H.E. Mor Severios Kuriakose

Born into a family of priests on May 21, 1959, H.E. Mor Severios Kuriakose (Kuriakose Abraham) is the first among seven children of Edavazhikkal Kunjavarachan and Mariamma of Kottayam. 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.

A post-graduate in History and English, he gained his degree in theology from Menooth University, Ireland, and PG 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 Mor Clemis Abraham, assisted by Metropolitans Mor Theophilos Thomas (Outside Kerala diocese) and Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph (Simhasana Church).

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. 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 Knanaya Church at Chingavanam to elect a new Metropolitan for the congregation. The convention chooses Fr. Kuriakose 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.

His Eminence Mor Severios Kuriakose 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.