H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius, 52, hails from the Thekkil Kandathil family of Valanjavattom, Thiruvalla, and is the youngest son of late T.V.Mathai and Annamma Mathai. His home parish is St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Valanjavattom of the Niranam Diocese. He was barely 16 years of age when he accepted membership in the Society of Sacred Transfiguration, Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram, from the late lamented Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan. H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius graduated from Madras University in 1979 and took his post-graduation (1981) in science with first class and first rank. He took his M. Phil in 1988 and Ph. D in 1995 from the Kerala University. He also has a B. D. from the Serampore University. The certificate in Advanced Christian leadership from the Haggai International Institute, Singapore, burnishes his resume further. H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius was ordained to the priesthood in 1995 by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimotheos Metropolitan (the present Catholicos). Currently, HG is the secretary, St. Thomas Orthodox Clergy Association, Diocese of Thumpamon, and director, Zoology Research Centre, St. Stephens College, Pathanapuram. His most popular work is 'Paristhithy Adyatemeekata' (Environmental Spirituality).

Interview with H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius

ICON: Congratulations on being elected to the Episcopal office. Whom do you credit your success with?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Firstly to God, Secondly to the Holy Church, and thirdly to the Mount Tabor Monastery at Pathanapuram (to which I belong) and its Superior, His Holiness Basalios Marthoma Didymos I.

ICON: What will be your message for aspirants who missed the bus at the association, as well as at various stages of the process?

Fr.MJ: Patiently continue to pray and wait for the will of God.

ICON: His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch is now visiting Malankara. If given an opportunity for an audience with him, what will be your one message?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Requesting H.H Patriarch to execute his genuine and impartial leadership and involvement to re-establish a peaceful union of the two factions in the light of the 1934 Church constitution and the Judgment of the Supreme court (1995).I may also try to expose the actual crisis in the Malankara Sabha and the root causes to be cleared out.

ICON: The relations between the two factions in the church seem to be at their nadir. Do you the see the prospect for a reunion, ever?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: The re-union is normally difficult as the Patriarcal faction has gained all the infrastructural elements for an independent existence, including materials, institutions and even ecclesiastical offices. But still hope remains for the wonderful intervention of Almighty God for re-union, why not?

ICON: Can you suggest some unilateral confidence building measures from the Orthodox Church that will help in lowering the temperature and help facilitate a meeting of minds?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Though our path of truth and patience is being interpreted as our weakness, prayerful patience and co-operation at possible areas in local churches may be helpful to lower the temperature.

ICON: The Malankara Orthodox church seems to be always in the news for the wrong reasons. Is this because we are not presenting ourselves well, or do you think there's room for introspection?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: The major reason is misinterpretation of the Church and its legacy at different dimensions by various agents.

ICON: The Catholicate will be celebrating its 100th anniversary of relocation in 2012. Where do you see the Catholicate in the next 100 years?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: The question itself is pessimistic. Our church is an ancient Indian national Church that exists and functions internationally and it will continue gloriously its Christian witness till the second coming of our Lord, though the Church may experience ups and downs in its mission during its various periods.

ICON: Non-Christians in Kerala, especially those in the media, are confused in making sense of three Christian high priests claiming the title of Catholicos. How will you make them distinguish the genuine article from the spurious?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Our Catholicose is the supreme head and designated as 'His Holiness' while the other two are 'maphrianas'. They cannot claim to be the Supreme head and hence designated to be 'His Beatitude'. One is maphriana under H.H The Pope of Rome and the other is maphriana under HH Patriarch of Antiochian Syrian Orthodox Church.

ICON: The Old Seminary will be celebrating its 200th anniversary in 2015. Isn't it a shame that such an ancient institution of learning appears content to conduct examinations for its aspiring Orthodox priests based on the syllabus prescribed by the Protestant Serampore University? What will be your remedy?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: This is my dream that our Theological seminary (Old seminary) at Kottayam would become a Deemed University with UGC recognition in near future so that curriculum based on Orthodox faith may be included along with classical theological studies. My efforts will be exercised at all possible levels to fulfill this dream.

