Mar Mathew, the first bishop of the Idukki Diocese, who fought continuously for the rights of the children of the soil, passed away. He was pronounced dead at 1.38 am today. The body is kept at Muvattupuzha Nirmala Medical Center and has not been released yet.
Mar Mathew, who was the bishop of Idukki Diocese, is one of the most cherished divinities in Kerala today. The ordination of Mar Mathew Annikuzhikkadil and the inauguration of the Idukki Diocese happened simultaneously. The bishop who worked for the holistic development of the hill station worked diligently to create an educated and leadership-oriented new generation.
Today the diocese has over 150 parishes and 198 priests. In March 2018, Mar Mathew resign from his diocesan mission for a year-and-a-half. Mar Mathew Annikuzhikkatil was the shepherd who traveled with the land and development in the district during the Gadgil, Kasturirangan agitation, and Pattaya issues. He was the patron of the High Range Protection Committee. He was ordained Bishop of Idukki in 2003 when he was the Rector of the Minor Seminary.
