His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese I, lovingly known as “Vallikkattu Bava,” was born on January 13, 1870, into the ancient Vallikkattu Karuchira family in Vakathanam, Kottayam, as the second son of Karuchira Paulose and Puthupally Kuttanchira Unichiamma. Raised in a deeply pious household, he was dedicated from an early age to the service of God and the Church.

After completing his basic education, he pursued theological training at the Old Seminary in Kottayam, where he mastered Syriac, the liturgical language of the Church, and received the guidance of Vattasseril Geevarghese Kathanar and Konattu Mathen Malpan. He was ordained as Reader (Kooruya) on June 13, 1885, as Deacon in 1892 by Metropolitan Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasius, and as Priest on August 16, 1896. A week later he was tonsured as a monk (Ramban), embracing the ascetic monastic life.

His Consecration as Metropolitan

On February 1913, he was consecrated as Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos and was appointed Metropolitan of the Kottayam and Angamaly Diocese. He made Vallikattu Dayara his administrative headquarters, where he devoted himself to prayer, fasting, and the pastoral care of the faithful under his charge.

• 1870Born on January 13 in Vakathanam, Kottayam
• 1885Ordained as Reader (Kooruya) on June 13
• 1892Ordained as Deacon by Metropolitan Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasius
• 1896Ordained as Priest on August 16 and tonsured as monk (Ramban)
• 1913Consecrated as Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Philexinos in February
• 1925Installed as Catholicos of the East at Niranam on April 30
• 1928Reposed in the Lord on December 17 at Neyyoor Hospital

Elevation to the Catholicate

On April 30, 1925, at St. Mary’s Church, Niranam, the Holy Synod installed him as the Catholicos of the East, with the title Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese I. He was ordained jointly by Patriarch of Antioch Abded Messiah II and Catholicos Baselios Paulose I. Through prayer and fasting he achieved spiritual strength, which helped him guide the Malankara Church into green pastures.

Revered by the faithful as a saint even during his lifetime, Vallikkattu Bava was known for his simplicity, austerity, and punctuality. He stitched his own monastic garments on a sewing machine, was skilled in carpentry, and personally prepared the bread for the Eucharistic Liturgy using a stone grinder. His ascetic prayer life drew pilgrims and the faithful from across Malankara.

His Repose

His Holiness passed away on December 17, 1928, at Neyyoor Hospital following an operation for appendicitis. He was laid to rest on the northern side of Vallikattu Dayara in Vakathanam, where he had spent most of his life. The Dayara was renovated in 1982 and has since become one of the most important spiritual and pilgrimage centers of the Malankara Orthodox Church. His memory is honored each year on December 17.