VERY REV. DR. K.M. SIMON COREPISCOPA

Soon after the completion of the Inter-Arts at the C.M.S. College, Kottayam Fr. Simon left for England . He went on a full scholarship at Kelham Theological College in Newark Notts. He completed his studies and received a diploma. He returned to India in 1941 after 4 years in England.
On his return he took upon the job as the ‘Diocesan Secretary’. This was the time Father Simon helped to draft a new Constitution with the help of Mr. E.P. Mathew, Mr. V.O. Markose and Mr. Ittiavara of Kattodu. Collected Anduvari for the Diocese and a Central Fund was also organized. During this time there was great enthusiasm among our people to do anything for the Knanaya Diocese. People like Mr. M.K. Kuriakose, V.Rev. Purackal Achen and then administrator Thamarappallil Achen and many others were ready and willing to do anything for the Samudayam.
This was the time Simon Achen along with our late lamented bishop, H.E. Abraham Mor Clemis was elected as a candidate for our bishopric. Although happy and elated at the turn of events after careful study and consideration Simon Achen asked the Association to remove his name from the candidacy list. Soon afterwards our Thirumeni who was in the Middle East was consecrated as the bishop to everybody’s satisfaction.
In 1951 Simon Achen was appointed as the General Secretary of the World Conference of Christian Youth. Then Simon Chemmachen organized this world conference in Kottayam in December of 1952. Over 400 delegates from all over the world attended the Conference. which lasted for two weeks. All the leading Christian prelates from all over the world attended this conference. This event was a great success
A short while after this conference Achen left for USA (1953). He studied at the Union Theological Seminary and Columbia University and General Theological Seminary. He took his B.D and S.T.M from these Universities and a Doctor of Divinity from Lincoln University.
After this Fr. Simon left for Ethiopia at the invitation of the Patriarch and His Imperial Majesty the Emperor. As the General Secretary of the World Conference of Christian Youth Achen had the privilege to visit all the orthodox countries in the World including Ethiopia. It was during this visit that he was offered the post of the Dean of the Ethiopian Theological College. He remained as the Dean of the College for over six years. Achen was instrumental in raising that institution to be the Theological Faculty of the University of Addis Ababa.
It was also during this time H.G. Mor Athenasias Samuel of USA visited Ethiopia and invited Achen to be the Dean of his Cathedral Church in Hackensack, N.J. Simon Achen accepted His Grace’s invitation and joined him after the expiry of his contract in Addis Ababa.
Achen stayed as the Dean for over two years. By this time a sizable number of the Syrian Christians came to USA and Achen started a worship service for our Community at the Lampere Chapel at Union Theological Seminary in New York.
A few years later in 1982 the North American Knanaya Community bought a church of our own in Yonkers and established a permanent parish. Originally this parish was known as St. Ignatius Church and later renamed by H.E. Mor Clemis as St. Peter’s Church.
Later as more and more people migrated to the USA different denominations started their own parishes and built their own churches.
Simon Achen remained as the leader of our Community all through his life in the United States. He was our very first Administrator. At the time of his demise, he was still serving the Community as the President of the Clergy Council

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Very Rev. Dr. Abraham Thomas Corepiscopa, Vazhayil (2nd Administartor of the NAKC)

