Geevarghese Mor Coorilose
Encyclopedia
Metropolitan Dr. Geevarghese Mor Coorilos, formerly Rev. Dr. George Mathew Nalunnakkal, is a Syriac Orthodox bishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church and the current Jabobite
bishop of Niranam
. Mor Coorilos is also serving Mor Adai Study Center as its working president, the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of World Council of Churches
as its Moderator, the Niranam diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church as itsMetropolitan
' of Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, the Malankara Congregations in the United Kingdom as its Patriarchal Vicar,and the India Center for Social Change (theeram centeres), a charitable organization for mentally challenged children and adults, as its Chairman.
, the Prince Patriarch of Antioch
and all the East.
After his graduation, he joined the United Theological College, Bangalore for his theological studies. He completed his B.D in the year 1990 in first class and was appointed as Research Assistant in the department of Church and Society. By then Bishop, the late lamented Perumpallil Gheevarghese Mor Greegoriose, granted him permission to accept the offer and he completed the research project in 1991, the year in which he joined the faculty of the theological seminary in Kerala
(M.S.O.T.Seminary). It was during his tenure as Registrar that the seminary was granted B.D. affiliation from the Serampore University
. In 1992, he was offered a scholarship to do his doctoral studies in England and he joined the University of Kent
at Canterbury, England to do his Ph.D in Ecotheology
. He had the rare privilege to do his research under the illustrious Anglican Professor Dr. Robin Gill under whose proficient guidance he was able to complete his Ph.D in a record time of three years. On his completion of Ph.D, he rejoined the theological seminary in Kerala and resumed teaching.
He had the privilege of serving the Kerala Council of Churches as its Senior Faculty Member (1997–1998), the National Council of Churches in India
as its Executive Secretary for Mission and Evangelism (1998–2001). At present, he also serves the World Council of Churches
as moderator of its Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) and he is also a full member of the WCC’s reference group on Human Sexuality. Mor Coorilos has been recently nominated by the W.C.C to its Advisory Group on Economic Matters. He has attended several international consultations organized by the WCC, CCA, Pro-Oriente, WSCF, the Anglican Communion, the NCCI and other such ecumenical bodies. He has been a member of the Dialogue Commission of Syrian Orthodox Church. In all this, Mor Coorilos has had the honor to represent the Church and he continues to do that with great sense of pride.
In the year 2001, Mor Coorilos joined the teaching faculty of the United Theological College, Bangalore. He served the college as Associate Professor in the department of Theology and Ethics. He was the first member from the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church to be on the faculty of this premier theological institution. He has also taught at other seminaries as visiting professor.
Currently, Mor Coorilos is also the chairman of Theeram, India Center for Social Change, a charitable trust, working for the welfare of mentally challenged children in Kerala
. Under his leadership, this institution now has established ten vocational training centers under the name “Theeram” {www.icsctheeram.org} where about 200 mentally challenged boys and girls are undergoing training. Theeram also has started an old age home in the Tsunami-hit area of Alappadu in Karunagappally, Kerala.
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, located in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, currently Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous archdiocese within the church, under the authority...
bishop of Niranam
Niranam Diocese (Syriac Orthodox Church)
Niranam diocese, the smallest diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, is located in Niranam, India . It is one of the oldest dioceses of the church. Niranam is one of the places where St...
. Mor Coorilos is also serving Mor Adai Study Center as its working president, the Commission on World Mission and Evangelism of World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
as its Moderator, the Niranam diocese of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church as itsMetropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
' of Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, the Malankara Congregations in the United Kingdom as its Patriarchal Vicar,and the India Center for Social Change (theeram centeres), a charitable organization for mentally challenged children and adults, as its Chairman.
Early years
Mor Coorilos was born in Nalunnakkal, Kottayam, Kerala in the year 1965. He was brought up in the Syriac Orthodox faith since his childhood and was baptized at St. Adai’s Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church, Nalunnakkal, his home parish. His early schooling was done at St. Adai’s Primary School, St. Elias Upper Primary School and Jerusalem Mount High School, Vakathanam, . He passed his SSLC exams with first class and joined St. Berchman’s College, Changanacherry where he did his Pre-Degree and B.A. in English literature. Alongside his secular education, he also pursued his Sunday School education. He stood first in the 10th standard examinations in Kottayam diocese and secured the Michael Mor Divannasios memorial gold medal.Parents
His parents, Mr. P.C. Mathew (Karippal Puthenpurayil, Rtd. Principal Sub Registrar, Kottayam) and Mrs. Marykutty Mathew (both 83 years old now) have been a major source of spiritual influence on him. His two brothers (Jacob Mathew, working in Intelligence Bueraeu, Mumbai and Jaison Mathew, a civil Engineer in Kuwait) and four sisters (Kunjumariamma Thomas, Omana Korah, Lovely George and Mini Joshua) have also been very supportive in his spiritual and theological upbringing. He is very proud of his home parish (St. Adais Jacobite Syrian Church, Nalunnakkal) which was blessed by the Apostolic visit of the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, H.H.Ignatius Zakka I IwasIgnatius Zakka I Iwas
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas is the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's...
, the Prince Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch
Patriarch of Antioch is a traditional title held by the Bishop of Antioch. As the traditional "overseer" of the first gentile Christian community, the position has been of prime importance in the church from its earliest period...
and all the East.
