Mar Raphael Thattil was born to Ouseph and Thresia on 21 April 1956 and was baptized on 30 April 1956 in Thrissur. Lazar (late), Thomas, Baby (late) Francis, Sosannam, Joy and John, are his brothers and sisters. After his primary education at St. Thomas College HS, Thrissur, he joined St. Mary's Minor Seminary, Thope on 04 July 1971. He completed his study of Philosophy and Theology in St. Thomas Ap. Seminary Kottayam in 1980. He was ordained by Mar Joseph Kundukulam in Thrissur Doloures Basilica. on 21 December 1980. He did his higher studies in Rome and took doctorate in Oriental Canon Law. His thesis was on "Clerical Formation in the Syro Malabar Church: A Historico-Juridical Study".

After his ordination he served as Asst. Vicar, Aranattukara (1981-82), Fr. Prefect & Asst. Procurator, St Mary's Minor Seminary (1982-83), Acting Vicar, Koonammoochy (1983), Acting Vicar, Cherumkuzhy (1983). On returning back from Rome, he served in the Archbishop's house as Vice Chancellor, Chancellor, Adj. Judicial Vicar, Judge and later as Syncellus and Proto-Syncellus. He was the director of DBCLC & Catechism (1992-1995). On 20 January1998, he was appointed as the project officer of the new Marymatha Major Seminary, after a few months appointed as the first Rector of the Marymatha Seminary (1998-2006). He also worked as president and member of many a committees and commissions.

He was ordained as Bishop on 10 April 2010 and appointed as Auxiliary bishop of Trichur and Titular Bishop of Bruni. In 2014, he was appointed as Apostolic visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful residing outside the territorium proprium. Pope Francis named him the first Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Shamshabad on 10 October 2017 and he was installed on 7 January 2018. On 8 January 2024, the Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Synod elected Mar Raphael Thattil as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, thus becoming the Father and Head of nearly five million Syro-Malabar faithful around the globe.

His enthronement as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church took place at Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia Mount St. Thomas, P.B.No.3110 Kakkanad P.O., Kochi - 682 030 Kerala, India on 11th January 2024.

Archbishop Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara was born on 1st February, 1959 as the fourth son of Alia and Antony Bharanikulangara at the St. Augustine’s Parish Karippassery (Moozhikkulam Forane). He completed his primary and high school studies at the Government Lower Primary School (Vattaparambu), at the St. Mary’s Upper Primary School (Moozhikkulam) and at the Government High School (Puliyanam). He did his Seminary studies at the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Trikkakara (1973-1976); Philosophy at the St. Joseph’s, Carmelgiri (1976-1979) and Theology at the St. Joseph’s Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva (1979-1983). He was ordained priest on 18th December, 1983 (by Mar Sebastian Mankuzhikkary).

He did his university studies in Malayalam language and literature from Kerala University (1984-1988) and P. G. Diploma in Journalism and Communication from Bharathiya Vidhya Bhavan. He holds Licentiate in Latin Canon Law from Pontifical Lateran University, Rome (1989-90); Licentiate in Oriental Canon Law from Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome (1990-1991) and a Doctorate in Oriental Canon Law from Pontifical Oriental Institute, Rome, with research work on “Particular Law of a sui iuris Church: a Blueprint for the Syro-Malabar Church” (1992-1994). He had his Post-Doctoral Studies in Jurisprudence from the Pontifical Gregorian University, Rome (1994).

As a priest he served as Assistant at the St. Mary’s Forane Church, Tripunithura (1983-1988); as Acting Parish Priest at the St. George’s Church, Thiruvankulam and at the St. Mary’s Church Vimalagiri, Malayatoor (1988).Archbishop Kuriakose also has specialization and Diplomas in Religious Studies from the Congregation for Religious Life (1990); in Sacraments – Ratum et non consummatum, from the Congregation for Divine Worship and Sacraments (1992) and in Canonization: from the Congregation for the Causes of the Saints (1993). He had his Diplomatic Training from the Pontifical Ecclesiastical Academy.He was also involved in the beatification process of Servant of Mariam Thresia, which was successfully completed together with Rev. Fr. George Nedungatt SJ, as Assistant Vice-Postulator in cause of Bl. Mariam Thresia (1995).

