Eminent members from the past

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Very Reverend Corespiscopa Cherian Thomas was born in 1846, as the third son of Poothicote Puthenpurackal Cherian and Adoor Nellimootil Annamma.He is the first priest from the Poothicote family. He started his education in Kottayam Grammar School established by British Missionaries. He continued his theological education in the Kottayam "old seminary". He was ordained as deacon in 1862 by Metropolitan Yuyakim Koorilose. He was the first priest of Mepral St. John's Church. He passed away in 1912

Rev Fr. P. M. Abraham Kashiha was born in 1885, as the third son of Kochitty "Mathukunju" Kuruvilla Chathanthra and Aachiyamma Puthenkaavil Puthen veetil Ezhikakathu. He was ordained as priest in 1912 at the Aluva Seminary by the Patriarch of Antioch Mor Ignatius Abded Aloho II. He has served as the vicar of St. John's church in Mepral. He passed away in 1965

H. G. Kuriakose Mar Coorilos was born as George Kurian on May 1, 1935 as the second son of Poothicote Payikandathil Cherian George of Mepral and Annamma. He was ordained deacon by Mor Gheevarghese Gregorius of Ankamali in 1956. The late Catholicos Paulos II (then Metropolitan Mor Philoxenus Paulose) ordained him priest in 1956. Fr. George Kurian became the vicar of St. John's church, Mepral (Thiruvalla). Fr. George Kurian was consecrated bishop Mor Kurilose by Patriarch Ya`qub III on July 21, 1974. His Grace served as the Metropolitan of Niranam, Quilon and Thumpamon until March 21, 1995 when he passed away. His remains are interred in Mikhayel Mor Dionysius chapel, Adoor. Mor Kuriakose was an accomplished orator and an able administrator who established many educational institutions in the diocese. His Grace served as the President of the Sunday School Association for a long time. During a very difficult period in the history of the church, His Grace provided able leadership for the church.

His Grace, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was born on August 13, 1959 to P G George(Puthenpurayil Athikkanadiyil branch) and Susy George (Manammel Thayyil), in Mepral. His boyhood name was Cheriyachen, and was the fourth of five children. 

Upon finishing his high school education, he enrolled in Malabar Christian College for his undergraduate education. Later, he moved with his family where he completed his Bachelors in Arts, (English) from Saint Joseph College, in Calicut. He then completed his Bachelor of Divinity, and his Master of Theology degree from United Theological College in Bangalore. His uncle and mentor, Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Coorilose ordained him to the Holy Diaconate on January 4th, 1986 and to the Priesthood on May 16, 1990 at his home parish St. John's Church, Mepral. 

As a priest, he served parishes in the Diocese of Kandanad, as the Ecumenical Secretary of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, and taught as a professor at the Malankara Syrian Seminary at Mulanthuruthy, until he was called to be consecrated to the holy episcopacy. His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, consecrated him as Metropolitan on August 15, 1993.

In 2002, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II appointed Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos as the Assistant Metropolitan of the American Diocese. On February 26, 2011, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, appointed Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as the ruling Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese and was later enthroned on May 21, 2011.

In addition to Metropolitan Nicholovos' responsibilities to his Diocese, His Grace functions in various capacities which impact the Malankara Church, the Northeast American Diocese, and the greater ecumenical world:

• President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
• Working Committee & Executive Committee Member to the World Council of Churches (WCC) - 
• Member of the Permanent Commission on Concensus & Collaboration of the WCC
• Governing Board member of the National Council of Churches in the United States (NCCUSA)
• Member of the Board of Trustees of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary
• Member of the Board of Directors for Church World Services (CWS)

He hails from Puthenpurackal Thekkepuraykkal branch, son of  P.T.Cherian and Thakkamma(Kuzhivelil, Kizhvaypore). He was ordained as a priest of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church.

  Born in Kerala on January 4, 1990 to Mr Kuruvilla Mathew and Mony Kuruvilla. He hails from Kizhakkeveetil  Pathinettil. Fr. Thomas Kuruvilla Poothicote has a Bachelor of Divinity degree from Serampore College and a Bachelor's degree in English Language and Literature from Manonmaniam Sundaranar University.  He has diverse experience in religious leadership and community service. He has served as President of  St. George Syriac Orthodox Church (Seattle, WA, Dec 2022-Nov 2023), and as Vice President of the Syriac Orthodox Malankara Archdiocesan Men's Fellowship (New Jersey, Jun 2023-Present).  He has also held administrative roles, including Administrator of Poornodaya Vidyanikethan (Kerala, India, May 2015-Nov 2022) and Student Parent Counselor at an educational institution (Kerala, India, May 2016-Dec 2022).  Earlier experience includes service as Deacon (Aug 2007-May 2016), Secretary to Bishop Julius Kuriakose (Jun 2008-Apr 2011), and involvement with the Jacobite Students Movement (Jun 2016-Oct 2022), Oriental Youth (Oct 2010-Jan 2021), and the Syrian Orthodox Church (8 years, 10 months total).  Currently, he serves as the Vicar for St. Jacob's Syriac Orthodox Church (Edmonton, AB, Canada, Dec 2023-Present) and he also volunteers at Chartwell Retirement Residences (Edmonton, AB, Canada)

 Born in Kerala on September 24, 1989, to Sherry and Sujamol Poothicote, Shawn (Achen) emigrated to Chicago as a child. The oldest of three boys, he served in the Holy Altar from age 9, blessed by H.G. Zachariah Mor Nicholovos.  He earned a BS in Molecular and Cell Biology from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign (2011) and then spent two years in research.  He then attended St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, earning an MDiv cum laude (2016) with a thesis on monasticism and inter-church dialogue, and an MTh (2017) with a thesis on St. Basil and the Meletian Schism.  During his MTh studies, he was ordained sub-deacon (Afudyaqno) in 2016.  In 2017, he studied liturgics at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam.  He married Lijin Hannah Raju (daughter of V. Rev. Raju Daniel and Saramma Raju) in 2018. Lijin, originally from Kerala, emigrated to Dallas at age 8, and is also a St. Vladimir's graduate (MA Theology, 2015) and holds an MSW (University of Texas at Arlington, 2017), currently directing homeless shelters.  Achen was ordained a full deacon (M’Shamshono) in 2018 and a priest (Kaseeso) with the name Thomas in 2019 at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Elmhurst, IL, by H.G. Zachariah Mor Nicholovos.  He served as assistant vicar at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Yonkers, NY, and as of January 1, 2023, is assistant vicar at St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Detroit, MI, under Rev. Fr. Philip Jacob.