Joshua Mar Ignathios

Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios (born 24 May 1950) is the Metropolitan Bishop of the Eparchy of Mavelikara of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was born at Kottarakara in the Kollam District as the son of Kizhakkevettil Oommen Varghese and Annamma Varghese. They gave the child the name Koshy. He had his primary education at the St. Mary's School, Kizhaketheruvu and he completed his secondary education at the Government High School, Kottarakkara in 1967.
He joined St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum in 1967. He did his Pre Degree at Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. He had his Philosophy and Theology training at the St. Joseph's Seminary, Thiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu, during the period 1970- ’78. He was ordained priest on 2 April 1978 by the Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios. Fr. Koshy Varghese Kizhakkeveettil served in the parishes at Kirathoor, Manjathoppu, Vimalapuram, Susaipuram from 1978 to 1983. He graduated from the Christian College, Marthandom, in Tamil Nadu. He secured his Master’s Degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu, in 1984.
Fr. Koshy Varghese was appointed vicar of the mission stations at Padi, Perampur and Thiruvottiyoor in Chennai in 1983. He started the Mar Ivanios Dispensary, and founded the Sacred Heart School, and served as its Principal from its inception. He took Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education from Kamaraj University, Madurai in 1985 and 1987 respectively. In 1994, he established the Mar Gregorios College and served as its local manager till 1996.
In May 1996 he was appointed Vicar General of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum. He was made Chor-episcopo in 1997. On 15 April 1998 he was appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum by Pope John Paul II. Metropolitan Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios, ordained him Bishop after the name Joshua Mar Ignathios on 29 June 1998.
He did his research on “Leadership, Organizational Health with School Effectiveness” in Stella Matituna College of Education, Chennai and obtained Doctorate from the University of Madras, in 2000.
 
Metropolitan Mar Ignathios was the Vice Chairman of the Labour Movement of the Kerala Catholic Bishop's Conference (KCBC) during the period1998-2000 and later he was elected as its Chairman for the years 2002-2007. He was elected the Secretary of the KCBC and served the Church of Kerala in this capacity during the period 2000-2002. In December 2007, he was elected the Vice President of the KCBC. His Excellency holds chairmanship of the Labour Commission of the Catholic Bishop's Conference of India (CBCI) from 2002 onwards.
Metropolitan Mar Ignathios was an active member of the Nilackal Ecumenical Trust. Along with the Bishops of the Episcopal Churches, His Excellency made several ecumenical journeys and visited many international pilgrim centres. He also visited the World Council of Churches’ Centre at Geneva and attended an International Conference organized by it. He has visited several countries in the West and East for attending various International Conferences organized either by the CBCI or the Holy See.
The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church elected him the first Metropolitan of the newly erected Eparchy of Mavelikara. The inauguration of the new Eparchy and the installation of Mar Ignathios as its Metropolitan took place on 16 February 2007.
Br Publishing Corporation / Brpc published his doctoral thesis School Effectiveness Through Leadership Style & Organizational Health(Hardcover) in 2003
Dr. Mar Joshua Mar Ignathios became the President of the KCBC due to the demise of its previous president Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil on 26 October 2009.KCBC News Page
==References==
 
== Source ==
* Joshua Mar Ignathios
Category:1950 births
Category:Living people
Category:Indian bishops
Category:Eastern Catholic bishops
Category:Syro-Malankara Catholics
Category:Indian Eastern Catholics
Category:People from Kerala