History
Rev. Fr. E Mathews, born on 30th January 1915 as the eldest son of Late Shri. Iduculla and Late Smt. Annamma, Puthen Veetil, Perinad, Kollam was a celibate Priest of St. George Dayara Othera, Thiruvalla. He was ordained as sub-deacon on 17th April 1938, as Deacon on 6th May 1941 and as Priest in the same year. His Grace was raised to the Ecclesiastical and Episcopal status of the Assistant Bishop of Kollam Diocese on 12th July 1958 and according to the tradition of the Church, was renamed as The Most Rev. Mathews Mar Coorilos. His Grace founded the Community of St. George (Bethlehem Ashram) Chengamanadu, Kottarakara.
His Grace a versatile Theologian, Philanthropist, Social reformer, Missionary and Educationist grasped the spirit of the period in the fifties of the last century, and ventured to enter in the field of education. The beginning of this great vision started with the St. George High School and Training School in Chowalloor near Kottarakara was auspicious.
Thereafter, His Grace didn't have to look back in realization of his dream of facilitating higher education to educationally underdeveloped Kottarakara and surrounding places. St. Gregorious College (Arts and Science), Kottarakara was founded in 1964. In a short period there arose many Play Schools, Nursery, Primary, Middle, High Schools, Higher Secondary Schools, Industrial Training Institutes, Arts & Science College, Engineering Colleges, Hospitals, Medical College, Nursing Schools, Bible Schools, and Schools for Physically Disabled, Asylums, and Schools for the Mentally Impaired & Orphans, Geriatric Homes, Convents, Nunneries and Monasteries under the same umbrella.
All these institutions originated out of the blood and sweats of this dedicated visionary are named after the saints of the Orthodox Church. In the meanwhile, on 29th April 1991, His Grace Mathews Mar Coorilos Thirumeni by the Divine will became His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, the Head- Shepherd of the Catholics of East.