Purackal - Ancient Christian Family from Central Travancore, India

Mar Dionysius III, also known as Punnathra Mar Dionysius and born Kurien (1785 – 19 May 1825) was 11th Malankara Metropolitan from 1817 until his death and 113th Successor to the Holy Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas. Dionysius had a long career in the Malankara Church prior to his consecration as Metropolitan. It was his suggestion during the time of Mar Thoma IX to establish the Syrian seminary at Kottayam, Kerala's first educational institution. He also welcomed some of the first missionary teachers who arrived from England to teach in the seminary. In 1816, following the demise of Mar Dionysius II, who had not appointed a successor, Kurien was elected to succeed him as the Malankara Metropolitan by the general assembly of the Church (Malankara palli-yogam) and was ordained as bishop by Mar Philexenos of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church.

Kurien, who later became Mar Dionysious, was born in 1785 in the well known Punnathara family, Kottayam. Soon after his ordination he was appointed as a priest in his home parish Kallumkathra. As a representative of his parish he attended a number of meetings connected with the establishment of the Syrian Seminary.

Erathodu Veeyapuram St. George Orthodox Church founded by the Malankara Metropolitan Punnathara Mar Dionysius in 1816. Foundation stone of the new church laid on 5th May 1975 by his grace Mathews Mar Athanasius the then Catholicos designate and consecrated on 5th may 1981 by His Holiness Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews 1^st Catholicos of the East.

References

1. Google Punnathara Mar Dionysius
2. Mar Dionysius III