Kottayam: In a historic recognition of his lifelong dedication to Syriac studies, Koonammakkal Thoma Kathanar has been conferred the prestigious title of “Great Malpan of India” by the St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute, Kottayam, which is celebrating its 40th anniversary this year.
The institute, established to preserve and promote the Syriac language and heritage, lauded Fr. Thoma Kathanar for his extraordinary academic and pastoral contributions. He has served the institute for many years as a teacher and Dean of Studies, shaping generations of scholars in the field.
Born on November 15, 1955, in Ramapuram, Kottayam district, Koonammakkal Thoma Kathanar belongs to the Diocese of Pala. He earned his doctorate in Syriac studies from Oxford University, England, and went on to become a globally respected authority on the history and theology of the Syriac Church. His works include numerous books, scholarly articles, and research papers published in international journals.
A prolific academic, Fr. Kathanar has lectured and presented papers at leading institutions such as Oxford, Cambridge, London, Uppsala, and at venues as far afield as Damascus, Baghdad, Germany, Addis Ababa, and Ujjain. He is especially known for his expertise on Mar Aprem and early Syriac writers, as well as his authoritative research on the Karshon method, an ancient system of writing Malayalam in the Syriac script.
A student of the world-renowned Syriac scholar Dr. Sebastian Brock, Fr. Kathanar is also the founder of the Base Aprem Nasrani Dayara, a Syriac study center and monastic house in Kuravilangad, Kappumthala, Kottayam district.
The announcement of the title was made by Syriac Catholic Patriarch Ignatius Joseph III Yonan Bava, in the presence of bishops, priests, and lay representatives from various Eastern Churches across India. The recognition marks a milestone for Indian Syriac scholarship, placing Koonammakkal Thomas Kathanar among the greatest custodians of this ancient Christian heritage.