Paulos Gregorios

K.M. Seethi, "Paulos Mar Gregorios: Doyan of Peace and Freedom," Global South Colloquy, 9 August 2022 https://globalsouthcolloquy.com/paulos-mar-gregorios-a-doyen-of-peace-and-freedom/

In 1975, Varghese was elevated as a bishop with the name of Paulos Gregorios and the title of "Mar". He took charge of the newly formed Diocese of Delhi, a position he held until his death. He established the Delhi Orthodox Centre, where he began such ambitious projects as the Neeti Shanti Kendra for promoting peace and justice, and Sarva Dharma Nilaya for inter-religious dialogue and cooperation.

He held various positions in the World Council of Churches (WCC). There he headed the Division of Ecumenical Action as an associate general secretary. Later, he was a member of the central committee and of the executive committee, moderator of the Commission on Church and Society (1975–83), and one of its presidents (1983–91). He led WCC delegations to major conferences including the UN General Assembly Special Sessions on Disarmament (1983,1988). In WCC forums and beyond, he persistently opposed apartheid and the old and new colonialism. He chaired the World Conference on Faith, Science and the Future in Cambridge, United States (1979). He was the vice-president of the Christian Peace Conference (1970–90).

In 1959, he returned to India and in 1961 he was ordained as a priest. Varghese continued to pursue theological studies. He did his doctoral studies in Oxford and Germany and received his Doctorate in Theology from Serampore College in Calcutta.

Varghese was born in Tripunithura to a traditional Christian family called Thadikkal. He started his career as a freelance journalist, contributing articles and reports to various newspapers in Kochi and Malabar. Later, after working with the Cochin Transport Company, he joined the Post & Telegraphs Department in 1942. He then took up a job as a teacher in Ethiopia. He came to the attention of the Emperor of Ethiopia, Haile Selassie I. The relationship that developed between them led Varghese to appointments as the head of various institutions in Ethiopia. He was sent to the United States for higher studies. He received his education there from Goshen College, the University of Oklahoma, Princeton Theological Seminary and Yale. In 1954, he returned to India with a master's degree in theology. He worked as a director of the Fellowship house in Aluva and a visiting professor of Union Christian College Aluva. In 1955, he joined the faculty of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. He also served as the general secretary of the Orthodox Students Christian Movement. During the Ethiopian emperor's visit to India in 1956, Varghese was persuaded to return to Ethiopia. There he served as the emperor's personal aide and advisor.

Paulos Gregorios, born Paul Varghese or Vargīsa Pôla (9 August 1922 – 24 November 1996), was the first metropolitan of the Delhi diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and served for over two decades.