BIOGRAPHY

Mor Athanasius Elias

(Asst. Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese)

Born	-	11-Feb-1964
Family Name	-	Kozhiparambath House, Thuruthisserry, Angamali
Parish Church		St. Mary's Simhasana Church, Thuruthisserry, Angamli diocese
Korooyo	-	22 July 1988 (ordained by H.G. Thomas Mor Dionysius)
Kassisso	-	15 August 1995 (ordained by H.G. Thomas Mor Dionysius)
Ramban	-	02 November 2002 (ordained by Catholicos H.B. Baselios Thomas I)
Metropolitan	-	01 January 2007 (ordained by Catholicos H.B. Baselios Thomas I)
Current Responsibilities	-	1. Asst. Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese
1	-	2. Metropolitan of Antiochean Movement in India (Viswasa Samithy)

H.G. Mor Athanasius Elias was born in the Kozhiparambath family of Thuruthisserry in Angamali, to Mr. Ittoop (late) and Eliyamma on 11th February 1964. The family belonged to the Akaparambu Mor Sabor Afroth church in Angamali diocese. He had his schooling at the Nedumbasserry Mor Athanasius School and college education at the Angamali DePaul college. He got graduated from the Mahatma Gandhi University in Politics. His theological studies was primarily under Very Rev. Ramban Geevarghese Karimbil (Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Geevarghese) and from the M.S.O.T seminary. On 22 July 1988 H.G. Mor Dionyisus Thomas ordained him Korooyo and on 15 August 1995 he was ordained Kassisso. As a priest he had served the churches at Vadattupara St. George, Aymuri St. Thomas, Neduvathoor St. George, Peechanikad Mount Tabor, Angamali St. Mary's, Ernakulam St. Peter's and Thuruthissery Simhsana Church. For a brief period he had also served as the secretary of Metropolitan Mor Dionysius Thomas (present Catholicos).

On 2nd November 2002, Kassisso Elias was elevated to the order of Ramban (Dayroyo) by Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I at the Mor Sabor Afroth church in Akaparambu. Since 2004 he was serving as the Vice-president of the Antiochean Movement in India (Anthikoya Viswasa Samrakshana Samithy). In November 2006 he was elected to the highest priestly order of the Metropolitan and the decision was later ratified by the Malankara Synod, the Catholicos and the Patriarch.

On Monday the 1st January 2007, His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I ordained Rabban Elias as Metropolitan by name ATHANASIUS at a solemn function held at the St. Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencuriz.

The Patriarchal assistant to India, His Grace Mor Athansius Geevarghese, Metropolitans of various dioceses in Malankara Their Graces, Mor Severios Abraham (Angamali region), Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese (E.A,E.), Mor Gregorios Joseph (Kochi), Mor Ivanios Mathews (Kandanad), Mor Dionysius Geevarghese (Simhasana churches), Mor Theophilos Kuriakose (Seminary & Europe), Mor Severios Kuriakose (Knanaya) Mor Theodosius Mathews (Kollam), Mor Aphrem Mathews (High Range region), Mor Eusebius Kuriakose (Thrissur), Mor Koorilose Geevarghese (Niranam) and Mor Chrysostmos Markose (E.A.E.) were the co-celebrants during the holy consecration ceremony. The Metropolitan-designate of Knanaya diocese Rev. Fr. C T Kurian Chaluparambil, priests from various Malankara dioceses, Ministers of State Mr. S Sharma and Mr. T U Kuruvilla, several Members of Kerala Legislative Assembly and other local government representatives were all present during the holy ceremony.

On April 15, 2007, the ‘Sunthroniso’ of Metropolitan Mor Athanasius Elias was held at the Mor Sabor Mor Aphroth Church at Akaparambu. Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I was the chief celebrant and Metropolitans Mor Gregorios Joseph and Mor Chrysostmos Markose were the co-celebrants during the holy ceremony. His Grace henceforth was appointed as the President of the Antiochean Movement in India (Anthikoya Viswasa Samrakshana Samithy) and vicar-general of St. Athanasius Cathedral at Puthencuriz Patriarchal center. From June 2012, His Grace is appointed as Assistant Metropolitan for Thrissur diocese.