Kuriakose Mor Severios | |
|---|---|
| Chief Metropolitan Archbishop and Samudaya Metropolitan of the Knanaya Syrian Archdiocese This Chief Metropolitan title was withdrawn by Patriarch in 2020 and suspended from Samudaya Metropolitan in 2024. | |
| Church | Syrian Orthodox Church in India |
| Archdiocese | Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese |
| See | Holy Apostolic See of Antioch & All East |
| Installed | 15 January 2004 |
| Predecessor | Mor Clemis Abraham |
| Orders | |
| Ordination | 4 February 1990 (Kasheesho/Priest) by Mor Clemis Abraham |
| Consecration | 15 January 2004 (Episcopa/Bishop) by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I |
| Rank | Archbishop |
| Personal details | |
| Born | May 21, 1959 |
| Nationality | Indian |
| Parents | Mr. Kunjavarachan and Mrs. Mariamma Edavazhikkal |
| Education | P.G History from CMS College Kottayam, P.G English from St. Berchmans College ContentsP.G Degree in theology from Pourasthya Vidya Peeth Vadavathoor |
| Alma mater | Maynooth University, Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala |
Mor Severios Kuriakose (born Kuriakose Abraham Edavazhickel on 21 May, 1959) is the Chief Metropolitan Archbishop of the Malankara Syriac Knanaya Archdiocese, which is a autonomous jurisdiction within the Syriac Orthodox Church, exclusively for the Knanaya community.
The Knanaya is an endogamous Christian community with unique cultural and ecclesiastical traditions tracing their heritage to early Jewish-Christian settlers from the Middle East. The Knanaya Archdiocese was setup for the members of the community who followed the West Syriac rite, post the schism of the Malankara Church. The Archdiocese functions as an autonomous body within the broader structure of the Syriac Orthodox Church.
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.
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.
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 Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II Karim, 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 Sevarios, 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.
 | This article about a Syriac Orthodox clergyman is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |
 | This biography of an Indian religious figure is a stub. You can help Wikipedia by expanding it. |