The very Rev. Dr. Abraham Thomas Corepiscopa was born along with his twin brother Capt. Abraham Kuruvilla, on October 1, 1934, as the 4th son of the late Mr. T. Abraham and the late Mrs. Chachikutty Abraham, Vazhayil,Veliyanadu, Kerala, India. After their early education in Veliyanadu, the identical twin brothers, Thomaskutty and Kuruvillachen attended S.B. College, Chenganachery.
In 1953, when he was doing his Intermediate at S.B. College, Thomaskutty was ordained as a Deacon by His Grace Abraham Mar Clemis, the new Metropolitan of the Syrian Knanaya Church. Dn. Thomas received his priesthood training from Mar Ephraim Seminary and Majinikara Seminary. The new deacon successfully completed his B.A. (Honors) in English literature from Madras Christian College and started his teaching career at Catholicate College, Pathanumthitta.In order to pursue further studies in theology, Dn. Thomas joined the Moore Theological College, Sydney Australia in 1957. After receiving the Th.L. degree from Australia, he came to the United States of America in 1961 and studied at the Union Theological Seminary, New York and received S. T .M. degree.Dn. Thomas continued hisdoctoral studies at Boston University. During that time, he returned to India. One of hisclose friends recently said that Dn. Thomas returned to Bangalore for further "research andsearch" and as a result of the search, he got married in 1967. His lovely wife Santhamma is the fifth daughter of the late Mr. M.I. Punnoose and Mrs. MariammaPunnoose, Manimalethu, Ranny. Vazhayil Chemmachen, once thought to be the future Metropolitan of the Syrian Knanaya Church, became a loving, caring and affectionate husband. After the marriage, the newlyweds returned to Boston. Dn. Thomas received his Th.D. from Boston University in 1969. He is the author or co-author of a number of books and has numerous articles to his credit.
Dn. Thomas started his career as a college professor at Bridgewater State College in. He was ordained as a priest in New Jersey on June 20, 1971, by the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, Ignatius Yacoub III. He was elevated as a Corepiscopa in New York in 1986 and in 1989, was appointed as the Administrator of the North American Knanaya Diocese by His Eminence Abraham Mar Clemis, Metropolitan of the Syrian Knanaya Church.
Most of the ground work has already been done by Very Rev. Dr. K.M. Simon Corepiscopa, the pioneer who brought the Knanaya traditions to the United States in the late 1950's. The modem-day North American Knanaya Diocese owes a great deal to our
beloved Simon Achen, our first Administrator and the torch-bearer of the Malankara Syrian Knanaya traditions, for upholding it with limited resources.
The appointment ofVazhayil Achen as the Administrator was indeed the recognition of his scholastic ability, dedication to service, administrative skills, ecumenical outlook, and piety. He is also serving as the vicar of St. Stephen's Knanaya Church, Maynard,Massachusetts.
The North American Knanaya Diocese, under the Syrian Knanaya Diocese, has 8 established churches, 1 congregation, 10 priests, 5 deacons and 1 nun in 1995. The Diocese has more than 400 families as its members and already own churches in New York, Houston I and Boston. (1995)
During his administration, Vazhayil Achen implemented a constitution for the Diocese and established the North American Knanaya Association and the North American Knanaya Committee. The leadership he has provided for the construction of the beautiful St. Stephen's Knanaya church, Maynard, Massachusetts, is also mentionable. . Vazhayil Achen is very ambitious about building a modem convention center for the Diocese and is very much interested in working hard for having our own church buildings in Hartford, New Jersey and Philadelphia. He is very actively involved in the developmental projects of the mother Church The greatest challenge facing the Diocese is to teach the younger generation who are born and brought up here, the faith and traditions of the Syrian Church and train them to uphold the Knanaya traditions and lead them to the 21st Century.
Vazhayil Achen with his pleasant personality and compromising mentality deserves a lot of credit for uniting the North American Knanaya community, now united more than ever before.
During his career at Bridgewater State College, Very Rev. Dr. Thomas held the position as the Chairman of the Sociology and Anthropology department and also as the President of the Massachusetts Sociological Association. He is very actively involved in the Kerala Community and was elected as the President of the Kerala Association of New England during the year 1971- 72 and 1983-84.Vazhayil Achen is a true Christian disciple, very much involved in the ecumenical activities of the Kerala community in New England.
Vazhayil Achen is continuing his career as a college professor at Bridgewater State College and has settled down in Raynham, Massachusetts with his wife, Santhamma and three wonderful children, Anil, Paul and Priya. Achen has 6 brothers and 7 sisters and a large group of nieces and nephews both in the U.S.A. and in India.
The members of the North American Knanaya Diocese have great pride and pleasure in congratulating Vazhayil Achen on his 60th birthday. May God shower unlimited blessings on Achen to serve Him and His Church through a blessed long life. May the Diocese find under his leadership, a new vitality, a new tranquility, new areas of service and an unprecedented spiritual and social reawakening to uphold the Knanaya traditions for generations.(from the 60th birthday celebration Souvenir of V. Rev.Dr. Abaraham Thomas Corepiscopa by the North American Knanaya Community-1995)
 

