Mar Ivanios Venerated as a Pillar of Holiness by the Syro Malankara Catholic Church

In an ardent display of joy and veneration, the Syro Malankara Catholic Church has celebrated the elevation of Archbishop Mar Ivanios to the status of Venerable — a momentous milestone on the path to sainthood within the Catholic Church.

The declaration of Mar Ivanios as Venerable signifies his advancement in the canonization process, which follows a series of rigorous steps that begin with the title of ‘Servant of God’. Subsequently, the individual’s “heroic virtues” are recognized, and they are bestowed with the title of ‘Venerable’. Being declared Venerable is an acknowledgment by the Church of Mar Ivanios’s heroic virtues and a life lived in steadfast faith and service.

This sacred occasion was marked with a solemn Eucharistic celebration and memorial service at the St. Mary’s Major Archeparchy Cathedral in Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, overseen by Major Archbishop Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos.

The luminaries of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, including Tiruvalla Archbishop Abune Thomas Mar Koorilos, Mavelikara Bishop Abune Joshua Mar Ignathios, Gurgaon-Delhi Bishop Abune Thomas Mar Anthonios, Parassala Bishop Abune Thomas Mar Eusebios, Moovattupuzha Bishop Abune Yoohanon Mar Theodosius, and Curia Bishop Abune Antony Mar Silvanos, were present to honour the life and legacy of Archbishop Mar Ivanios.

The beatification process, which confers the title of ‘Blessed’, involves the confirmation of a miracle attributed to the candidate’s intercession. Canonization, the final step in declaring a Catholic faithful as a saint, necessitates a second miracle post-beatification and further scrutiny by the Congregation for the Causes of Saints. The Church has now officially recognized Archbishop Mar Ivanios as ‘Venerable’, solidifying his role as an exemplar of piety and holiness.

As preparations begin for the grand remembrance day on July 15th, the faithful of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church reflect upon the extraordinary journey of their new Venerable. The recognition of Archbishop Mar Ivanios’ sanctity is not only a profound honour for the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church but also a spiritual encouragement for the faithful worldwide as they witness the embodiment of holiness through his life’s work.