Very Rev. Mattha (Mathew)  Rabban

Born on October 8, 1972 to late Mr. Cheriyan Abraham (Raju) of  Karimpanackal Puthuenpurayil, Cheppaud & late Mrs. Mary M Mathew (Mukkottil Family, Kuzhikala).

 

Did his Bachelor of Hotel Management (B.H.M) from Mangalore University. After his mother’s death he turned to religion and did his Bachelor of Divinity (B.D) from the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological seminary, Mulanthuruthy, Kerala as the top scorer. Ordained as Mshamshono (Deacon) on 22 February 1998 by Late H.E Geevarghese Mor Gregorios & as a Qashisho (Priest) on 3rd July 2000 by H. E Thomas Mor Themothios at St. Joseph’s Cathedral, Kottayam.

 

He completed his thesis on - "Role of monastic movement in the revival of the Syriac Orthodox Church "

 

Rabban Mathew had M.Th (Master of Theology) with 75% marks in Oriental Theology form Paurasthya Vidya Peedam (St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary ) Vadavathoor.

 

Rabban (previousely known as Ajiacahn) served in many parishes of Grater India and outside India diocese.

 

2000-2002 Mar Aphrem Jacobite Syrian Church Vadavathoor, Kottayam

             St. Thomas Jacobite Church, Ponkunnam
2002-2003 St. Mary's Jacobite Church,Koruthodu, St. Peter's Church,  Kochara

            St Thomas JSO Church, Nerul,  avi Mumbai
2003-2005 St.George Jacobite Syrian Church, Wallardie, Kumily

            St. Mary's Jacobite Syrian Church, Puttady
2005-2007 Mar Gregorious Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church,Secunderabad, Hyderabad
2007-2008 St. Peter's and St. Paul's Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church, Mathikere, Bangalore
2008-2010 St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthdox Simhasana Church, Al-Ain, UAE

 

On 09 February 2011, Rev. Fr. Mathew Karimpanackal elevated to the order of Rabban at St. Peter & St. Paul Cathedral, Mor Aphrem Seminary, Damascus by The Patriarch His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. He will henceforth be known as "Mattha (Mathews) Rabban.

 

 

For more details & photos of Rabban ordination

 

At present Rabban Mattha (Mathews) is serving as the secretary to His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.
 

He was one of the editor of the Kottayam Diocese Magazine. He was the Vice-president of MJSSA UAE Chapter and coordinator of the Ecumenical Association of Churches in Al Ain.

 

The Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Jacobite Church has recommended 7 nominations for new bishops on 26 December 2009 to the Holiness The Patriarch of Antioch. Fr. Mathew Karimpanackal is one among this list .

Very Rev. Rabban will be consecrated as a metropolitan of the Holy Syriac Orthodox Church on 15th November 2012 at the Monastery of Mor Gabriel Ajaltoun Kesrouan, Lebanon by His Holiness The Patriarch of Universal Syriac Orthodox Church Moran Mor Ignatius Zakak I Iwas and assisted by His Beatitude The Catholicos Aboon Mor Basalious Thomas I and Their Eminences the Metropolitans of Holy Syriac Orthodox Church.

New metropolitan will continue the present assignment as  Secretary (Malankara affairs) to His Holiness.