Major Archbishop

Born to Ouseph and Thresia on 21 April 1956, baptized on 30 April 1956 in Thrissur.

He joined St. Mary’s Minor Seminary, Thope on 04 July 1971 and completed Philosophy and Theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Kottayam (1980).

He was ordained priest on 21 December 1980 at Thrissur Doloures Basilica by Mar Joseph Kundukulam.

He pursued higher studies in Rome and earned a doctorate in Oriental Canon Law (Thesis: “Clerical Formation in the Syro Malabar Church: A Historico-Juridical Study”). He served in pastoral assignments and in the Archbishop’s house as Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Judicial Vicar, Judge, and later as Syncellus and Proto-Syncellus. He was Director of DBCLC & Catechism (1992–1995) and the first Rector of Marymatha Major Seminary (1998–2006).

He was ordained bishop on 10 April 2010 and appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur and Titular Bishop of Bruni. In 2014, he was appointed Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malabar faithful residing outside the territorium proprium. Pope Francis named him the first Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Shamshabad (10 October 2017), installed on 7 January 2018. Elected Major Archbishop on 8 January 2024; enthronement took place on 11 January at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad.