H.G. Yuhanon Mar Athanasious OIC (1928 - 80)
H.G Yuhanon Mar Athanasious OIC was born on 21st March 1928 as the elder son of Varkey and Annamma, Chakkalaparampil Puthenangadi, Kottayam and was called as C.V Mani. After his academic education, he worked as a tutor in St. Thomas College, Pala. There after he joined Bethany on 21st May 1953.He was ordained as Deacon on 15 th June 1956 by H.H.Baselius Geevarghese II and on the very next day His Holiness itself ordained Dn.Yuhanon as Fr a.Yuhanon at Orthodox Theological Seminary Kottayam.After the demise of the Aboona, he was elected as the Superior of the Bethany Ashram in 1965 and called as Abo Yuhanon the famous retreat father.
He was elected as the new assistant Bishop of Kottayam and was ordained as H.G Yuhanon Mar Athanasious OIC in 1978.But he had no more work here, so the heavenly father called him to eternal rest on 12th October 1980.He was laid to rest near his Aboona.Active Ecclesiastic and Glorious Spiritual Buoyancy The piety of his Aboona, H.G Alexious influenced Mar Athanasious(Abo Yuhanon) all through his life.Abo Yuhanon was a well-known retreat father. He gave paramount importance to truth. He had a magnanimous personality and never entertained grudge or enemity to others. He had a very deep and wide foresight about the religious and the Church. There was no feeling of insecurity and loneliness during the painful days in the hospital and the spiritual cheerfulness was always seen in his attitude and words. His ecclesiastical and humanitarian activities made him a leader of the common people and good friend to the youth and students. He was so sincere and simple like a child. He taught the true faith. He dedicated himself to the will of God. He passed away with glory and triumph is still continuing the work that he did here with Christ. There he stands with the saint's glorifying and worshiping the Holy Trinity. He intercedes for the church and the whole world especially for the cancer patients.