Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII)

Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius (Mar Thoma XII) was the a Malankara Metropolitan from 1825 to 1855 of the Malankara Church. His tenure was a period of turmoil. The Malankara church severed its relations with the Anglican missionaries; some of its members joined the C.M.S. Church

Philipose Mar Dionysius was born in 1781 at the Aanjilimootil family in Pallippad, a place near Cheppad.Cheppad is a scenic village located at Karthikapally Taluk of Alapuzha district in Kerala State, India. It is halfway between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47

After the great swearing in 1653 it became necessary to appoint a bishop. For this purpose a special chair was made and the first bishop of Malankara church, Mar Thoma I was enthroned. It is in the possession of the Mar Thoma Church and is kept at Tiruvalla. It has been used in the installation of every Mar Thoma Metropolitan, so that the continuity of the throne of Mar Thoma is ensured. This was the throne used for the consecration of Mar Thoma XII, Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysius.

Malankara ThronePunnathara Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XI) died on May 17, 1825. To select a successor representatives of the parishes met together at Pallikara palli under the leadership of Mar Philixinos II of Thozhyoor Church who was the Malankara metropolitan at that time. The names of Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Kathanar, Kalloopara Adangapurathu Ouseph Kathanar and Kottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. After prayer they cast lots (cleromancy), and the lot fell to Philipose Kathanar.

Philipose Ramban was consecrated by Geevarghese Mar Philexenos (Kidangan) of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church on August 27, 1825 at Kottayam Cheria palli.[1] Because Mar Philexenos was not a bishop of Malankara church, Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Ramban was given the episcopal title Cheppad Philipose Mar Dionysious. He was the fourth bishop in the Malankara Church to get this title Dionysyus

Malankara Metropolitan

After the demise of Mar Philoxenos II on February 4, 1829, Cheppad Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Thoma XII) was approved by the governments of Travancore and Cochin, as Malankara Metropolitan on March 20, 1829.