Theological Studies
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
(M.S.O.T.Seminary). It was during his tenure as Registrar that the seminary was granted B.D. affiliation from the Serampore University
Serampore College
Serampore College is located in Serampore Town, in Hooghly District, West Bengal, India.The college consists of two entities:*The theological faculty*A separate college with faculties of arts, science, commerce...
. In 1992, he was offered a scholarship to do his doctoral studies in England and he joined the University of Kent
University of Kent
The University of Kent, previously the University of Kent at Canterbury, is a public research university based in Kent, United Kingdom...
at Canterbury, England to do his Ph.D in Ecotheology
Ecotheology
Ecotheology is a form of constructive theology that focuses on the interrelationships of religion and nature, particularly in the light of environmental concerns. Ecotheology generally starts from the premise that a relationship exists between human religious/spiritual worldviews and the...
. He had the rare privilege to do his research under the illustrious Anglican Professor Dr. Robin Gill under whose proficient guidance he was able to complete his Ph.D in a record time of three years. On his completion of Ph.D, he rejoined the theological seminary in Kerala and resumed teaching.
He had the privilege of serving the Kerala Council of Churches as its Senior Faculty Member (1997–1998), the National Council of Churches in India
National Council of Churches in India
National Council of Churches in India or NCCI is an ecumenical organisation of the protestant and Orthodox Churches in India. NCCI is a member of ACT Development, a global alliance of churches and related agencies....
as its Executive Secretary for Mission and Evangelism (1998–2001). At present, he also serves the World Council of Churches
World Council of Churches
The World Council of Churches is a worldwide fellowship of 349 global, regional and sub-regional, national and local churches seeking unity, a common witness and Christian service. It is a Christian ecumenical organization that is based in the Ecumenical Centre in Geneva, Switzerland...
as moderator of its Commission on World Mission and Evangelism (CWME) and he is also a full member of the WCC’s reference group on Human Sexuality. Mor Coorilos has been recently nominated by the W.C.C to its Advisory Group on Economic Matters. He has attended several international consultations organized by the WCC, CCA, Pro-Oriente, WSCF, the Anglican Communion, the NCCI and other such ecumenical bodies. He has been a member of the Dialogue Commission of Syrian Orthodox Church. In all this, Mor Coorilos has had the honor to represent the Church and he continues to do that with great sense of pride.
In the year 2001, Mor Coorilos joined the teaching faculty of the United Theological College, Bangalore. He served the college as Associate Professor in the department of Theology and Ethics. He was the first member from the Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church to be on the faculty of this premier theological institution. He has also taught at other seminaries as visiting professor.
Ordination
Mor Coorilos was ordained a deacon in 2001 and a priest in 2002 by His Grace Thomas Mor Themotheose Metropolitan. After his ordination, he served two parishes in Kerala and one parish in Bangalore as Assistant vicar. He has also served the St. Mary’s Jacobite Syrian Church, Ithithanam, Kerala as its Vicar and St. Ignatious Church, Pallom (Kallooparambil Pally) as its Asst. Vicar.India Center for Social Change
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. Under his leadership, this institution now has established ten vocational training centers under the name “Theeram” {www.icsctheeram.org} where about 200 mentally challenged boys and girls are undergoing training. Theeram also has started an old age home in the Tsunami-hit area of Alappadu in Karunagappally, Kerala.
Mor Adai Study Center
Currently, Metropolitan Coorilos is also serving Mor Adai Study Center as its working president. He was the co-founder and the executive director since 2003 and when he was elevated to the position of metropolitan, he became the working president. Mor Adai Study Center has published 18 books that include 2 of his works.Published works
Mor Coorilos has published several books and articles both in English and Malayalam. Most of them were published under his old name George Mathew Nalunnakkal. Following are some of the major ones:- Jeevante Akhosham(ജീവന്റെ ആഘോഷം) :Bible Studies, KCC/EDTP, Tiruvalla, 1998
- New Beings and New Communities: Theological Reflections in a Postmodern Context, KCC/EDTP, Tiruvalla, 1998
- Green Liberation: Towards an Integral Ecotheology, NCCI/ISPCK, Delhi, 1999
- Quest for Justice: Perspectives on Mission and Unity (co-edited) NCCI/GURUKUL/ISPCK, Delhi, 2000
- Re-routing Mission: Towards a People’s Concept of Mission, CCA/CSS, Tiruvalla, 2004.
- HIV/AIDS: A Challenge to Theological Education, (co-edited), BTESSC/Sathri, Bangalore, 2004.
- Sathya Vishwasa Padanangal(സത്യവിശ്വാസ പഠനങ്ങള്) :Essays on Oriental Orthodox faith in Malayalam, Co-Authored with V.Rev. Kuriakose Corepiscopa Moolayil, Mor Adai Study Center, Cheeranchira, 2003
- Kazhchapadukal(കാഴ്ചപ്പാടുകള്) :Perspecives, Essays in Malayalam, Mor Adai Study Center, Cheeranchira, 2002
- Ethical Issues: Subaltern Perspectives: CSS, Tiruvalla, 2008.
See also
Syriac Orthodox ChurchSyriac Orthodox Church
The Syriac Orthodox Church; is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church based in the Eastern Mediterranean, with members spread throughout the world. The Syriac Orthodox Church claims to derive its origin from one of the first Christian communities, established in Antioch by the Apostle St....
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
Jacobite Syrian Christian Church
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church is part of the Syriac Orthodox Church, located in Kerala, India. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, currently Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, as its supreme head. It functions as a largely autonomous archdiocese within the church, under the authority...