His-Grace

His Grace Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius SST

Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese
(01-04-2009 to 02-11-2022)

Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan (Archbishop) of Calcutta Diocese, Director of Bhilai St. Thomas Mission, President/Manager of MGM Group of Educational Institutions under Diocese/Mission and Vice President of Ecological Commission of the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church, is a great Educationist, Research Guide in Science Faculty of Kerala University, Eco-theologian and a visiting Faculty Member of St.Thomas Theological Seminary (STOTS), Nagpur.

Mar Dionysius was born on 15th June 1956 (Baptism name ‘Joseph’) as the youngest son of Mr. T. V. Mathai and Mrs. Aleyamma Mathai of Thekkil Kandathil family in Valanjavattom, Thiruvalla and a member of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Valanjavattom, under Niranam Diocese. He became a member of Mount Tabor Dayara/Ashram (MTD), Pathanapuram on 15th July 1971 as the disciple of His Grace the Most Rev. Marthoma Dionysius, then Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese and founder Superior of MTD. He secured First Rank in the Master’s Degree (M.Sc.) Examination of Madras University and won the ‘Chitnes’ award and the ‘Gold medal’ in 1981for academic proficiency. His Grace (HG) took the M. Phil (1988), Ph. D Degrees (1995) from the University of Kerala and B.D. Degree from the University of Serampore. HG’s M.Th is in Missiological Theology. Mar Dionysius was honoured with D.Litt for his research contributions in the field of Education and Environment by the University of South America in 2017, on recommendation of Dr. S. Radhakrishnan Research & Development Centre at Bangalore, India. HG got advanced training in Christian leadership from the Haggai International Institute, Singapore in 2006.

HG was ordained as Deacon in July 1980 and as a priest on 4th December 1985 by H.G Thomas Mar Thimotheos Metropolitan. His Grace had been teaching in the Postgraduate Dept. of Zoology at St. Stephen’s College Pathanapuram from 1981 as Reader and from 1995 served as the Founder Director of Research Centre until taking voluntary retirement in 2009.

The Malankara Syrian Christian Association that met at Pambakkuda on 11th September, 2008 elected Fr. T. Markose Joseph to become a Metropolitan of the Church. He was professed as a monk (Ramban) in 4th December 2008 and was consecrated as Metropolitan in 19th February 2009 by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Didymos I Catholicos of Blessed Memory at famous Georgian Pilgrimage Church, Puthupally (Kottayam).

From April 2009, HG is serving as the Metropolitan of the Calcutta Diocese under the Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC); also served a short while as Asst. Metropolitan of the Delhi Diocese. His Grace is the Vice President of the Ecological Commission of MOSC and ACCES (Association of CG State Christian Education Societies) and active member in various academic bodies and Organisations.

H.G. has published more than 25 research papers in National/International academic journals, and Ten Books of Scientific/Secular and Religious nature. HG also is a regular contributor for many publications and periodicals on subjects related to Science and Spirituality.

His Grace won the ‘Man of the year’ award from American Biographical Institute in 2003 and prestigious ‘St. Berchmann’s Award’ for the Best University Teacher in 2008. Metropolitan is an active member in various Academic, Educational, socio-environmental and Christian organizations, Associations and Inter-Dialogue Bodies at National and International levels. HG is ever active as a Guide, Mentor, Retreat Father, Preacher, Researcher and Resource Person in Christian Spirituality and Environment with deep commitment to Ecology and Mission concerns.

Date of Birth 15th June 1956
Parents ( Name) Youngest son of late T.V.Mathai and Annamma Mathai, Thekkil Kandathil

Educational Qualifications

Sl.No. Qualification Year Class/ Grade Board/University
1 S.S.L.C 1971 Kerala State Education Board
2 PDC 1975 First Class University of Kerala
3 B.Sc.(Zoology) 1979 I Class, IV rank Madras University
4 M. Sc. (Zoology) 1981 University I Rank with outstanding Grade Honored with the Chithness Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit in 1981 from Madras University
5 M.Phil (Zoology) 1988 A Grade Kerala University
6 Ph.D (Zoology) 1995 Kerala University
7 B.D. (Theology) 1996 First Class Seramapore University
8 Post Graduate Diploma in Advanced Christian leadership 2005 Commendable Haggai International Institute for Advanced Christian leadership, Singapore
9 M.Th (Theology: Missiology) 2019 First class with Distinction Faith Theology Seminary, Kohima : Nagaland ( Recognized by Hr. Ed. Govt of Nagaland Regtd. No. H/RS-5006 dt. 23-9-08) and Associate member of ATA.
10 D. Litt 2017 Honorary Doctrate Award as recommended by Dr.S.Radhakrishnan Research & Development Centre, India University of South America, USA

