Mathews Mar Athenasius Episcopa (18 February 1907 – 30 November 1973) was the first missionary bishop of the Mar Thoma Church. As a diocesan Episcopa he did remarkable pioneering work in organising parishes and new mission fields. His evangelical ardour and concern for the unreached area, made him forge ahead expansion programmes and colonisation schemes besides establishing of several institutions. He was noted for his deep personal dedication to Jesus Christ and his zeal for the spread of the Gospel, continuity in the Evangelical tradition of the Mar Thoma Church. He was full of energy and sacrificial spirit. Early days Mathews Mar Athenasius Episcopa was born on 18 February 1907 at Ayroor, in Kerala. He was the son of Thomas Kurudamannil, Ayroor. His mother was Aleyamma, sister of Titus II Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Palakunnathu, Maramon. Parents called him Mathaichen. Education Primary education was at Ayroor, Kozhencherry and at Kottayam. For higher studies he joined Kolkata (Calcutta) Bishops College high school and Saint Paul's College. In 1925 he was able to obtain a BA degree and in 1929 a BEd degree. In 1934, he proceeded to join Wycliffe College at the University of Toronto, Ontario, Canada. Keezhillam school At the age of 21 he left home to go to the North Travancore which was an underdeveloped area. It had been selected as a mission field of the Evangelistic Association. In 1929 he and fellow workers started a school at Keezhillam as a means to reach out and help the people living in that area, with a group of fellow workers, having only their faith in God as their resource. They worked hard and opened the way for education for hundreds of children in poor families. In those days education wasn't free and many of the people couldn't afford schooling. By giving concessions in fees to such students, they were encouraged to study and the money for their education was taken from the meagre salary of the teachers who were gracious enough to accept it as a way of serving the Lord. Gradually education began to spread in those areas and people began to see the truth of the Gospel in the lives of their teachers. Perumbavoor School Rev. C T Mathew (Mar Athanasius) moved to Perumbavoor seeing the need of that area. He was supported by a small group of friends including Rev.C.I. Abraham and Mr.A. Cherian (who later became a