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Rev. Dr. P.P. Philips, Plamparampil

Dr. Philips was born in 1935 in Kurichi, Kerala, India. He took his B.D. from Serampore University, Calcutta, Inda in 1966. He came to US in 1966. After coming to the United States he took his STM from Andover Newton in Massachusetts in 1967. He took his M.A. Sociology from Hartford Seminary in 1970 and earned his Ph.D also from Hartford Seminary 1973.
He served as the Administrator of the North American Knanaya Community from 1997 to 2001. He has also served as the President of the Kerala Association of Dallas, Tx. He received Alumni Award & Teaching fellow Award from the Hartford Seminary and was a Post Doctoral Research Fellow at the Yale Divinity School.
He has published the following books“Customs, Manners of the Nambhuthiri Brahamin of Kerala.”“The Eucharistic Liturgy of the Syrian Church of Kerala”
He is presently serving as the Vicar of St. Thomas Church, Dallas, Texas. His wife is Aleyamma who is from Vadavuparampil, Ranny, Kerala. They have three boys, Abraham, Thomas & Jerry.
 

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Rev. Fr. C. A. Thomas, Chirathalackal
He is actively involved in the Ecumenical movement and was the President of the St. Thomas Ecumenical Federation in 1996.
In 2001 when Rev. Dr. P.P.Philips resigned as the third Administrator, the late lamented Clemis Metropolitan appointed Rev. Fr. C. A. Thomas as the next Administrator of our Community. He is the fourth and the present Administrator of the North American Knanaya Community
Rev. Fr. C.A. Thomas earned his B.A. from Christian College, Chengannoor, Kerala in 1973 and took his Bachelor of Divinity from Serampore University in Calcutta, India in 1982. He has served as vicar of St. Thomas Church, Clifton, N.J, St. Peter’s Church, Yonker’s N.Y and presently serving St. Joseph’s Church, Long Island.
 

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Thamarapallil Abraham Corepiscopa

Thamarapallil Abraham Corepiscopa is one of the foremost priests of the Knanaya community. He was born as the son of Kuruvilla Kochuthommen and Chachy. He was quiet and pious. His parents decided to make him a priest. His primary education was at Chengannur and high school education at Kottayam. In 1894 he became a priest after learning Syriac from Pazhaya Seminary Kottayam. He was made the vicar of Kallissery church. During the long period of his service he modified the church building. The church property was extended and schools were established under the church. He was very much interested in women's education. He arranged for the yearly memorial service of Anjilimootil Ittythommen Cathanar. In 1915 he was made the Vicar General of Knanaya Samudayam. Later he was made the Administrator of the Knanaya Church. He gave the leadership for the central fund amounting to one lakh rupees with the help of V.O. Markose, M.C. Korah Mundukottackal and K.T. Thomas Kelachandra. He organised missionary activities at Vakathanam, Kolladu, Nedumon and Kattodu. The constitution of the Samudayam was revised in his period as the administrator. He was the trustee of the Severiose Fund. He passed away on 25th October, 1947 at the age of 76 . (source: “Cultural Heritage of Knanaya Syrian Christians” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kulathramannil-p 76)
 

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Rev. P.J. Thomas Corepiscopa 

V Rev P J Thomas Cor Episcopa(1901-71)

V. Rev. P.J. Thomas, the pioneer leader of the Knanaya community, was born in Kollam Era 1077. He was the only son of Purackal Rev. P.J. Joseph Cor Episcopa and Paranickal Mariamma. His primary education was at Ranny and Kozhencerry. He became deacon in 1091 Kollam Era and married Annamma of Padinjarepurackal family at Kallissery. His high school education was at Kottayam M.D. Seminary and he took his B.A. from U.C. College Alwaye and his M.A. from Madras Christian College. Though he was offered a lecturership at U.C. College Alwaye, he decided to serve at M.S. School which was only a middle school at that time, respecting the wishes of his father Rev. P.J.Joseph Cor Episcopa. It was a very unattractive offer for a postgraduate.

