About Us

Mar Koorilose-V belonged to the well-known Pulikkottil family of Pazhanji. His parents were Variath and Mariam. The future Metropolitan was the youngest of their twelve children, all the others of whom passed away early in their childhood. He lost his mother also in his boy hood, but his father lived to see his son consecrated a bishop.

Geeverghese had to discontinue his studies after he had passed the lower primary examination from the local school but his thirst for knowledge made him a voracious reader and by his own endeavour he became a scholar in Syriac. Though he had not been able continue his own studies he was anxious to get others educated. So he started schools at Porkulam, Chalissery and Thozhiyur. In some places he had to face bitter opposition from the managers of neighbouring schools. He was interested not only in secular education but also in religious education. He sent the clergy to the theological institutions at Serampore and Kottayam.

His love and sympathy for the poor was not confined to his church. He helped all, irrespective of caste or creed. It is said that once a poor Hindu boy came to him and requested help to continue his studies. The Metropolitan took pity on the boy and promised to give him his tuition fees. One day as usual the boy presented himself before the Metropolitan who asked his secretary to pay the fees. But the secretary said that there was no money available except Rs3, kept to purchase wheat since the Metropolitan was diabetic. The Metropolitan asked him to give the amount to the boy and added that he would gladly forgo his meal of wheat and share their meal of rice. It was a time when the church was bankrupt due to the fall in the price of coconuts, the main yield of the church estate.

Another incident which shows Mar Koorilose-V’s compassion for the poor is that of Nzhiyath Krishnan Nair who eventually the manager of ‘Matrubumi’ newspaper became. While Krishnan Nair was a student in the church primary school, the Metropolitan happened to hear him recite a poem during the school anniversary celebration. He was much pleased and since then he used to call the boy to his residence and listen to his recitation. But when he passed the primary classes he had to discontinue his education for his parents were very poor. So the Metropolitan himself undertook to educate him. As the boy was bright and clever he soon rose to prominence and became an employee on the ‘Mathrubumi’. Krishnan Nair remained very grateful to his benefactor. In 1952 when a high school was started at Thozhiyur he promised to sponsor a student. Later he instituted an endowment to give a scholarship annually to the boy who comes out first in the final examination of CMUP School, Thozhiyur, where Krishnan Nair had his early education.

The Metropolitan was generous too. It was the time of ‘Khilafat’ (the Mappila rebellion in Malabar). One day the Deputy Collector came to the Metropolitan along with a Muslim who was under arrest. The man previously had illegally taken possession of a property that belonged to the Church. He was suspected of being an accomplice in the rebellion. Although he pleaded his innocence, he was not released. It was made clear that he would not be released unless a responsible person of the locality would speak for him. The Metropolitan, as soon as he saw the Muslim, said ‘Oh, yes, he is loyal’.

The Metropolitan was very influential among the high officials of the time.

Sir C. Sankaran Nair, a member of the Viceroy’s executive council, and Mr. Statham, the Director of Public Instruction in Madras, were some of the dignitaries who visited him and signed the Visitors’ Book. He had also the privilege of nominating a member to the District Education Board. A.T.George Alimoottil was his nominee for a long period. Mar Koorilose-V was an eminent administrator. He paid special attention to office work as well. Records and accounts were checked and scrutinised by him every month.

The Metropolitan also had to experience certain vicissitudes of fortune. Every evening he used to go out in a horse and cart. One day the cart turned aside and fell into the paddy field close by, causing an injury to his right foot. Within a few days it became worse and the doctors believed that amputation of the foot was the only remedy. But he himself refused to agree. At last Dr. Homes, the Royal Physician of Cochin, was called in and he dared to conduct the operation, which took place in the episcopal palace itself. By the grace of God the Metropolitan recovered speedily, the only legacy of the accident being a permanent scar on his right foot.

Soon after Mar Koorilose-V recovered he determined to find a suitable suc­cessor. The choice fell upon Father Paulose of the Panakal family. He was ordain­ed as Ramban in 1907 and consecrated as bishop under the title Paulose Mar Athanasios in 1917. He was suffragan till his death in 1927 when he passed away following a severe attack of asthma. He was the great nephew of the late Joseph Mar Koorilose IV who had been the Metropolitan from 1856 till 1888.

The contribution of Geeverghese Mar Koorilose-V to the church is consider­able. Besides the educational institutions, he established churches at Pazhanji and Kallumpuram. The church at Pazhanji lies in the heart of the town, so he had to surmount serious difficulties before he could obtain permission from the government. The church at Kallumpuram, Two miles north of Pazhanji, was a blessing to the local people, for till then there was neither a church nor a good road leading to the neighbouring churches at Pazhanji and Chalissery. In order to fund these institutions and churches he had to pledge some of the church properties, for in those days the price of coconut, the main product of the church estate, had fallen very low.

As described above, in 1893 he participated in the consecration ceremony of Titus-I Mar Thoma along with Joseph Mar Athanasios. It was he who ordained Titus-II in 1898 and Abraham Mar Thoma in 1917 as Ramban. He also participated in the consecration ceremonies of both. In 1924 he took part in the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the consecration of Titus Mar Thoma II.

Even a brief account, such as this, of the life and message of the Metropolitan, would be incomplete without a mention of his devotional life and religious fervour.

He would never tolerate anyone to distract his prayers. Once there was an ordination ceremony at Porkulam, The native place of the candidate to be ordained. The church was so small that it would not accommodate more than a hundred or two. In those days, such occasions being rare, there was a large gathering. When the prayers began some miscreants pushed from behind and a few, especially children in the front, fell flat upon the floor of the sanctuary. The Metropolitan with all seriousness advised the congregation to attend to the prayers reverently. The prayers continued, but the unruly mob paid no heed to him and they once again disturbed the service. The Metropolitan turned back. His face shone like that of an angel. He said ‘Cursed be the man who disturbs the service’. No sooner did he utter these words than a sturdy young man fell unconscious. At once he was removed. Silence ensued and the service continued. After the service the Metropolitan came to that man who was still unconscious, laid his hands upon him and prayed. He regained his senses and begged for pardon. Every day Mar Koorilose-V used to get up before the sun rose. It was the time for his morning devotion which lasted more than an hour. His favourite book for devotion was the psalms in Syriac. Before the celebration of the Holy Qurbana, he used to confine himself to his study for the preparatory prayers. His birthday fell on 15 August and it was his never-failing custom to celebrate the Holy Qur­bana on every day in that month. His intonation and sweet voice made his service very solemn and attractive. Such attributes have won him a place of honour as a prominent Metropolitan of the Thozhiyur Church.