Mar Chrysostom Marthoma Metropolitan of Marthoma Church departed for heavenly abode on 5 May 2021 at the age of 104 years. He was the prelate of Marthoma Church from 1999 to 2007. After relinquishing the Charge of Marthoma Metropolitan in 2007 he was known as Valiya Metropolitan (Metropolitan Emeritus).

Chrysostom Marthoma was gold mouthed and was famous and loved by all, irrespective of cast, color or religious denominations, for his sense of humor and human love. So his ecclesiastical title was apt for these qualities and so known by this name after the early Church Father and archbishop of Constantinople Mar John Chrysostom.

Philip Oommen, which was the childhood name of the Metropolitan, was born to the Kalamannil family, Kumbanad, Thiruvalla as the son of Vicar General Fr. K. E. Oommen and Sosamma of Nadukke Veettil, Karthikappally on 27 April 1918. His primary education was at Maramon, Kozhencherry and Eraviperoor schools and graduated from Union Christian College, Aluva. He received theological education at UTC Bangalore. He was ordained as a deacon on 1 January 1944 and priest on 3 June 1944. As a priest he took up the mission work in the Ashram at Ankola along with Rev. P J Thomas. He was ordained as Ramban on 20 May 1952.

On 23 May 1953, Philip Oommen Ramban was consecrated as Philipose Mar Chrysostom Episcopa by Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan assisted by Mathews Mar Athanasius Episcopa along with Alexander Mar Theophilus (later Alexander Mar Thoma) and Thomas Mar Athanasius. V. Rev. Philipose Mar Chrysostom served different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. In 1954, Mar Chrysostom joined St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, UK for further theological studies. He was designated as Suffragan Metropolitan in May 1978.

After Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan relinquished the position from the daily administration of the Church due to ill-health on 15 March 1999, Mar Chrysostom was designated Officiating Metropolitan. On 23 October 1999 Mar Chrysostom was consecrated as Mathoma Metropolitan. On 28 August 2007, Thirumeni announced his resignation as supreme head of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church on grounds of old age and ill-health and was succeeded by Most. Rev. Joseph Marthoma.

India Government awarded the Padma Bhushan to Tirumeni for services to society during Republic Day 2018. He served the church as bishop for a long span of 68 years. During his tenure he was the president of the National Council of Churches, India and attended Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and Uppsala in 1968. He also attended the Second Vatican Council and made valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause.

Metropolitan was a blessed spiritual leader, compassionate human lover, proliferate orator, voracious reader and an ardent writer. Many of his articles and messages are published in the Light of Life Magazine. LOL bow our head before Thirumeni as a token of our homage.