Archbishop Kuriakose was selected as secretarial staff of the Synod for the Synod of Bishops on Religious life (1994) and on Africa (1995). In the Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church held in Rome (1992) he served as a local contact person and facilitator. He was ordained bishop on 26 May 2012.

The III Session of the XXXI Synod of Bishops of the Syro-Malabar Church elected Fr. Mathew Nellikunnel CST Bishop of the Eparchy of Gorakhpur in the State of Uttar Pradesh. The formal announcement of this appointment was done at 12 noon Italian time on Saturday, August 26, 2023 at the Vatican, at 3.30 pm Indian time at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia at Mount St. Thomas Kakkanad. The Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar George Alencherry made the announcement of this appointment at a public meeting held in the presence of the members of the Synod at Mount St. Thomas at Kakkanad. The new bishop was vested with the insignia of the Episcopal Office by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry and the retiring Bishop Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam.

Fr. Mathew was born on 13 November 1970 as the first child of Varkey and Mary Nellikunnel hailing from St Mary's Church, Mariapuram in the eparchy of Idukki. After the school studies, he joined the minor seminary of Khrist Jyoti Province, Punjab-Rajasthan of the CST Congregation and started the seminary formation. He did his First Profession in 1990 and the Final Profession in 1998. He was ordained priest on 30 December 1998 by Mar George Punnakottil, the Bishop emeritus of the Eparchy of Kothamangalam.

After Priestly Ordination, he served the CST Congregation in various capacities such as Assistant Novice Master, Rector of the Minor Seminary, Parish Priest, and School Manager. In 2005 he left for Rome for higher studies. After having secured Doctorate in Philosophy from Rome, he was appointed teacher at Little Flower Major Seminary, Aluva. Later, he undertook a three year term of pastoral ministry in the Diocese of Regensburg, Germany. In 2015, Fr. Nellikunnel was elected the Provincial of Khrist Jyoti Province, Punjab-Rajasthan. After the completion of the term in 2018, he was appointed Rector of the Little Flower Major Seminary. The call to be the shepherd of the Eparchy of Gorakhpur comes to him while serving as the Rector of the Major Seminary. The bishop-elect is proficient in many languages including English, Hindi and German and Italian. The details of the Episcopal Ordination are yet to decide. Mar John Nellikunnel, the Bishop of the Eparchy of Idukki, is the younger brother of the Bishop-elect.

It was in 1984 that the Eparchy of Gorakhpur was erected, Mar Dominic Kokkatt CST being its first Bishop. The retiring Bishop Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam CST assumed the responsibility of the Eparchy in 2006. It is with the satisfaction of the 17 years long of the pastoral ministry in the diocese of Gorakhpur, Bishop Thomas Thuruthimattam starts his retired life.

Most Rev. Thomas Thuruthimattam CST, the second Bishop of Gorakhpur, was born on 22nd of April, 1947 at Aruvikuzhy in Kerala. After the matriculation he joined the Little Flower Congregation (CST Fathers) on 8th June 1963 at Mookkannur. He made his first religious profession on 17th May 1965 and was ordained Priest on 21st December 1973. He spent first four years of his priestly ministry in the Sacred Heart Balanagar (Orphanage) at Mookkannur. Having served one year at Nautanwa Mission Gorakhpur, he was engaged in pastoral ministry in Augsburg, Germany for four and half years. He holds a Licentiate in Dogmatic Theology from the Catholic University of Leuven Belgium.

After his studies he served as the Chancellor of the Diocese of Gorakhpur and Secretary to the Most Rev.Bishop Dominic Kokkat CST.After one year of rectorship at the Diocesan Minor Seminary, Gorakhpur he was elected Finance Secretary and General Councilor of the Little Flower Congregation. Subsequently he served the Congregation as Rector of the Minor Seminary, Regional Finance Secretary, Councilor and Vicar Provincial of St. Thomas Province (CST). Later on he exercised pastoral ministry in France for eight years. Since 2003 till the time of appointment as the Bishop of Gorakhpur on 15th July 2006, Most Rev. Thomas Thuruthimattam CST was the Superior General of the Little Flower Congregation of the CST fathers.

