Founder

Koshy Varghese was born on 24 May 1950 at Kottarakara in the civil District of Kollam as the son of Mr. Kizhakkevettil Oommen Varghese and Mrs. Annamma Varghese. He had his primary education at the St. Mary’s School, Kizhaketheruvu and he completed his secondary education at the Government High School, Kottarakkara in 1967.

            He entered the St. Aloysius Minor Seminary, Trivandrum in 1967. He did his Pre Degree Course at the Mar Ivanios College, Trivandrum. He had his course in Philosophy and Theology at the St. Joseph’s Seminary, Thiruchirapally, Tamil Nadu, during the period 1970- ’78. He was ordained priest on 2 April 1978 by the Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios. Fr. Koshy Varghese Kizhakkeveettil served in the parishes at Kirathoor, Manjathoppu, Vimalapuram, Susaipuram from 1978-1983. He graduated from the Christian College, Marthandom, in Tamil Nadu, with History, Economics, and Politics as his optional subjects. He secured his Master’s Degree from Madurai Kamaraj University, Tamil Nadu, in 1984. 

In 1983 Fr. Koshy Varghese was appointed vicar of the mission stations at Padi, Perampur and Thiruvottiyoor in Chennai. During his tenure in Chennai, he started the Mar Ivanios Dispensary, and founded the Sacred Heart School, and served as its Principal from its inception. He took Bachelor’s and Master’s Degrees in Education from Kamaraj University, Madurai in 1985 and 1987 respectively. In 1994, he established the Mar Gregorios College and served as its local manager till 1996. He did his research on “Leadership, Organizational Health with School Effectiveness” in Stella Matituna College of Education, Chennai and obtained Ph. D from the University of Madras, in 2000. 
                        
In May 1996 he was appointed Vicar General of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum. He was made Cor-episcopo in 1997. On 15 April 1998 he was appointed the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archieparchy of Trivandrum by Pope John Paul II. Metropolitan Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselios, ordained him Bishop after the name Joshua Mar Ignathios on 29 June 1998.