Mar Dionysius IV
| Philipose Mar Dionysius of Cheppad | |
|---|---|
| Malankara Syrian Church | |
| Installed | 27 August 1825 |
| Term ended | 1852 |
| Predecessor | Mar Dionysius III-Ghevarghese Mar Philexinos of Thozhiyoor |
| Successor | Mathews Mar Athanasius |
| Orders | |
| Consecration | 27 August 1825 |
| Personal details | |
| Birth name | Philipose |
| Born | 1781 Cheppad |
| Died | 9 October 1855 Cheppad |
| Buried | Cheppad Valiya palli (St. George Orthodox Church) |
Mar Dionysius IV born Cheppad Peelipose (Aramaic and Malayalam: Piyliypaos, in English Philip) (1781 – 9 October 1855), was Malankara Metropolitan from 27 August 1825, until he abdicated in 1852.
His tenure was a period of turmoil in the Malankara Syrian Church. When the Anglican Missionaries of Low Church tried to interfere in the faith and administration of the Malankara church, the Church severed its relations with the Anglican missionaries through the historic Mavelikkara Synod of 1936. A negligible number of the members of the Church joined the C.M.S. Church. Remaining members were divided into two factions, one upholding the conservative attitude of the Church, and the other in support of the reformation and cleansing of church from superstitions and unbiblical practices.
Philipose Mar Dionysius was born in 1781 at the Aanjilimootil family in Pallippad, a place near Cheppad. Cheppad is a scenic village located at Karthikapally Taluk of Alapuzha district in Kerala State, India. It is halfway between Kochi and Thiruvananthapuram on the National Highway 47.
Punnathara Mar Dionysius Metropolitan (Mar Dionysius III) died 17 May 1825. To select a successor representatives of the parishes met together at Pallikara palli under the leadership of Mar Philixinos II of Thozhyoor Church who was the Acting Malankara metropolitan at that time when the throne was vacant. The names of Cheppad Anjilimootil Philipose Malpan, Kalloopara Adangapurathu Joseph Malpan and Kottayam Eruthickal Markose Kathanar were proposed. Eruthickal Markose Kathanar withdrew his candidacy during the process and that left 2 strong contestors. After prayer they cast lots (cleromancy), and the lot fell to Philipose Malpan. The title Malpan represents for those who teach in the Theological Seminary. Adangapurathu Joseph Malpan later became the Vicar General of 72 Parishes at Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Ittup Rampan Malpan (the Senior person among the 3 teachers of the Seminary "Ittup Rampan- who became Malankara Metropolitan as Dionysius II", "Adangapurathu Joseph Malpan", "Punnathra Kurien Malplan") was the source for the Orthodox Seminary "Old Seminary", as he took the initiative to submit application to the proper authority in AD 1813, and the construction was completed in AD 1815. Palakkunnathu Abraham Malpan joined the Seminary at a later stage to teach Syriac language there. At first there were only 5 students, and in following years the number of students grew significantly. Back then the Angamali Seminary was also available for Syrian Orthodox Church to educate students from northern part of Malankara.
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