Published Jul 10, 2025 | 6:37 PM ⚊ Updated Jul 10, 2025 | 6:37 PM
Mar Aprem Metropolitan Laid to Rest with State Honours in Thrissur
Mar Aprem Metropolitan, the Archbishop of the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East in India, was laid to rest with full state honours in Thrissur on Thursday, 10 July, marking the end of a towering legacy in Kerala’s spiritual and cultural landscape.
The revered Church leader passed away on Monday, July 7, at the age of 85, while undergoing treatment for age-related ailments at a private hospital.
A spiritual luminary, distinguished historian, and prolific author, Mar Aprem led the Chaldean Syrian Church for more than five decades. He was celebrated not just for his ecclesiastical leadership but also for his wit, scholarship, and tireless efforts to preserve Christian heritage in India. His literary contributions include 68 published works—many blending theology with satire and humour.
Born as George Davis Mooken on 13 June 1940, in Thrissur, he pursued theological and academic studies in India, England, and the United States, specialising in Church history. He was consecrated as bishop on 21 September 1968, and elevated to Metropolitan just eight days later.
Beyond his religious duties, Mar Aprem made notable contributions to Christian scholarship. He served as President of the Church History Association of India from 1976 to 1982 and was a founding member of the National Board of CASA (Church’s Auxiliary for Social Action) in New Delhi.
