Thrissur—In a solemn moment marked by reverence and profound respect, His Grace Archbishop Dr. Thomas Mor Koorilos, Metropolitan of Tiruvalla, paid his final respects to the late His Beatitude Dr. Mar Aprem Metropolitan, senior prelate of the Chaldean Syrian Church. As the mortal remains of Mar Aprem were laid bare for public veneration, Archbishop Koorilos led the concluding rites and prayers, invoking the eternal rest and peace of the departed shepherd.
This poignant occasion brought together clergy, faithful, and admirers from across ecclesial traditions, all united in mourning the loss of a luminary whose life bridged scholarship, pastoral zeal, and cultural richness. Archbishop Dr. Thomas Mor Koorilos’ presence and leadership during these final rites underscored the deep bonds of fraternity and spiritual kinship that transcend individual churches, reminding all of the shared journey in Christ.
Remembering His Beatitude Dr. Mar Aprem Metropolitan: A Life of Faith, Scholarship, and Humour
On 7 July 2025, the Church of the East and its faithful in India bid farewell to a monumental figure in Christian history—His Beatitude Dr. Mar Aprem Metropolitan, the senior Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church, who passed away at the age of 85 in Thrissur.
Born George Mooken on 13 June 1940, Mar Aprem emerged from the humble environs of Thrissur to become a towering presence in the spiritual and cultural life of the Eastern Syriac tradition in India. His journey was marked by profound scholarship, pastoral care, and a rare gift for weaving humour and warmth into the fabric of ecclesial leadership.
Mar Aprem’s academic pursuits carried him from the schools of Kerala to the seminaries and universities of India, England, and the United States. A scholar of Church history, he held doctorates in both theology and Syriac studies, enriching the Church with erudition grounded in devotion. His consecration as bishop in 1968, swiftly followed by his elevation to Metropolitan, set the stage for a ministry spanning over five decades, during which he guided the Chaldean Syrian Church with unwavering faithfulness.
Yet Mar Aprem was no mere scholar cloistered in ivory towers. His literary oeuvre—comprising over sixty-five books—blended theological insight with a disarming humour that endeared him to countless readers. Works such as Laugh with the Bishop and Holy Humour reveal a leader who understood the human heart as well as the divine, inviting believers to find joy and light even in the shadowed moments of life.
Beyond the written word, his compositions of devotional songs, notably Behold the Cross of Calvary, transcended linguistic barriers, translated into over a hundred languages. His musical sensibilities enriched the worship life of his Church, reflecting a spirit attuned to beauty and reverence.
Mar Aprem’s passion extended beyond the Church walls. A tireless advocate for sobriety and social renewal, he courageously addressed alcoholism and championed humility and compassion in his Christmas messages, urging the faithful to live the Gospel not only in words but in deed.
His leadership resonated on the global stage, serving as President of the Church History Association of India and a founding figure in the Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action. His commitment to ecumenism and historical understanding fostered bridges across communities, nurturing unity without sacrificing the rich heritage of the Eastern tradition.
The legacy of Mar Aprem Metropolitan is not confined to the annals of history or the pages of his writings. It lives vibrantly in the lives he touched—the faithful who found in him a shepherd of wisdom and wit, a man whose joy in the Gospel illuminated every gathering.
As we reflect on his remarkable life, we remember a man who carried the weight of tradition with a smile and who invites us now to continue in his footsteps—walking with faith, laughter, and an abiding hope in Christ’s eternal promise.
May the Lord grant him eternal rest, and may his memory be a blessing for generations to come.
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