Bishop Emeritus of Tiruvalla Geevarghese Mar Timotheos passed away on Tuesday at 3.30 a.m. at the Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital. The funeral will take place on Thursday, at 2.30 p.m.
Bishop Geevarghese Mar Timotheos was born on February 2, 1928, at Amayannoor, Kottayam District. He completed his primary school education at Gov. L. P. School, Amayannoor, Kottayam; middle school education at Itty Memorial U. P. School, Manarcadu, Kottayam; high school education at St. Mary’s High School, Kidangoor, Kottayam. He joined the Minor Seminary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla in 1943.
Having completed his minor seminary life, he was sent to Papal Seminary in Kandy for philosophical and theological studies. He was ordained a priest on 24thAugust, 1953. He obtained a Licentiate in Spiritual Theology from Gregorian University, Rome. He was appointed Vicar of parishes of Kothamangalam,Nellimattam, Amayannoor, Anchery, Kanjittukara, Kallissery, Paippad and Nedumpuram. He was appointed the Rector of the Minor Seminary in 1967, where he served for 13 years. In 1980 he was appointed Vicar of the Cathedral.
The Holy See appointed him the Bishop of Tiruvalla and he was consecrated Bishop by His Grace Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios on 6thAugust, 1988 at St. John’s Cathedral. He served as the Secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council. He had been the Vice-President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India in 1994. He also served as the Chairman of Caritas India. On 29thMarch, 2003 the Holy See accepted the resignation of Bishop Geevarghese Mar Timotheos as the Eparchial Bishop due to superannuation.
In a condolence note, Bishop of Mavelikara and Vice-President-I, CBCI, Joshua Mar Ignathios, expressed deep sadness and sorrow at the passing away of beloved Bishop Emeritus Geevarghese Mar Timotheos. “Eternal Rest grant unto him O Lord and may the light of your face shine upon him,” he added.