Bishop Simmy Mathews

Bishop Simmy Mathews, lovingly called Simmychayan, was truly one of a kind - a teacher, preacher, explorer, writer, and lifelong seeker. He moved through the world with a rare sense of wonder, finding beauty and meaning in places others might have overlooked. Endlessly curious, he read books on every imaginable subject, read newspapers cover to cover, and eagerly absorbed any written material that came his way.

Simmychayan had a remarkable gift for noticing. He paid attention - to people, to stories, to ideas, and to the small details that so often go unseen. He appreciated the journey as much as the destination, believing that life's greatest treasures were often discovered along the way. He always traveled with a pen and paper in his pocket, ready to capture a thought, a conversation, or moment of inspiration. Over the years, he filled countless notebooks with reflections, observations, sermons, and lessons he wished to preserve and share with others.

A passionate student of both faith and life, he approached each day with curiosity, gratitude, and an eagerness to learn. Whether reading, writing, teaching, or simply engaging in conversation, he inspired those around him to look more closely, think more deeply, and embrace the world with wonder and hope.

Though he was deeply engaged with the world around him, his greatest curiosity was reserved for the deeper mysteries beyond it. He approached life with humility, faith, and an enduring desire for a deeper relationship with God and greater understanding of his place in God’s story.

Simmychayan was born on July 22,1945 to the Thannimoottil family in Thonniamala, a small village nestled in the hills of Pathanamthitta district, Kerala, India. He was the eldest of four children. His parents, Sri. T.M. Mathew and Smt. Mariamma Mathew, were schoolteachers and lived a simple life, rich in faith, family, and community. As a family, they were devoted to St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Thonniamala, where the foundation for his lifelong spiritual journey was laid. Anyone who knew him and listened to his stories understood that no matter where life took him, his heart remained rooted in Thonniamala.

After his college education at Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta, he completed his master’s in Economics at St. John’s College in Agra and master’s in English Literature at University of Jabalpur in Madhya Pradesh. During this time, he developed a love for exploring India, traveling by train and enjoying some of the best cups of coffee and chai that he spoke about for the rest of his life.

He came to the United States in 1970 for theological studies at Capital Bible Seminary in Maryland. When life led him to Dallas in 1972, he studied at Perkins School of Theology at Southern Methodist University before completing his Licentiate in Sacred Theology at the Anglican School of Theology at the University of Dallas in 1987. He devoted decades of service to the church in ministry, teaching, and episcopal leadership.

Simmychayan married Leelamma in 1972, and together they made their home in Dallas - a city he would come to love deeply and proudly call his own. Daddy often reminded us to “grow where you are planted,” believing that a meaningful life is built by putting down roots, investing in community, and faithfully tending the people and places entrusted to us. He lived those words. What began as a new chapter in an unfamiliar city grew into more than five decades of friendship, service and ministry.

The Mar Thoma Church of Dallas became one of the places where those roots ran deepest. Over the years, he was blessed by the church and the broader ecumenical community throughout the metroplex, and sought to serve them faithfully. He held many roles within the parish, including office bearer, executive committee member, prayer group leader, and Sunday School teacher. He valued giving sermons in prayer meetings and in church and was able to put his theological training in practice for the parish in this capacity. He also enjoyed preaching at home early and often to anyone who would listen.

Simmychayan spent most of his career as a substance use disorder counselor for the Salvation Army Carr P. Collins Social Service Center in Dallas. He found fulfillment in serving individuals facing addiction, poverty and other significant life challenges. In 2001, following the calling that brought him to America, he became an ordained priest in the Southern Episcopal Church, and 8 years later, he was consecrated as a bishop of the Church.

Simmychayan found beauty in everything. He was an avid collector, particularly of antiques, art, and books. He was passionate about books. Over several decades, he amassed a collection of more than twenty thousand volumes on theology, marriage counseling, and substance use disorder counseling. In 2023, he gifted his treasured collection of books to the Carmel Mar Thoma Center in Atlanta, where they became the foundation of a library and study center for lay leaders and ordained clergy. Through this gift, his passion for theological education and spiritual formation will continue to enrich the Church for years to come.

Throughout their life in America, he and Leelamma made their home a sanctuary of hospitality. Their front door was always open, and all who entered - family, friends, clergy, missionaries, newcomers to the United States, and those in need were welcomed as honored guests. Around their table, friendships were formed, burdens were shared, and faith was strengthened through conversation, laughter, and prayer. By the way he lived, he taught us that true discipleship is expressed through fellowship, generosity, and sacrificial love for others.

Alongside Simmychayan stood the steadfast love of Leelamma. As Proverbs 31 says, she clothed her household with strength, served with humility, and poured herself out in love for her family. In the final years of his life, she cared for him with unwavering devotion and selflessness, always seeking his comfort, dignity, and well-being. Her faithful love was a blessing beyond measure, and one of the clearest expressions of God's grace in his life.

Simmychayan is survived by his wife of 53 years, Leelamma, his three children and their spouses, Regina & Darryl, Wesley & Jaime, and Christina & Nick, his four cherished granddaughters, Jaya, Priyanka, Ava, and Leya, and his three siblings, Annamma Mathew (late C.M. Mathew), Thomas Mathew (Bamini Thomas), and Mary Koshy (Raji Koshy), and their families. He is remembered by many for his generosity of spirit, moral clarity, and unwavering love and commitment to those closest to him.

“Surely goodness and mercy shall follow me all the days of my life and I shall dwell in the house of the Lord forever.” Psalm 23:6