar Ivanios reflected on his lifelong commitment to asceticism and the spiritual mission of Bethany:

“I was making a humble effort to discipline myself in the religious life for which I had an irresistible craving from my childhood itself. […] The mission of the community was to love God above all and for His sake love and serve the people and communities around us.”⁸

He further elaborated on the Ashram’s role in bringing blessings to the Christian and non-Christian communities alike:

“We believe that God who has called us to this extremely pure ascetic life will bless us with the grace that we do not really deserve and through us shower blessings on this community, all the Christian communities of this place and all the communities of this country. God's grace will never fade. We make use of this opportunity to thank the bishops who have elevated the founder of Bethany to the position of the Bishop of Bethany.”⁹

The ordination of Geevarghese Mar Ivanios as the Bishop of Bethany not only affirmed the growing prominence of the Bethany Ashram within the Malankara Orthodox Church but also set the stage for his future leadership in shaping the Church’s mission. His vision for unity, simplicity, and a life centered on Christ’s teachings continued to inspire both the Ashram and the broader Christian community.

1. G. Onakkoor, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, p. 66.
2. G. Onakkoor, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, p. 73.
3. T. Inchakkalody, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, vol. 1, p. 226.
4. S. Anniyil, Memories of Mother Salga, p. 39.
5. T. Inchakkalody, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, vol. 1, p. 145; cf. also Bar Sleeba OIC, Brief History of the Bethany Order of the Imitation of Christ, p. 153.
6. T. Inchakkalody, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, vol. 1, p. 145.
7. Speech of Bethany Bishop after His Episcopal Ordination (Malayalam: Metrabhishekanantharam Nadathiya Marupadi Presangam), in Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC (ed.), Vishvasadhorani: Notable Speeches of the Servant of God Mar Ivanios, Trivandrum, 2010, pp. 47–75.
8. Thomas Mar Anthonios OIC (ed.), Vishvasadhorani: Notable Speeches of the Servant of God Mar Ivanios, p. 49; see also “Mar Ivanios' Speeches on the Occasion of His Consecration,” in Bethany Magazine, Tiruvalla, 1925, p. 196.
9. T. Inchakkalody, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, vol. 1, p. 160.