Priesthood was conferred on him by H.H. Mor Elias III, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, in 1013 Kollam era. He was made the Vicar General by Bishop Dioskorose. He was chiefly responsible for making M.S. Middle School a high school. In his time this school came to the forefront in academic excellence, sports and discipline. The achievements of the school inspired the founding of St. Thomas High School and M.S. Training School. He was an illustrious leader who left a great mark in the public life of the region. He had a vast group of friends from different communities.
From the period of late Thamarappallil Abraham Cor Episcopa to the time of H.G. Abraham Mor Climese, the administration of the diocese was meritoriously managed by V. Rev. P.J. Thomas Corepiscopa. He organised a comprehensive programme of visiting not only the big churches but also the smaller ones and made them feel part and parcel of this diocese. He was assisted by Rev. K.C. Mathew Konnackal on these visits. They traveled mostly on foot to the rural areas. The ever increasing dowry rate which created problems among the commoners was controlled by Rev. P.J. Thomas. He organised a system whereby a part of high dowry amounts was given to a fund for conducting marriages of poor girls.He also strictly regulated the wasteful extravagance of church festivals. The Jacobite and Orthodox sections were brought together in a meeting held at Ephrem Seminary, Chingavanam during his period with the aim of ending the dispute between the two. The meeting enhanced the prestige of the Knanaya Church among the Syrian Christians. A centralised constitution for the community was also moulded in his time. As an administrator he rendered quiet and selfless service to the community. Even from his student days he was actively involved in the Knanaya Students Association of which he was the secretary. He was the president of the Knanaya Yuvajana Samajam for twelve years. He has left his indelible imprint as the president of the Knanaya Association, President of Women's Association, President of the Nazreth Asramam at Othera and as the Vicar General and Administrator. The PJT Hall and Library at Ranny is a fit memorial for this great leader . (Source: "Cultural Heritage of Knanaya Syrian Christians" by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kulathramannil; p 76-78)