Bishop Dominic Kokkat CST, the first bishop of the Diocese of Gorakhpur, Uttar Pradesh, was born on 23rd February 1932 at Vaikom in Kerala to Mr Kurian and Mrs Mariam Kokkat. At his baptism he received the name ‘Joseph’ as his Christian name. After his matriculation studies, responding to the call of the Lord, Joseph joined the Little Flower Congregation (CST Fathers) at Mookkannoor. Joseph became a professed member of the congregation on 18th May, 1953 and took the name, Dominic.

Bro. Dominic had his philosophical studies and theological formation at Papal Seminary, Kandy (Sri Lanka) and Pune respectively. He was ordained a priest on 4th October, 1960 at Pune. Fr Dominic served the Little Flower Congregation and the Church in India in various capacities: Professor of Philosophy at Little Flower Institute, Aluva & Vocation Promoter (1961-1967), Principal & Director, Industrial Training Institute, Aluva (1967-1970), Vice Rector, Little Flower Seminary, Aluva (1970-1972), Rector, Study House, Trikkakara, (1972-1973), Mission Superior, Little Flower Mission, Punjab (1973-1978), Assistant Secretary, Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (CBCI), New Delhi (1978-1982), and Assistant Superior General and Mission Secretary, Little Flower Congregation (1982-1984). He holds a diploma in Social Development from Coady International Institute, University of Antigonish, Canada (1976-1977).

While serving in the Punjab Mission of the Little Flower Congregation, Fr Dominic was appointed the first bishop of the newly erected Diocese of Gorakhpur. On October 4, 1984 Fr Dominic was ordained Bishop at Ernakulam and was installed Bishop of Gorakhpur on October 14, 1984 in Gorakhpur. Bishop Dominic Kokkat CST took ‘God is my light and my salvation’ as the moto of his episcopal ministry.

The deep concern of Bp Dominic for the poor and the marginalized has been a guiding factor for him to begin various apostolates in the diocese. Bp Dominic, the founder of many of the leading educational, developmental and charitable institutions in Purvanchal, envisioned the development of the people of every stratum of the society, very specially the women in this part of the country.

Bp Dominic, an ardent devotee of St Therese of Child Jesus (Little Flower) and having been impressed by the thrust of his congregation, founded the Congregation of the Little Sisters of St Therese (LST) in 1988. Bp Dominic, as the first Bishop of Gorakhpur had a respectful place in the hearts of the people of Gorakhpur. He was a significant member of the Citizens’ Forum and the Executive Council of Deen Dayal University, Gorakhpur (1985-1988).

In 2006, Bp Dominic after serving the Diocese of Gorakhpur for more than two decades retired and was residing in the Fatima Hospital premises till date. Though retired from the shepherding ministry of the diocese, Bishop Dominic bore witness to his love for the diocese with his presence at every common function with his positive participation.

Bishop Dominic was admitted to the diocesan hospital, Fatima on 14th December 2025 due to complaints of fever, cough, breathing difficulty and loose motion. Detailed medical evaluation revealed a severe infection involving the lungs (Pneumonia) with associated fluid around the lungs along with effects on the heart and kidney functions. His health condition kept deteriorating and was under the Intensive Care treatment for about three weeks.

Seeing the deteriorating health conditions of Bp Dominic, and after discussing with his doctors, he was administered the Sacrament of the Anointing of the Sick on Sunday 21st December by Bishop Thomas Thuruthimattam. After a month’s hospitalization Most Rev. Dominic Kokkat CST, the first bishop of Gorakhpur was called for his eternal rest on 25th January, 2026 at 10.58 am. He was laid to rest in the presence of Major Archbishop Raphael, Archbishops, bishops, priests, religious and thousands of lay faithful in St Joseph’s Cathedral Campus on 27th January.