Saint Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara | |
---|---|
Born | Kainakary, Kuttanad, Kingdom of Travancore, British Raj (now in Alappuzha district, Kerala, India) | 10 February 1805
Died | 3 January 1871 Koonammavu, Kingdom of Cochin, British Raj (now in Ernakulam, Kerala, India) | (aged 65)
Venerated in | Catholic Church |
Beatified | 8 February 1986, Kottayam by Pope John Paul II |
Canonized | 23 November 2014, Rome by Pope Francis |
Major shrine | St. Joseph's Church, Mannanam, St.Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu |
Feast | 18 February (Roman Latin Catholic Church) 3 January (Syro-Malabar Church) |
Influences | Palackal Thoma |
Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara, CMI (10 February 1805 – 3 January 1871) was an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest, religious, philosopher and social reformer.[1][2] He is the first canonised Catholic male saint of Indian origin and was a member of the Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic church.[3][4]
He was the co-founder and first prior general of the first congregation for men in the Syro-Malabar Church, the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), and of a similar one for women, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (CMC).