Edavazhikal E.M Philip

E.M. Philip is one of the foremost leaders of the Knanaya Community. He deserves the credit of being the architect of the Knanaya Committee of which he was the first secretary. He also moulded the Knanaya Yuvajana Samajam (Youth Association) as early as 1909. For about a quarter of a century he was the secretary of the undivided Malahkara Suriyani Church and for 32 years he was the secretary of Knanaya Samudayam. During this period he contributed a great deal to the progress and development of the community.
He was born in Edvazhikkal family Kottayam in 1857. He was the son of Edavazhikkal Kochumathew and Achampila. After his primary education he joined C.M.S. College in 1869 particularly to study English. He maintained a high academic standard and won the praise of his teachers. V. Rev. Philipose Corepiscopa desired to educate this young intelligent boy either in Bombay Or Madras. He married Kunjachu at the age of 17, the daughter of Kundalimannil Kuruvilla in 1050 Edvam (Malayalam Year and month.) The death of Rev. Philipose Corepiscopa caused a break in his studies. His father died in 1052. After his matriculation he worked at C.M.S College for a month. Most of the staff in the college were Anglicans and his dedication to his church forced him to leave the job. He became the editor of 'Pachima Tharaka Kerala Pathaka'.
In 1054 began the case against Palakunnathu Mathews Mar Athanasiose at the Alleppy court for the properties and wealth of Kottayam Suriyani Seminary. Malithara Elias Kathanar and Karickal Kuruvilla Abraham were entrusted with the conduct of the case. Since Kuruvilla Abraham was sick the responsibility was handed over to E.M.Philip. In this period he was appointed the headmaster of Cherthala District school. But he gave up the job as the Metropolitan insisted on the conduct of the case. While at Alleppy he had great financial difficulty. He even had to starve. Pulikottil Metropolitan, E,M.Philip and Elias Kathanar suffered starvation in these days. He was the right hand of Pulikottil Metropolitan during this time. A European friend of Metropolitan, Mr. Dara, provided financial help for the case. Before the critical verdict was declared he had great mental stress on this issue. He believed that the success of the case was mainly due to the continuous prayer qf the Metropolitan. The legal points for the success of the case were provided by E,M.Philip, according to the advocate Ramanatharayar.
A portrait was painted by Kilimanur Koithampuran as E.M. Philip was reading out the verdict to the Metropolitan. Most of his life was dedicated to conducting the cases of the Malankara church. But his efforts were not properly appreciated. During this period the publications of the C.M.S Church were sarcastic of the Syrian Christians. In reply to that he started the paper 'Malankara Edavakapathrika'. Many articles on the Syrian Christians issues and their faith were published in the Pathrika. For 18 years he conducted the magazine with much financial difficulty, but finally gave it up. A great number of people came to accept the faith through the Pathrika.
From 1060 the charge of the schools was given to him by the Metropolitan. He carried it out successfully. He was made the secretary of the managing committee and also the private secretary of the Metropolitan. At the arrival of H.H. Moran Mor Igantius Abdulla he accompanied the Metropolitan to Bombay. He was held in high esteem and great affection by Dionacius Metropolitan. He was perhaps the person most loved by the Metropolitan.
There was a dispute between the Southists and Northists (Knanites and non Knanites), {The thekkumbhagar and vadakkumbhagar). As a result of which the Manorama daily refused to publish the articles of -Knanites. So E.M. Philip established a printing press at Kottayam and edited the newspaper 'Malayala Vinodini'. For five years he was the editor of the newspaper. He was not a man of revenge or hostility to others. He was strongly committed to his community. It was his earnest desire to take the community to greater heights. In many a critical situation of the Malankara Church he provided brave leadership. He rendered selfless service in maintaining strongly the link between Malankara Church and the Patriarch of Antioch. He wrote several books including his biography, A Reminiscence "Malanakara Sabhaude Rehasiya Pedakam" and "The Indian Church of St.Thomas. The latter book has been appreciated and acclaimed by all church historians. This book has been a milestone for several later church historians. Other important books are 'Suriyani Madopadesa Palanam' and Pappayude Survadipathya Kudaram He was an important leader of Malayali Memorial held at Kottayam in 1891. Thus he left his indelible mark not only in the spiritual field but also in the political and national circles. He is remembered today as the "Nazrani Simham". He left this world at the age of fifty seven after leading a life of service and church activities. (source: “Cultural Heritage of Knanaya Syrian Christians” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kulathramannil-p 71-73)

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Anjilimoottil Itty Thommen Kathanar
(Died on 10th May, 1659)
Anjilimoottil It ty Thommen Kathanar is one of the two most prominent leaders of the Malan k ara Syrian Church who resisted the great Portuguese persecutions of the 1 7th century. He was the main adviser to the then chief of the Syrian Chr istians, ‘Thomas Arkadiyokan’ (later MarThoma I) after the hi storic ‘Koonan Cross Pledge’. Together they provided a great leadership for terminating the Portuguese aggression over Malankara Chur c h and reaffirmed the bond of Syrian Christians with the Holy See of Antioch.
Hearing that the Po rtuguese has imprisoned His Holiness Mor Ignatius Hidayattulla (Ahatul la Bava) who came to India on the request of Malankara Syrian Christians in 1652, it was Itty Thommen Kathanar who organised about 25000 faithful at Cochin to save Bava from the Portuguese military. Such a massive crowd w as brought to Cochin only because of his heroic leadership. When the Sy r ian Christians in Cochin came to know that His Holiness was drowned in t he sea in Cochin; instead of a direct clash that would spill much blood, the foresight of Itty Thommen Kathanar gave a different turn to the incid ent. Under instruction from Itty Thommen Kathanar the Syrian Christians a ssembled there, tied a huge rope around the ancient Stone Cross in the Ch urchyard at Mattancherry (Cochin) and everyone of the large gathering, nu mbering about 25000 held on to it, and pledged that they and their fu ture generations will never adopt the Roman Catholic faith that the Portu gues e tried to forcibly introduce and to always remain loyal to the Holy Apos tolic See of Antioch, maintaining their ancient rites and tradition s. But for this pledge and but for the leadership of this great and noble pries t, the whole Syrian community would have been forced to convert in to the Roman Catholic belief. This great incident that happened in the mo nth of January AD 1653 (Friday, Malayalam date - 3rd Makaram) is recorded in the history as 'KOONAN KURUSHU SATHYAM' (in Malayalam) --- 'the PLEDG E befor e the KOONAN (leaning) CROSS'.
Later Itty Thomm en Kathanar convened a meeting of the Syrian Christians at Alangattu Chur c h and decided to carry on the Church administration as per the orders of Ahathulla Bava and formed a council of four members. Anjilimoottil Itty T hommen Kathanar, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar, Palliveetil Chandy Kathanar an d Vengur Geevarghese Kathanar were the members of this council. But later two of these council members shifted their allegiance to the Roman Churc h following offers from them. In a period in which Portuguese converted p eople to their belief offering money and gifts, Itty Thommen Kathanar b ra vely resisted the threats and offerings to him.
Both Thomas Arak ad iyokan and Itty Thommen Kathanar had only narrowly escaped many a time th e murder attempts of the Portuguese. In 1659, when both were staying at M ulunthuruthy MarThoman Church, soldiers of the Raja of Cochin tried to ki ll them under instruction from the bishop of Romans, but they escaped m i raculously. Had they not escaped they would have had the same fate of Mo r Ahatullah Bava.
Eventually the P or tuguese hegemony declined and the Syrian Christians enjoyed more freedo m . At the event of the murder of Ahatulla Bava in 1653, popular resistanc e was organised by Itty Thommen Kathanar. He brought the scattered Malank ara Syrian Christians together. Inspite of several sufferings, he worked hard to save the Church from the persecution of the Portuguese. It was o n ly the sharp intelligence of Itty Thommen Kathanar and his able diploma cy that helped the Malankara Church in the hours of crisis. He at many ti me s tried to contact his supreme spiritual leader, the Patriarch, for wa nt of a representative of the Holy See to give guidance to the Malankara Chu rch at the time of its crisis. But the political situation prevailing the n made it difficult during his lifetime. However, his dream was fulf illed a few years later with the arrival of Patriarchal delegate Mor Greg orios of Jerusalem in AD 1665. Itty Thommen Kathanar breathed his last on 10th May (Medam 27) 1659 and was laid to rest in his native parish at th e fam ous Kallisserry Knanaya Syrian Church.
There is only a ver y few exceptions other than Itty Thommen Kathanar who spend his wealth , efforts and life for the progress of the Syrian Christians in that diff i cult period of Portuguese persecutions. The life and history of this gre at leader is a saga of selfless service. It is the duty of every Syrian C hristians to remember such an extra ordinary personality like Anjilimoot t il Itty Thommmen Kathanar who led the community by dedicating his entir e life for the cause of the Malankara Church.
 

