Bangalore 4 June, 2019 (CCBI) His Excellency Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Timotheos Chundevalel (91) Bishop Emeritus of Thiruvalla Archdiocese, passed away on Tuesday 4 June, 2019 at 3.15 am at Pushpagiri Medical College, Thiruvalla, Kerala. Funeral will be held on Thursday, 6 June, 2019 at St. John’s Cathedral, Thiruvalla.
He was born on 2 February 1928, as the first son of Rev. Father Jacob Chundevalel and Annamma at Amayannoor, Kottayam District. He completed his primary school education at Amayannoor, middle school education at Itty Memorial School, Manarcadu, and high school education at St. Mary’s School, Kidangoor. The family of Fr. George Chundevalel made their profession of Catholic faith when he was studying in the third forum.
He joined the minor seminary of the Eparchy of Thiruvalla in 1943. Having completed his minor seminary life, he was sent to Papal Seminary in Candy for philosophical and theological studies. He was ordained a priest by Bishop Stem on 24 August 1953. He was appointed vicar of parishes of Kothamangalam and Nellimattom. He pursued his studies at Gregorian University in Rome and obtained Master’s Degree in Spiritual Theology. He was appointed the Rector of the Minor Seminary in 1967, where he served for 13 years. In 1980 he was appointed Vicar of the Cathedral. His Excellency Isaac Mar Yoohanon, the fourth Bishop of Tiruvalla appointed Fr. George as the Proto-Syncellus of the Eparchy in 1984.
At the demise of His Excellency Isaac Mar Yoohanon in 1987, Fr. George was elected the administrator of the Eparchy. Later the Holy See appointed him the Bishop of Thiruvalla, and ordained Bishop by His Grace Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios on 6 August 1988 at St. John’s Cathedral. He served as the Secretary of the Kerala Catholic Bishop’s Council (KCBC). He had been the Vice President of the Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI) in 1994. On 29 March 2003 the Holy See accepted the resignation his resignation from active episcopal ministry at the age of 75. He is a priest for 65 years and a Bishop for 30 years.