Thiruvananthapuram: Pattom St Mary’s Cathedral stood radiant at dawn, its quiet dignity preparing the faithful for a day that will echo in memory for years to come. On a bright Saturday morning, the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church witnessed a moment of rare depth as His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Mor Osthathios and His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Yoohanon Mor Alexios were raised to the episcopate during a solemn liturgy led by His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos.
The air carried an unmistakable stillness as the great doors of the Cathedral opened at 8am. The Catholicos entered in procession, accompanied by a distinguished line of Metropolitans whose presence underscored the weight of the day. What followed was a direct encounter with the Church’s living continuity, a reminder that each generation is asked to step forward, to hold a lamp and keep it burning.
The Presentation at the Madbaha
After the opening prayers, Archbishop His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Koorilos and His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mor Thomas presented the bishop-designates, then Kuriakose Ramban and Yohanon Ramban, before the altar. Their quiet composure at that moment spoke more than any word could, for ordination to the episcopate begins long before a hand is laid upon the head. It is shaped in years of obedience, service and quiet preparation.
The official mandates were then proclaimed.
• His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mor Eusebios announced the decree of Pope Leo XIV appointing Yohanon Ramban as Apostolic Visitator to Europe.
• His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Antony Mor Silvanos read the decree naming Kuriakose Ramban as Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy of Thiruvananthapuram.
These mandates carried clear pastoral direction, setting out the fields in which each bishop will serve in the days ahead.
The Liturgy and the Gift of a Name
The Holy Mass that followed was led by the Catholicos. At the heart of the liturgy came the moment every eye awaited: the laying on of hands, the anointing, and the giving of new names.
Kuriakose Ramban received the name Mor Osthathios, and Yohanon Ramban received the name Mor Alexios.
These names were chosen with care, drawing from honoured legacies within the Syrian Christian heritage. They remind the new bishops that a name carries memory, responsibility and a story that must be continued with sincerity.
The Pastoral Staff and the Blessing of the People
Once anointed, the new bishops were handed the pastoral staff by the Catholicos and the co-celebrating Metropolitans. The staff represents duty more than prestige. A bishop is asked to carry it with the steady attention of a shepherd who knows both the terrain and the wounds of his flock.
The new bishops, standing before the congregation for the first time in their new ministry, proclaimed the Gospel passage of the Good Shepherd. It was an apt moment, for the Good Shepherd stands close to His flock, and this same nearness is expected of every bishop.
A vast gathering of bishops, clergy, ministers, legislators and faithful filled the Cathedral grounds. For many, the day carried the quiet joy of seeing two sons of the Church rise to serve in a wider field.
Biographical Sketches
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Kuriakose Mor Osthathios
Born on 27 March 1962 to the late Thomas and Annamma of Amayannoor Thadathil, he belongs to St Mary’s Parish, Amayannoor, in the Tiruvalla Archieparchy. He was ordained a priest in 1987, beginning decades of pastoral service marked by patience and clarity of mind.
Since 2021, he has served as the UK Region Coordinator of the Church, guiding communities far from home with a warmth familiar to parish life in Kerala. He has also served as Vicar of the Coventry and Plymouth parishes in the United Kingdom. His appointment as Apostolic Visitator to Europe continues the trust the Church has placed in him.
His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Yoohanon Mor Alexios
Born on 30 May 1982 in Kizhakke Theruvu, Kottarakkara, to the late Rajan and Omana, he was ordained a priest in 2008. He has served the Major Archieparchy in several key capacities:
• Chancellor
• Lecturer in Canon Law
• Master of Ceremonies of the Church
• Secretary of Commissions
• Secretary to the Catholicos
His years of service reveal strong liturgical discipline, a talent for administrative order and a perceptive understanding of how to guide both clergy and laity. His appointment as Auxiliary Bishop of the Major Archieparchy of Thiruvananthapuram places him at the centre of the Church’s daily life and future planning.
A Day That Will Be Remembered
The ordination strengthened the Church by placing two trusted servants at its helm. Leadership in the Church is received as a call and lived with care. At a time when many search for steady guidance, the sight of two bishops kneeling before the altar and offering themselves for service brought reassurance and quiet strength.
As the Cathedral bells rang at the close of the ceremony, there was a shared sense that the Church had been steadied through fidelity.
The faithful left the Cathedral with the words of the Gospel lingering in their minds: a shepherd knows his sheep, and his sheep know him.
In the years ahead, the ministries of Mor Osthathios and Mor Alexios will carry both challenge and grace. The dignity of this ordination suggests that they begin their episcopal service with steady hearts, clear minds and a Church praying behind them.
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