H.H. Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II
Since St. Peter has assumed the leadership of the Church and had make use of Antioch as the capital to lead the Church, those who are ordained as Patriarchs by the church to succeed St.Peter are no doubt the successors and emissaries of St.Peter. The divine grace is handed down from Jesus to St.Peter, St.Peter to his successors the Metropolitans to Priests, and from Priests to the laity. Thus in the Syrian Orthodox Church the Patriarch represents the first and the foremost link in respect of the apostolic succession and divine priesthood.
OUR CATHOLICOSE
HB Catholicos Mor Baselios Joseph was born on 10 November 1960 as the youngest of four children to Srambikkal Pallithitta Geevarghese and Saramma in Perumpilly, Mulanthuruthy. He is the grandchild of the cousin of St. Gregorios Geevarghese (Parumala Thirumeni). On 25 March 1974, he was ordained deacon by LL HG Mor Gregorios Geevarghese Metropolitan (Perumpally Thirumeni) at Mor Ignatius Dayro Manjinikkara. . On 25 March 1984, he was ordained Kassiso at Marthoman Church, Mulanthuruthy, by LL HB Mor Baselios Paulose II Catholicos. On 16 January 1994, Joseph Ramban was consecrated as HG Mor Gregorios Joseph Metropolitan by LL HH Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, at Damascus, for the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Cochin Diocese in Malankara. Sunthroniso was held at Kyomtha Cathedral, Thiruvankulam on 23 January 1994. His Grace was ordained by HH Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II as Maphryono and Catholicos of India of Syriac Orthodox Church on March 25, 2025 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Atchaneh, Lebanon.
DIOCESE METROPOLITIAN
H.G. Mathews Mor Aphrem
Mathews Mor Aphrem was born to Skaria and Sossamma Chitteth on May 15, 1968 in Arincherumala, Wayanad District. His home parish is St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in Kaniyambatta, Malabar diocese. He served in Althar as an altar boy as a child. He was very active in Sunday school, both in studies and extra curricular activities. James was a very good singer in the Sunday School stages and consistently won prizes in Sunday school, district, diocese and association levels.
