METROPOLITAN ZACHARIAS MAR ATHANASIOS

     

The Third Metropolitan of Tiruvalla 

 

 

   Zacharias was born on 19 February 1908 at Tirumoolapuram in Tiruvalla as the first son of Polachirackal Cheriyachan and Saramma.  His petname was Unnikunju.  He had his education at the MGM High School, Tiruvalla and at the MD Seminary High School, Kottayam.  He became a partner in banking with his relative Polachirackal Kochueappen Tharakan of Kottayam for about twelve years. He belonged to the Orthodox community. He got some books on the Catholic Church from one of his friends and after going through them, there arose a strong desire in him to embrace the Catholic Church.  He revealed his desire to the then Vicar General of the Diocese of Vijayapuram, Fr. Carmalus. With his advice he went to Archbishop Mar Ivanios and got reunited with the Malankara Catholic Church on 22 February 1938. Though a bit late, he gave up his employment in the bank at Kottayam and joined the Seminary to become a priest.
         
      He joined the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Trivandrum, as the Eparchy of  Tiruvalla had no minor seminary at that time.  He was sent to Apostolic Seminary, Aluva to do his Philosophy Course. He was a genius in Syriac and Latin.  On completing Philosophy Course, he was sent to the famous Papal Seminary at Candy in Ceylon (Sri Lanka) to do his Theology Course.  After successfully completing his studies he was ordained Priest at the age of 38 at Candy for the Eparchy of Tiruvalla. Archbishop Mar Severios appointed him the member of the Diocesan Council of Priests in 1950.  He was appointed Titular Bishop of Sarapta and Auxiliary bishop of Tiruvalla by Pope Pius XII in February 1954.  He became Ramban on 27 February 1954 and was ordained Bishop after the name Athanasios on 22 April.  The Pope appointed him Apostolic Administrator of Tiruvalla on 20 January 1955 after the demise of Archbishop Mar Severios.  Later, he was appointed Metropolitan of Tiruvalla on 27 January 1955, which ministry he continued for 23 years. He breathed his last on 28 September 1977 at 7.20 p.m. His mortal remains are entombed at the St. John’s Cathedral, Tiruvalla.