Geevarghese Panicker

Rev. Dr. C. T. Geevarghese Panicker was a priest and educationalist of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Geevarghese Panicker was born on 1 April 1924 at Karichal. His father was K. G. Thomas Panicker and his mother was Achiyamma Thomas Panicker and he was the eldest of seven children.

Panicker is the grand Nephew of the Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, the founder of Malankara Catholic Church Mar Ivanios, who is also known as the 'Newman of India'. He completed his higher secondary education under the guidance of Kainikkara Kumara Pillai. After the school education he joined St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum. He continued the philosophical and theological studies at Papal Seminary, Kandy, Sri Lanka. He was ordained a priest on 24 August 1949. He had his higher studies in Catholic University of America. He took a doctorate in English Literature.

Panicker started his teaching career as a lecturer in Mar Ivanios College. He became the Vice Principal of the college in 1959. And he was the principal of Mar Ivanios College during 1961 - 1979.

He was the Rector and President of St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute, Mangalapuzha, Aluva in 1979 - 1985. Then he became the Rector of St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary. He was the Dean of Studies of St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute.

Panicker wrote a number of articles on theology and liturgy. His main works are: An Historical Introduction to the Syriac Liturgy (1989), The Church in the Syriac Tradition (1990).

In his later years he resided at St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute, Kottayam, Kerala Panicker died on 28 December 2008 at Kollam. His body was interred in St. George Syro-Malankara Catholic Church at Paranthal, Adoor. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos led the funeral service. He was buried near his parents as he requested.