His Holiness was born to Ulahanan and Naithi of the Kallaserri family in Kurichy, Kottayam on June 16, 1874. On April 24, 1892, Metropolitan Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasios ordained him as to the Holy Diaconate. The saintly Metropolitan, Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, lovingly known as Parumala Thirumeni, ordained the young deacon to the Holy Priesthood on November 24, 1898. Three days later, he was tonsured as a monk (Ramban).
As a young monastic, fulfilling his vow of obedience, Parumala Thirumeni sent the newly ordained to reside in Saint Thomas Church of Kadampanad, and was charged to look after the pastoral affairs of the Southern Dioceses in Kerala. Filled with fervor to spread the beauty of the Orthodox faith, he published various books such as: on the Life of Saint John the Baptist, the ‘Silent Prayers’ of the Church, to name a few. His wisdom, and knowledge of the faith was recognized as he was named Malpan, or teacher at Old Seminary, teaching generations of priests for the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. In addition to his teaching responsibilities, he also managed the various affairs of the seminary.
On September 8, 1912, the Feast of the Nativity of Saint Mary, His Holiness Patriarch Abdel Messiah consecrated the wise monk, as Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, at Parumala Seminary. The new Metropolitan was immediately given the archpastoral responsibility of Thumpamon, Kollam, and Niranam Dioceses. Proven to be a wise spiritual father, he was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East by the then Malankara Metropolitan, Saint Dionysius Vattasseril on February 15, 1929. On December 24, 1934, on the eve of the Nativity of our Lord Jesus Christ, the Malankara Syrian Association chose Catholicos Geevarghese II, as the Malankara Metropolitan. This was the first time in the life of the Church, the position of Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan were vested in the same person. This period was a problematic time period for the Church. However, through His Holiness’ life of prayer and fasting, which he witnessed in the life of his spiritual father, Saint Gregorios of Parumala, His Holiness was able to lead the children of Saint Thomas courageously for many years.
It was during his primatial reign, His Holiness was able to shepherd a united Malankara Church in 1958, consecrate 12 Metropolitans, ordained more than one thousand priests and deacons, establish more churches, and consecrate the same - all for the glory of Jesus Christ. On April 22, 1932 and April 20, 1951, His Holiness consecrated Holy Chrism as seen in his privilege as the head of an autocephalous and autonomous church, which took place at Old Seminary. On November 2, 1947, he had the great blessing of canonizing Yeldo Mar Baselios, and his spiritual father, Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala.
His deep communion with Christ, and firm commitment to the unity of the Church, led the faithful to call this Catholicos Vailya Bava.
His Holiness asleep in the Lord on January 3, 1964, and was laid to rest in the Chapel of the Catholicate Palace, in Devalokam, Kerala, India.
