THIRUVALLA, June 5 2019: Geevarghese Mar Timotheos, former bishop of Tiruvalla Diocese of the Syro Malankara Catholic Church, passed away on Tuesday 4 June, 2019 morning. He was 91.

The funeral will be held at St John’s Metropolitan Cathedral on Thursday, 6 June, 2019. He was under treatment at Pushpagiri Medical College Hospital for the past six days due to age-related health problems.

He was born on 2 February 1928, as the first son of Father Jacob Chundevalel and Annamma at Amayannoor, Kottayam District. He completed his primary school education at Amayannoor, middle school education in Manarcadu, and high school education at St. Mary’s School, Kidangoor. The family of Fr. George Chundevalel made their profession of Catholic faith when he was studying in the third forum.

He joined the minor seminary of the Eparchy of Thiruvalla in 1943. Having completed his minor seminary life, he was sent to Papal Seminary in Candy for philosophical and theological studies. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Stem on 24 August 1953. He was appointed vicar of parishes of Kothamangalam and Nellimattom.

He pursued his studies at Gregorian University in Rome and obtained Master’s Degree in Spiritual Theology. 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. His Excellency Isaac Mar Yoohanon, the fourth Bishop of Tiruvalla appointed Fr. George as the Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy in 1984.

At the demise of His Excellency Isaac Mar Yoohanon in 1987, Fr. George was elected the administrator of the Eparchy. Later the Holy See appointed him the Bishop of Thiruvalla, and ordained Bishop by His Grace Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios on 6 August 1988 at St. John’s Cathedral. He served as the Secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC).

He had been the Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in 1994. On 29 March 2003 the Holy See accepted the resignation his resignation from active episcopal ministry at the age of 75. He is a priest for 65 years and a Bishop for 30 years.

source: ccbi