ICON: Where do you see our seminaries in the next 100 years?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Both of our Seminaries would become more vibrant in imparting theological training for both Clergy and laity

ICON: One or more of you stand the chance of being appointed to North America. The Orthodox Church in North America is blessed in having a sizeable number of US-born youngsters who have heeded the call of God's ministry. Yet many of them, after completion of their courses, are forced to stand in the sidelines because the church is unable to appoint them to an office. How will you reach out to them?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: I have not yet looked into the problem and hence not in a position to comment on the issue.

ICON: There exists a cultural rift in North America between India-born and US-born members. The former are on a nostalgia trip and cling on to traditions (including the language of divine service) for their moorings. The latter are drifting day by day away from the church, unable to make the connection. How will you handle the situation?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Generation gap is a serious concern, not only in America but also in all communities across the world. I think that proper gap filling measures are to be wisely adopted with the consent of the Holy Synod.

ICON: The church has been unable to implement a salary and transfer system for priests in North America. Many priests are almost functioning as idavakapattakkar for decades together. On the other hand, a sizeable section of the clergy pursues secular employment since the church is unable to support them with a proper salary. The church is suffering spiritually because of this. Any thoughts?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: It is more the duty of the American Diocese and its leadership to look in to the issue and to take remedial measures considering the special situation that persists in America.

ICON: Continuing this chain of thought, are you in favour of prescribing a retirement age for bishops? If so, what would be the ideal age for retirement? How will the church utilize the services of its bishops, post-retirement?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: It is unfair on my part to comment up on this issue at present.

ICON: There's a perception among the laity that our bishops lack financial transparency. How will you remedy this perception?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: I shall try my level best to be transparent at all possible levels.

ICON: One or more of you will be appointed to dioceses with control over churches in the Gulf. The faithful in the Gulf are seething at the endless stream of donation-seekers thronging their churches at any given moment. How will you address their grievance that the church is exploiting them solely as a source of funding with little or no concern for their spiritual welfare?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: It is a misconception that the Church has least interest in the spiritual matters of its members in the Gulf region. It is true that the church is extracting financial aid for various projects, but at the same time Gulf members are getting better spiritual care and facilities from various ecclesiastical offices.

ICON: In the Gulf too, there exists a cultural rift between India-born and native-born members. The latter seems to be more comfortable in the milieu of a personalised Christianity characterized by prayer meetings and witnessing. How will you reach out to such lost sheep?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: More pastoral care and work are to be extended in these areas by getting more priestly services.

ICON: Coming to Indian dioceses outside Kerala, with religious fundamentalism on the boil, how will you drive home the message that ours is the original and ancient church of India with its cultural moorings intact?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: By imparting the following two messages we can win over the situation (a) We are Indians by culture, we are Orientals by worship and Christians by religion (b) Our church is purely Indian church with all Indian traditions and culture and its inception is as early as 52 AD.

ICON: Do you think the tradition of a monastic life has died down in the church? How do we revive it and offer laymen a chance to recharge their spiritual batteries through access to monasteries?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: I firmly believe that monastery movements should be properly enhanced at all levels in the Church as Ashrams are the spiritual power re-charging centers. Moreover, true theological and liturgical traditions should emerge from ascetic life of the ashrams. 'Ashramam friends' movements must be started in the present scenario of communities having less population for full time Ashramam life. Ashramam Friends means, people though leading married family life, should follow strict church life and occasionally come to Ashramam environment to refresh their life .

ICON: Our understanding is that there are no theological or Biblical restrictions against women having voting privileges at the parish, diocesan and Malankara Association levels. What measures will you take to help revise our constitution and provide equal status to women?

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius: Steps are already taken in the church to give due respect and privileges to women members.

ICON: Thank you HG for taking time to explain your views and vision to ICON members. We are grateful to you and our prayers are with you as you re-dedicate yourself to assume this most important responsibility.

~ICON Moderators