OUR PATRIARCH

H.H. (Dr) Moran Mor Ignatius
Aphrem II Karim

H.H. (Dr) Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Karim is the 123rd Patriarch of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. God has blessed His Holiness with great educational opportunities to hold several degrees and a doctorate in Theology which shall help him in guiding the Church. His Holiness brief period of secretary-ship to Late Lamented His Holiness Ignatius Zakka 1 Iwas, has served as a great time to come to grips with the affairs of the Universal Church.
Since 1996, HH have served as the Archbishop of Oriental American Archdiocese, and the region has gained immensely from that 18 long years sincere devotion. It is a fact that the region has progressed rapidly during His Holiness reign by constructing several new churches, by reorganizing sacramental practices and other relevant religious rituals. His Holiness initiatived in establishing Syrian Orthodox Archdiocesian Youth Organization (SOAYO) to encourage the youth to come into the main stream of the Church. The numerous Family CounsellingCentres, set up within the Archdiocese to re-unite broken families was also a feather in Your Holiness cap.
His Holiness great erudition and knowledge of several languages including English, Arabic and French besides the official language of the Church, Suriyani, is a great asset to the Church as well as to the Ecumenical movement within the Universal Church. H.H. is fluent in both Classical and Vernacular (Touroyo). In addition to that, His Holiness presence and leadership within the American National Council of the Churches of Christ, World Council of Churches and well accepted in the Oriental Orthodox Churches, goes a long way in fostering relationships between different sections of the Christian Church and in assisting the ecumenical movement. H.H. had a special concern for the youth and working hard to organize the ministry for them. H.H. shown keen interest in publishing spiritual books in Syriac, Arabic & Malayalam. H.H. got a chance to visit and spend lot of time in Malankara, results to build up a strong relation with the MalankaraJacobiteSyriac Orthodox Church.

OUR VICAR

REV. FR. VIPIN K PAILY ITTAN

• Address: Kurumolathu House, Konnachal P.O., Erumad, Nilgiri (Dist), Tamil Nadu
• Born: March 16, 1990
• Nationality: Indian
• Passport No: AH 340374
• Marital Status: Married
• Languages: English, Malayalam
• Education: Bachelor in Divinity in Theological Study from
      Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Udayagiri,
      Mulanthuruthy, Kerala
  
  M.A. (Political Science) & M.A. (Sociology), Calicut University.
• Contact: +9713 7824902 , Mob : +97150 117 6399
• Parishes Served: Presently the Religious Leader of St. George Jacobite SOS Cathedral Al Ain, UAE from Dec 2025 onwards.
• 2023 – 2025 - Religious Leader for St. Thomas Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Malankarakunnu Wayanad (Dist.) Kerala.
• 2020 – 2023 - Religious Leader for St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Mangodu, Nilgiri (Dist.) Tamil Nadu
• 2019 – 2020 - Religious Leader for St. Peter’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Kolapalli, Nilgiri (Dist.) Tamil Nadu
• 2017 – 2019 - Religious Leader for St. Peter’s & St. Paul’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Cathedral, Meenangadi Wayanad (Dist.) Kerala

OUR CATHOLICOS

H.B. Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Joseph

Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Joseph is the current Catholicos of India and Head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, elevated to this office on 25 March 2025. Born on 10 November 1960, his life spans decades of service in the Syrian Orthodox Church, especially in India, as a Monk, Priest, Bishop, Malankara Metropolitan, and finally as Catholicos.

At the unusually early age of 13, he was ordained a Deacon. At the age of 23, he was ordained as a Priest, and at the age of 33, he was elevated as a Bishop to serve the Kochi Diocese. He later served the Church with distinction, gaining early exposure to diocesan administration and episcopal ministry. In 2023, Patriarch Ignatius Aphrem II appointed him as the 26th Malankara Metropolitan of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.

As Catholicos of India, Baselios Joseph I is the head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India and functions as Maphrian of the East under the Syrian Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch. His responsibilities include presiding over the Holy Synod, overseeing episcopal appointments, safeguarding the Syriac liturgical and theological heritage, and focusing on pastoral care and parish strengthening.

His academic journey continued with higher studies overseas, where he earned a Master’s degree from Trinity College Dublin, Ireland, and then pursued further theological studies in the United States. These international studies gave him broader exposure to Western philosophy, ecumenical environments, and diaspora pastoral needs.

As Catholicos, he became second in rank within the Syrian Orthodox Church after the Patriarch of Antioch.

OUR PATRIARCHAL VICAR

H.G. Mor Eusabios Kuriakose

• Born: 8th September 1970
• Home Parish: St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Pazhathottam, Ernakulam
• Kassisso: 3rd July 2000 (Ordained by His Grace Thomas Mor Timotheos Metropolitan)
• Metropolitan: 4th January 2010 (Ordained by Catholicos H.B. Baselios Thomas I)
• Education: Mor Eusabios Kuriakose holds a B.A. (Sociology) from M.A. College, Kothamangalam. He studied at the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Mulanthuruthy, for a Diploma in Theological Studies and later joined Calcutta Bishops College for Bachelor of Divinity. He subsequently secured a Master’s in Theology from Pune, Papal Seminary J.D.P.
• Current Responsibilities:
  1. Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese in India
  2. Patriarchal Vicar of U.A.E.