Severios Kuriakose


Kuriakose Mor Severios
Archbishop
ChurchSyrian Orthodox Church in India
ArchdioceseMalankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese
SeeHoly Apostolic See of Antioch & All East
Installed15 January 2004
PredecessorMor Clemis Abraham
Orders
Ordination4 February 1990 (Kasheesho/Priest)
by Mor Clemis Abraham
Consecration15 January 2004 (Episcopa/Bishop)
by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I
RankArchbishop
Personal details
Born(1959-05-21)May 21, 1959
NationalityIndian
ParentsMr. Kunjavarachan and Mrs. Mariamma Edavazhikkal
EducationP.G History from CMS College Kottayam,

P.G English from St. Berchmans College
Degree in theology from Maynooth University

P.G Degree in theology from Pourasthya Vidya Peeth Vadavathoor
Alma materMaynooth University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala

Mor Severios Kuriakose (born Kuriakose Abraham Edavazhickel on 21 May, 1959) is an Indian prelate of the Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese, which is a autonomous jurisdiction within the Syriac Orthodox Church.

Education

Mor Severios Kuriakose has a Masters in History from CMS College Kottayam[1] and Masters in English from St. Berchmans College.[2] He joined the Maynooth University in Ireland for degree in theological studies. Later he obtained a Masters in theology from Pourasthya Vidyapeetham in Vadavathoor.

Ordination

Following the demise of the former head of the Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese, Mor Clemis Abraham, Fr. Kuriakose Abraham (Roy Achan) was elected and approved by the Syriac Patriarch of Antioch and All East, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas to be the next head of the Archdiocese.

Patriarchal Relations

In recent decades, there have been disputes regarding the extent of the Patriarch of Antioch’s authority over the Knanaya Archdiocese. During the tenure of Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, there were reported attempts by the Patriarchate to intervene in the administrative affairs of the Knanaya Archdiocese. According to the Knanaya Archdiocesan Constitution and observations made by the Supreme Court of India, the Patriarch’s role is defined as spiritual rather than administrative. The court noted that the Patriarch holds no direct power over the internal governance or property management of the Knanaya Archdiocese. The Court further observed that the Patriarch’s temporal authority within the Knanaya community is “at the vanishing point.”

The Patriarch had suspended Mor Severios, on charges of not setting a good example in the clergy and believers, challenging the authority of the Holy throne of Antioch and lack of remorse. These weren't welcomed by members of the Archdiocese and they had assembled in protest against the suspension order at the Archdiocesan headquarters. The suspension of Mor Sevarios Kuriakose by the Patriarchate in 2024, was stayed by the Indian Judiciary upon a case filed by members of the Archdiocese, with the status quo authority of the Archbishop being upheld. The suspension itself was not approved by the Knanaya Association, which is the highest decision making body within the Archdiocese.

References

  1. ^ "Maynooth University". Maynoothuniversity.ie.
  2. ^ "Home - SB College". SB College.