Merits & Awards

1 Chitness Gold Medal and Merit Certificate from the university of madras in 1981 for proficiency in studies.
2 ‘Man of the Year Award’ in 2003 from the Biographical Institute, America.
3 ‘St. Berchman’s Award’ in 2008 for the best College/University Professor
4 ‘Doctor of Divinity’ from Concordia Lutheran Theological Open University (2016)

Ordinations

Date / Year Details of Ordinations 
July 15th 1971 Accepted as member to the Society of ‘Sacred Transfiguration’, Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram by the late lamented Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan.
July 5th 1980 Ordained as Deacon by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimitheos Metropolitan at Ashram Chapel, Pathanapuram, Kerala.
Dec 4th 1985 Ordained as Priest by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimitheos Metropolitan at Ashram Chapel, Pathanapuram, Kerala.
Dec 4th 2008 Elevated as Ramban (Professed Monk) by H.H.Baselios Marthoma Didymos I at Parumala Seminary, Kerala.
Feb 19th 2009 Consecrated as Metropolitan by H.H.Baselios Marthoma Didymos I at St. Georgeon Orthodox Pilgrim Church / Centre, Puthuppally, Kerala.

Service

Sl. No. Service in Brief 
A. Earlier 
1 Served as Teacher / Professor at St. Stephen’s College, Pathnapuram., Kerala for 29 Years from 1981 to 2009.
2 Served as Reader & Director Zoology & Environmental Biology Research Center, St. Stephan’s College, Pathnapuram, Kerala for 12 Years from 1996 to 2009.
3 Served as Vicar in 9 various Churches under the Diocese of Thumpamon, Kerala from 1986 to 2008.
4 Served as Secretary for Clergy Association, Diocese of Thumpamon for 10 Years.
5 Served as Kollam District President, Joint Ecological Commission, Kerala Christian Council of Churches (KCC).
6 Leader, Haggai International Institute for Advanced Leadership Skills Atlanta, GA 30370, Singapore.
7 Guest Faculty, Department  of Environmental Science, Kerala University.
8 Asst. Metropolitan, Diocese of Delhi for 2 Years.
9 President, Outside Kerala Sunday School Region (OKR-OSSAE) for 5 Years from 2012-2017.
B. At Present
1 Metropolitan, Diocese of Calcutta from 1st April 2009.
2 Director / President, St. Thomas Mission, Bhilai from 1st April 2009.
3 Vice President, Ecological Commission of the Church.
4 Co-President, Church Mission Board & Vice President, Church Mission Board (OKR)
5 Life Member, Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram, Kerala.
6 Research Guide, Faculty of Science, University of Kerala.
7 Life Member, Society for Advancement of Entomology, University of Kerala.
8 State Level TSG Member Kerala State Government Bio Diversity Board.
9 Author & Resource Person in Environment & Eco Theology
10 Vice-President C.G. Christian Education Societies (ACCES)
11 Guest Faculty Eco / Green Theology, St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS), Nagpur
12 Member, Joint International Commission for Dialogue between the Roman Catholic Church and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church since 2019.

In 1981, Deacon joined at St. Stephens College, Pathanapuram as a Lecturer in Zoology. Fr. Markose Joseph became Reader in 1995 and the Director of the Zoology Research Centre in 2000. His Grace was a member of more than a dozen academic bodies and organizations. H.G. has published more than 25 papers in National /International academic journals. H.G. most well-read book is ‘Paristhithy Adyatemeekata’ (Environmental Spirituality) which elucidates Christian humanism and the orthodox theological vision of the environment.

His Grace is an outstanding orator, retreat father, eco-theologian and multi-disciplinary resource person. In 2003, he was honoured by the Board of International Research, American Biographical Institute with the ‘man of the year’ awards.

Countries Visited:

Australia, Behrin, Bhutan, Egypt, Ethopia, Israel (Holyland), Kuwait, Oman (Muscut), Nepal, Qatar (Doha), Singapore, Thailand, UAE, UK (England) and USA.