Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios

The Second Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum

Varghese Thangalathil was born on 1 February 1916 as the second son of Idicula and Annamma, at Kall?pp?ra in Tiruvalla. They gave him the pet name Kunjukutty.  At the age of four, his uncle Pappy Sir began to teach him alphabets of the vernacular, Malayalam. At the age of five he was sent to the LP School, Puthussery.  After completing his middle school studies he joined the St. John’s School, Eraviper?r for his Secondary School education. It was at this time that the Metropolitan Mar Ivanios started many Bethany churches with the intention of reforming the Orthodox Church and one among them was close to the Thangalathil family.  As a result of that Varghese who had an inclination towards sanyasa, was able to maintain good relationship with the Bethany Sanyasis. Very soon, the reunion of a part of the Malankara Church with the Catholic Church became a reality under the leadership of Metropolitan Mar Ivanios. The relationship of Varghese, a member of the Orthodox Church with the members of the Bethany Ashram infuriated his family members. But he already joined the Bethany Ashram without their knowledge. On 21 November 1933, Brother Varghese entered the novitiate. His family later conceded to his desire. He adopted the name Benedict, which means blessed, and on 15 August 1935 he made his temporary religious profession before Archbishop Mar Ivanios. After his studies in St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, he was sent to the Papal Seminary at Candy (Sri Lanka), for his priestly studies.