Chrysostom Thirumeni was born on April 27, 1918 and is the son of Vicar General Very Rev. K.E. Oommen and Mrs. Sosamma. He was lovingly called 'Dharmishtan' at home. Thirumeni graduated from the Union Christian College, Alwaye, Kerala, India. Thirumeni completed his theological studies at the United Theological College, Bangalore, Karnataka, India and St. Augustine's College, Canterbury, United Kingdom. From a very humble beginning as an evangelist of the Mar Thoma church at Karwar, God lifted him up to be the Supreme head of the Mar Thoma Syrian church. The sixty plus years of his ministry in the church can be viewed as a pilgrimage of his expression of faith and Christian responsibility.
Thirumeni's life is a powerful sermon on the right placing of faith in Christian practice. He was in charge of different Dioceses in Kerala and also was Missionary Bishop for many years. He was President of the National Christian Council of India and has attended the Assembly of World Council of Churches at Evanston in 1954 and at Upsala in 1968. He has attended the second Vatican Council and has thus made very valuable contributions to the ecumenical cause. He has been President of the different Organizations of the Church and the Governing Councils of different Colleges. He has deep concern for the upliftment of the backward communities. Through a registered organization named STARD (South Travancore Agency for Rural Development) he has helped economically backward communities of South Travancore to improve their lot and achieve self-reliance.