Kuriakose Kunnacherry


Kuriakose Kunnacherry
Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Archeparchy of Kottayam
ArchdioceseSyro Malabar Archeparchy of Kottayam
Appointed24 February 1968
Installed19 May 1974
Term ended19 January 2006
PredecessorMar Thomas Tharayil
SuccessorMar Mathew Moolakkatt
Orders
Ordination21 December 1955
by Clement Cardinal Miccara in Rome
Consecration24 February 1968
by Maximillian Cardinal de Furstenberg at S.H. Mount. Kottayam
Personal details
Born(1928-09-11)11 September 1928
Pazhuthuruth Kaduthuruthy, Kerala, India
Died14 June 2017(2017-06-14) (aged 88)
Thellakom Kottayam, India
NationalityIndian
Alma materPotinfical Seminary, Alwaye

Kuriakose Kunnassery (11 September 1928 – 14 June 2017) was a Syro-Malabar Catholic hierarch. He was the fourth bishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam and the first Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Kottayam. He served as priest in the Diocese of Kottayam for 13 years from December 21, 1955 to February 24, 1968. Then he was bishop for 49 years from February 24, 1968 to June 14, 2017. Kunnacherry was head of the Diocese of Kottayam for 31 years from May 5, 1974 to December 19, 2005. He was elevated as Archbishop on May 19, 2005.

As a bishop and Archbishop of Kottayam, Kunnacherry took initiative to establish many churches, charitable, and welfare institutions in various parts of Kerala. He also took initiative in establishing missions in various parts of the world for the Knanaya migrants. Kunnacherry served the Catholic church in various capacities and also was a leader of ecumenical movement in Kerala.