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Malithra Elias Kathnar (1847-1902)
Malithra Elias Kathanar was born as the son of Cherian and Naitho in the Malithra family at Neelemperoor in A.D.l847 He was baptised Elias by his Holines Elias II, Partriarch of Antioch. He had the rare privilege of accompanying Moran Mor Ignatius Patriarch in his visits to the churches of Parur , Ayyampally, Tripunithara etc.
He had close relations with the Travancore royal family. Every time the royal family went to Vaikom temple by the waterways they stopped at Malithra home and conveyed their regards. The Malithra property was exempted from tax. He worked hard towards the construction of St. George Church in Trivandrum. He was the main organizer of the Mulamthuruthy Synod, convened by the Patriarch at Mulamthuruthi Mar Thoma Church. He was a close associate of Parumala Thimmeni.
He was the right hand of Bishop Mar Gregoriose of Parumala with whom he tried to settle several church disputes. He was respected even by the Hindus as seen in the song of Neelamperoor Pooram festival praises him. He brought poet Kottarathil Sankunny to the Malithra family house to translate prayers and canons from Syriac to Malayalam. He was the vicar of Neelamperoor, Kurichy and Chingavanam churches. At his demise in June 1902 Mar Gregoriose of Niranam diocese said "the wings of Malankara sabha have been broken". He was succeeded by three sons and three daughters. It is essential that we remember the services rendered by Malithra Achan to the diocese and the community.

 

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Kalarickal Unnittan Master

Kalarickal Unnittan Master was born to a wealthy family in Ranny.His primary education was at C.M.S. School Kottayam. He graduated from Madras Christian College, and was the college mate of K.C.Mammen Mappillai. He joined as teacher at M.D. Seminary High School Kottayam. He was committed to his vocation and did not care for remuneration. He was a model teacher respected by the students. He was a strict disciplinarian and took efforts to mould the character of his students. He helped poor students financially. He contributed a substantial amount for the construction of M.D. Seminary High School.
He used to convene the meeting of Knanaya students and deacons every Sunday in his own house. He was the first person to organize the Knanaya Youth as a preliminary to Knanaya 'Yuvajana Samajam' (or Youth Organization).He was the first president of the organization. He sowed the seeds of the forum, which later grew and strengthened into the present Knanaya Congress. He was a man of leadership, foresight and great ideas.He died very young, at the age 27. His life and character are perfect models to be followed by the present Knanaya youths. Early leaders like him have enlightened the annals of Knanaya history. In writing of an early history of Knanaya leaders one cannot forget the name of Kalarickal Unnittan Master who rendered meritorious services to the community. He was the first graduate of this community. He was a man of great potential and despite his early demise, he was a model teacher, a perfect leader and a man committed to the cause of his community. (source: “Cultural Heritage of Knanaya Syrian Christians” by Rev. Fr. Joseph Kulathramannil-p 70-71)

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Rev. Prof. A.P. Joseph Anjilimoottil

Rev. Prof. A.P. Joseph Anjilimoottil, Administrator, Knanaya Samudayam was consecrated Chor Episcopus on 19th June 2003 by H.G Mor Diwanasios Gewargis as directed by H.H. Patriarch Mor Ignatious Zakka I at the St. Mary's Church Anaprampal, Edathua.
Fr. Joseph was born on 23 April 1938 as the third son of Anjilimoottil Punnoose Chacko and Chachyamma. He is from the 14th generation of the great warrior of Syrian Orthodox Faith, Anjilimoottil Itty Thomman Kathanar, who led the historical "Koonan Kurishu Oath" in Malankara, India. Fr. Joseph was ordained as deacon in 1956 and as priest in 1961. He served as the vicar of Anaprampal St. Mary's Church, Kallissery Knanaya Valiayapally, Chingavanam Dayara Church, Ozhuvanpara St.George Church, and Othara St. Mary's Church. He has officiated as the Knanaya Diocesan Secretary, Secretary to late H.G. Abraham Mor Clemis and as Knanaya Priest Trustee. Fr. A.P. Joseph was the Principal of St. Thomas College, Ranni, Kerala from 1983 to 1992. He was elected as the Administrator of Knanaya Diocese by the Malankara Suriani Knanaya Association on 7th December 2002 at Mor Ephraim Seminary at Chingavanam and was appointed on 11 December 2002 by H.H. Patriarch Mor Ignatius Zakka I, through Bull No. E247/02. Source: Jefferson Joseph