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In his fruitful life, His Grace Mar Chrysostom Metropolitan has been providing leadership to the Mar Thoma Syrian Church and the ecumenical movement from the global to the local context. This is illustrated by his participation and leadership at the Evanston and Uppsala assemblies (1954 & 1968) of the World Council of Churches (WCC); his participation at the Second Vatican Council as Official observer of the Mar Thoma Church (1962- 65); his leadership and participation at the Christian Conference of Asia assemblies and its committees; his leadership as president of various councils and bodies during various periods at the state and national level such as of the Kerala Christian Council, Christian Auxiliary for Social Action and the National Council of Churches in India.
He was ordained as a priest in 1944 and as an Episcopa (bishop) in 1953. He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in 1978 and was installed as the 20th Metropolitan of Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church in 1999. In 2007 he retired voluntarily from administrative responsibilities and continued as the Valiya Metropolitan (Metropolitan Emeritus). Rather than withdraw from public life, he continued to meet, listen to, guide and inspire people across religions and cultures.
Rev. Prof. Dr Ioan Sauca, WCC acting general secretary, reflected: “He lived a long and fruitful life in service of the other. He represented an outstanding leadership of ageless wisdom; mentoring and nurturing younger leaders.”
Sauca added: “A deeply spiritual and humble person, he was very approachable, compassionate and proactive in assisting people in need. He was a great communicator whose wit and wisdom was legendary. Many documentaries have been made, and books have been written, recording his sparking insights and guidance. His humour was directed to make us think and transform ourselves for the better.”
Prof. Dr Isabel Apawo Phiri, WCC deputy general secretary, said: “His Holiness Mar Chrysostom made it very clear that his spiritual journey was guided by responding to the needs of the other. He met God and heard God’s call, responding to challenges of social realities around him.”
She added: “It is as a mark of the values he cherished, that in celebrating his 90th birthday in 2008 , the Mar Thoma Church initiated and completed the Navathy (Ninety) Home Project, to support and enable 1,500 families in India, irrespective of caste, creed or religion, to build a home of their own. In the same vein, on his 100th birthday in 2017, the church officially inaugurated a project among the transgender community to uphold and respect their identity and livelihood.
Rt. Rev. Dr Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa, member of the WCC central committee, said, “Valiya Thirumeni (Metropolitan Emeritus), lived out the commandment of our Lord: ‘By this everyone will know that you are my disciples if you have love for one another’ (John 13:35). His whole life was committed to building communities and the nation, breaking down barriers, narrow religious and domestic walls. His life drew great love and respect from across communities. The Republic of India bestowed Mar Chrysostom the Padma Bhushan a distinguished civilian award for distinguished service to the nation in 2018.”
