BIOGRAPHY Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Archbishop of the Knanaya Syrian Archdiocese)

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His Grace Mor Sevarios Kuriakose, ordained Metropolitan for the  Knanaya diocese by the Patriarch of Antioch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas on 15th January 2004, is the fourth Metropolitan of the Knanaya diocese 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, Mor Sevarios Kuriakose (Kuriakose Abraham) is the first among seven children of Edavazhikkal Kunjavarachan and Mariamma of Kottayam. His Grace 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 diocese. 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.

 

SUNTHRONISO OF MOR SEVARIOS

(St.John's Puthenpally, Chingavanam - 18th January 2004, 5.00 pm)

H.B. the Catholicos Mor Baselios Thomas I receiving the Metropolitan at the St.John's Church, Chingavanam

Metropolitan Mor Sevarios being received at the Kottayam Valiyapally (St.Mary's Church), the oldest Knanaya Church on 18th Jan 2004

    Photos:

                             http://www.syriacchristianity.in/Photos/Recept18Jan04/index.html

         2.  Sunthroniso of Mor Sevarios Kuriakose at St. John' Puthepally, Chingavanam, Kottayam on 18 January 2004

                             http://www.syriacchristianity.in/Photos/SunMorSeverios18Jan04/index.html