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.