Born in Goa, of Portuguese family, Mar Alvarez began his pastoral career as a Roman Catholic priest. However, the deteriorating situation with the Padroado (the confused system of Papal privilege and royal patronage governing the church in Portuguese India since the 14th century) lead Mar Alvarez to convert to Orthodoxy.

Mar Alvarez was consecrated by the Bishop of Kottayam, Paulose Mar Athanasios on 28 July 1889. Four years later Alvarez consecrated Rene Vilatte, who had been directed to India by Alfred Loisy.

Mar Alvarez was not a mere reactionary, nor was he a convert in protest of issues affecting his “home church” he was a true orthodox believer, and he suffered greatly for his conversion over the years. He was repeatedly humiliated, and attacked by local Roman Catholic and secular authorities, but persisted in his charitable and educational endeavours.

Mar Alvarez was reduced to poverty – and wearing nothing but a black robe, went about with a begging bowl to collect for his own sustenance, as well as for his support of the poor and the sick. One account describes how when visiting a local business man he asked for alms, the businessman spat in his begging bowl in reply. Mar Alvarez without getting angry, calmly said – that was for me, I shall keep that, now what do you have to offer for the poor? The businessman was so ashamed of his actions, that he made a very generous contribution.

Mar Alvarez was a scholar, publishing a number of books and articles. He was opposed to religious exhibitionism (a common feature of 19th and early 20th century piety). As part of his ideology of independence both for India, and for the church, Mar Alvarez was a strong advocate of using local resources for clothing, food, and building, rather than foreign materials – he encouraged, people to rely on cheaper locally produced food sources such as tapioca. In this he was ahead of his time, and the later philosophies that would be an integral part of the Indian independence movement.

Mar Alvarez went out of his way to help, and bring comfort to those suffering from common illnesses of the day: malaria, TB, and leprosy. He even published pamphlets on the treatment of diseases like Cholera. In 1871 Mar Alvarez started a charitable association to bring aid to the poor – especially wandering beggars. Expanding the project across other cities in Goa after only a few years.

Old, and frail, Mar Alvarez died of dysentery on 23 September 1923. His tireless work for the poor, and for the liberation of his people, meant that he left a legacy. Thousands of people – especially the poor – paid their respects and formed the funeral procession that lined the main roads of his home town Panaji.