03/06/2026
Bishop Stephan Chirapanath:
"I have fought the good fight, I have finished the race, I have kept the faith."
With hearts deeply anchored in the hope of the Resurrection, yet heavy with the profound sorrow of earthly parting, the Apostolic Visitation bows its head in reverent memory of Reverend Father Cherian. A priest of luminous intellect, and untiring pastoral zeal, he was called to his eternal reward, leaving behind a legacy that is woven into the very fabric of the Syro-Malabar Church.
Father Cherian was a man of rare grace, born of an aristocratic priestly heritage yet defined by a spirit of profound humility and boundless charity. To encounter him was to encounter the gentle, welcoming heart of Christ.
From the historic lands of the Diocese of Kothamangalam to the far-stretching communities of Europe, Father Cherian's life was an uninterrupted pilgrimage of service.
As our first Coordinator General from 2016 to 2019, he was truly the beginner of everything. Alongside the Apostolic Visitator, he painstakingly built the foundations of our mission. He crossed borders to visit distant communities, listened with paternal tenderness to the grievances of the faithful, and meticulously crafted the vital reports presented to the Apostolic See.
For over three vibrant years, he served as the Parish Priest and Chaplain of the Syro-Malabar community in Rome, providing a spiritual home and a sanctuary of familiarity for those far from their homeland.
His dynamic commitment left an indelible mark wherever he was sent. He served as the very first Cathedral Vicar of the Diocese of Idukki and skillfully coordinated the episcopal consecration of its first shepherd, Mar Matthew Anikuzhikattil. In the Diocese of Kothamangalam, he poured out his talents as Catechism Director, and Rector of the Minor Seminary and Diocesan Procurator.
Beyond his administrative brilliance, Father Cherian was a gifted historian who held a doctorate in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church. As a revered formator and professor, he shaped generations of future priests, instilling in them both academic excellence and pastoral holiness at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor, and as the Vice-Rector of the Mary Matha Major Seminary in Thrissur.
His intellectual rigor was matched only by his spiritual devotion. With characteristic thoroughness and hard work, he took upon himself the sacred responsibility of serving as the postulator, writing the Positio for the Cause of Beatification of Monsignor Joseph Panjikaran, the saintly founder of the Medical Sisters of St. Joseph. Through this meticulous labor, Father Cherian ensured that the virtues of our holy ancestors would continue to inspire the ages.
The Syro-Malabar Church has lost a visionary, the poor have lost a compassionate protector, and we have lost an irreplaceable pillar of our mission. Yet, we take comfort in knowing that a life lived so beautifully for others is never truly gone; it transitions into the eternal liturgy of heaven.
In his final months Father Cherian bore his illness with patience, preparing joyfully for the end. He knew that, as Saint Paul says, those who partake in the Lordโs sufferings will share in His glorious resurrection.
May the angels lead this holy priest into paradise. May the Good Shepherd, whom he served with such vibrant and love-filled enthusiasm, grant him eternal rest, and may perpetual light shine upon him.
Well done, good and faithful servant. Enter into the joy of your master.
On behalf of the Apostolic Visitation, we extend our most heartfelt, prayerful condolences to his beloved family and to the grieving presbyterium, religious and people of God of the Diocese of Kothamangalam.
Stephen Pithavu
Syro Malabar Ap. Visitation, Europe
