Our Bishops

Patriarch: His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II

His Holiness Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatuis Aphrem II is the 122nd successor of St.Peter in the Apostolic See of Antioch & All The East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Enthroned as Patriarch in Damascus on May 29, 2014.

Born in Kamishly, Syria on May 3, 1965 as the youngest son of Mr. & Mrs. Issa Karim, His Holiness lost his father at an early age and was raised ,with the rest of his family, by his late and loving mother Khanema. Entered St. Ephrem’s Theological Seminary in Atchaneh, Lebanon in 1977, following primary schooling in Kamishly. In 1982, His Holiness served the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of Aleppo, Syria, for the next two years. From 1984 to 1988, as Archbishop Karim , His Holiness pursued higher studies at the Coptic Theological Seminary in Cairo, Egypt, graduating with a Bachelor Degree of Divinity.

In 1985, His Holiness  took the vows of a monk, and put himself in the service of the Church. Was ordained to the diaconate in Egypt, and later the same year, to the sacred priesthood in Kamishly. From 1988 to 1989, His Holiness served as both, the secretary of the late His Holiness, Moran Mor Zakka I Iwas, Syrian Orhtodox Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, and as a teacher at St. Ephrem’s Theological Seminary in Damascus, Syria. In 1991, Entered St. Patrick’s College in Maynooth, Ireland, where His Holiness received a License of Sacred Theology Degree, in 1992, and Doctor of Divinity Degree in 1994, following a defense of doctoral thesis on The Symbolism of the cross in early Syriac Christianity.

On Sunday, January 28, 1996, His Holiness was consecrated as Metropolitan and Patriarchal Vicar to the Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church for the Eastern United States, by His Holiness Patriarch Zakka I Iwas, at St. Mary ‘s Syriac Orthodox Church in Kamishly. Archbishop Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim arrived in The United States on March 2, 1996, and was officially installed to his position at St. Mark’s Cathedral in Teaneck, New Jersey.

In addition to many talents, His Holiness is fluent in both Classical and Vernacular (Touroyo) as well as in Arabic, French, and English.

Archbishop: His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho

His Holiness the Patriarch of Antioch and All The East, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas consecrated Very Rev. Ramban Yeldho Pathickal as the Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America on January 4, 2004 at the solemn function held at the Monastery of St. Aphrem the Syrian, at Ma'arrat Seydnaya, Damascus, Syria. The new Metropolitan was given the Episcopal name 'TITUS' during the consecration ceremony. Archbishops from different countries were present to grace the occasion: H. G. Mor Gregorios Joseph (secretary of the Regional Synod in India), H. G. Mor Julius Kuriakose (First Secretary to His Holiness the Patriarch), H. G. Mor Osthatheos Matta Roham (Jazira & Euphrates, Syria), H. G Mor Severius Isak Saka (Mosul, Iraq), H. G. Mor Silvanos Pathros (Homs, Syria), H. G. Mor Athanasius Elia Bahi (Patriarchal Assistant, Damascus), H. E. Mor Cyril Aprem Karim (Eastern U.S.A). Also were present the 1st secretary of the Indian Embassy in Damascus Mr. R. C. Manchanda, Monks, Nuns, friends and family members. At the end of the Holy ceremony, the newly consecrated Archbishop thanked His Holiness the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas and all those who were present. He pledged his allegiance to the Holy Syriac Orthodox Church and promised to be faithful in imparting the teachings of the Church to the faithful.

Born in 1970 to Pathickal P. M. Kuriakose and Sosamma, His Eminence belongs to the Perumbavoor Bethel Suloko Cathedral of the Ankamaly Diocese in India. His primary education was at the Asram High School, Perumbavoor. He studied at the Union Christian College in Alwaye, Kerala for B. Sc and M. Sc in Mathematics. Later he acquired his B. Ed degree from the Mahatma Gandhi University, Kerala, India.

His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho was ordained Deacon (Qoruyo) at the age of 12, on October 28, 1982 by Mor Athanasius Paulose (Kadavil), the late Metropolitan for the Evangelical Association of the East. In 1997 he was invited to the St. Ephrem Patriarchal Seminary in Damascus, Syria. On September 26, 1998 he was ordained Ramban by His Holiness the Patriarch and on September 5, 1999 ordained as Priest. His Eminence had his theological education from the Patriarchal Seminary at Damascus and the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary at Udayagiri, India. During this period he had the opportunity to stay in the Syrian Orthodox Monasteries of Jerusalem, Turkey, Holland, Germany and Switzerland. After the demise of Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (Perumpally) in 1999, he was appointed as the Administrator of the Perumpally St. George Simhasana Church and its institutions. From 1995 to 2001, he was actively involved in YMCA organization as its State Vice- Chairman and also as its National Executive Board Member.

His Eminence was later deputed to New York and was serving different churches of the Malankara Archdiocese of North America till the end of 2003. He also completed his Master of Divinity degree in 2003 from the St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York. On January 4, 2004 His Eminence was consecrated as the Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese in North America. His Eminence is currently pursuing his Doctoral program in US.

His Eminence is the only prelate from Malankara to receive five ordinations (Sub-deacon, Full Deacon, Ramban, Priest & Metropolitan) from the Supreme Head of our Church, the Patriarch His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.