H.E. Kuriakose Mor Severios Archbishop of the Knanaya Archdiocese
His Eminence Kuriakose Mor Severios was ordained Metropolitan for the Knanaya Archdiocese by the Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on 15th January 2004, and is the fourth Metropolitan of the Knanaya Archdiocese after its formation in 1910. The Consecration ceremony of the Metropolitan was at the St.Peter and St.Paul Cathedral in the Monastery of St.Aphrem at Ma'arrat Seydnaya, Damascus, Syria. His Grace assumed the seat following the demise of the Chief Metropolitan of the East, Mor Clemis Abraham, in September 2002 at the culmination of one of the longest reigns in Indian Christendom.
Born into a family of priests on May 21, 1959, Kuriakose Mor Severios (Kuriakose Abraham) is the first among seven children of Edavazhikkal Kunjavarachan and Mariamma of Palakudiyil. His Eminence is the second Metropolitan from the famous Edavazhikkal family; his predecessor being H.G. Gevargheese Mor Sevarios who is also the first Metropolitan of the Knanaya Jacobite Syrian Archdiocese. The well known Church historian E M Philip who was the secretary to Malankara Metropolitan Pulikottil Joseph Mor Dionysius II, also belongs to the Edavazhikkal family.
A post-graduate in History and English, he gained his degree in theology from Menooth University, Ireland, and PG in the same subject from Pourasthya Vidya Peeth, Vadavathoor, Kottayam. It was on 4 February 1990, Kuriakose Abraham has been ordained Kassisso by the Chief Metropolitan of the East (late) Mor Clemis Abraham, assisted by Metropolitans late Mor Theophilos Thomas (Outside Kerala diocese) and Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph (Simhasana Church).
About a year after the demise of Mor Clemis Abraham, on 18th December 2003, a special session of the Knanaya Association meeting was convened in the headquarters of the Church at Chingavanom to elect a new Metropolitan for the congregation. The convention choose Fr.Kurikose Abraham (Edavazhikkal Achen) to head the Knanaya community. On 12th January 2004 he was ordained Ramban (monk Priest) at the Patriarchal Cathedral church at Damascus by H.H the Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and three days after, on 15th January, he was ordained Metropolitan. In January 2007, H.E. was elevated to Chief Metropolitan and Archbishop of the Knanaya Archdiocese.
H.G. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios Assistant bishop of the Knanaya Archdiocese & Methran of Kallisseri Region
His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch Zakka Iwas I ordained V.Rev. C.T.Kurian Ramban as the new Auxiliary Bishop for the Knanaya Archdiocese.
His Grace will assume the name Kuriakose Mor Gregorios.
Ordination ceremonies took place on Feb 2, 2007 in Damascus.
Hundreds of Knanaya faithful from Kerala, USA, Middle East and other parts of the world attended the enthronement ceremony.
Knanaya Archbishop Kuriakose Mor Severios along with several other bishops and dignitaries were also in attendance for this landmark ceremony.
H.G. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios is the second Assistant Bishop for the Knanaya Archdiocese.
H.G. Ivanios Kuriakose Assistant bishop of the Knanaya Archdiocese H.G. Ivanios Kuriakose
Mor Ivanios Kuriakose, the auxiliary bishop of the Knanaya archdiocese was elevated to high priest-hood along with Mor Silvanos Ayoub on June 11, 2008 by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. The consecration ceremony was held at the St. Peter & St. Paul's Patriarchal Cathedral at Ma`rrat Sayyidnaya, Damascus, Syria. Their Eminences Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Archbishop of Knanaya Archdiocese), Mor Gregorios Kuriakose (Metropolitan of Kallisseri region of the Knanaya Archdiocese), Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi (former Patriarchal Vicar for Canada), Mor Theophilos George Saliba ( Secretary to the Holy Synod) and Mor Clemis Daniel (Lebanon diocese) assisted His Holiness at this blessed consecration ceremony. The holy ceremony was attended by a large gathering of Rabans (Monks), Priests, Deacons, Nuns and around 75 Syrian Orthodox Faithful from India.
Mor Ivanios Kuriakose (formerly known as Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kolath) was born on June 9, 1964 to Kolath K G Abraham and Thankamma. He attained his degree and post graduation from the Kerala and M.G. Universities respectively. Later he joined the Vidiya Jyothi Catholic seminary, New Delhi. On August 15, 1993 the former Metropolitan of the Archdiocese, H.E. Mor Clemis Abraham ordained him Kassisso (full priest) at the St. George Church, Neelamperoor. In March 2008, the Knanaya Syrian Christian Association held at Mor Aphrem Seminary in Chingavanam, Kottayam choose Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kolath and Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil as the new auxiliary metropolitans for the archdiocese and accordingly both were raised to the order of Ramban in May 2008.
At the time of his selection as Metropolitan Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kolath was serving the St. Thomas Valiya Pally at Ranni. He was also the secretary of the priestly council of the Archdiocese. As per the decision of the Archdiocese, Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Kolath was raised to the order of Ramban on 26 May 2008 by H.E. Kuriakose Mor Severios, H.G. Kuriakose Mor Gregorios and Mor Koorillos Geevarghese of Niranam. The ceremony was held at St. Thomas Church (Valiya Pally), Ranni.
H.G. Silvanos Ayoub Regional Metropolitan North American & Canada
Mor Silvanos Ayoub was elevated to high priest-hood along with Mor Ivanios Kuriakose on June 11, 2008 by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. The consecration ceremony was held at the St. Peter & St. Paul's Patriarchal Cathedral at Ma`rrat Sayyidnaya, Damascus, Syria. Their Eminences Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Archbishop of Knanaya Archdiocese), Mor Gregorios Kuriakose (Metropolitan of Kallisseri region of the Knanaya Archdiocese), Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi (former Patriarchal Vicar for Canada), Mor Theophilos George Saliba ( Secretary to the Holy Synod) and Mor Clemis Daniel (Lebanon diocese) assisted His Holiness at this blessed consecration ceremony. The holy ceremony was attended by a large gathering of Rabans (Monks), Priests, Deacons, Nuns and around 75 Syrian Orthodox Faithful from India.
Mor Silvanos Ayoub (formerly known as Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil) was born on April 18, 1972 as the son of Thottathil K O Uthup and Kunjujamma, Thurithikad. After attaining Commerce degree from the Calicut University in Kerala, he joined the St. Ephraim Seminary in Damascus, Syria, after which he joined the Serampor University, India. On successful completion of his theological studies from both the institutions he was ordained priest on August 9, 1999 and was since then serving the Knanaya churches at London, Manchester and Bristol in Great Britain.
In March 2008, the Knanaya Syrian Christian Association held at Mor Aphrem Seminary in Chingavanam, Kottayam choose Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil and Fr. Kuriakose Kolath as the new auxiliary metropolitans for the archdiocese and accordingly both were raised to the order of Ramban in May 2008. The Ramban ordination of Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil was held at the St. Peter & St. Paul's Patriarchal Cathedral at Ma`rrat Sayyidnaya, Damascus, Syria.