Arch Bishops
H.G. Arch Bishop Kuriakose Mor Severios (Knanaya Diocese)
H.E.Arch Bishop Kuriakose Mor Severios
(Arch Bishop of Knanaya Diocese)
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 .
H. E. Arch Bishop Mor Silvanos Ayub
(Metropolitan Knanaya churches in America, Canada and Europe)
His Grace Arch Bishop Mor Silvanos Ayoub, Arch bishop of the Knanaya archdiocese was elevated to high priest-hood along with Mor Ivanios Kuriakose on June 12, 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.
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 in Great Britain. The Ramban ordination of Rev. Fr. Job Thottathil was held atSyria.
