Metropolitan H.G. Mor Irenious Paulose, was born on August 24, 1972 to Varkey Abraham Vettikkunnel and Saramma of Mangalore. The family originally belonged to Manarcaud in Kottayam district; the ancestors of the metropolitan migrated to Mangalore in 1950's.  At Mangalore, they became members of the St. Antony’s Church in Jeppu. The former vicars of the Manarcad St. Mary’s Church, late Rev. Fr. Kuriakose Vettikkunnel and late V. Rev. Kuriakose Corepsicopus Vettikkunnel were both grand uncles of His Grace.  

His Grace received the Bachelors degree from the University of Karnataka and Post-Graduation in Sociology from the Mysore University. His Grace received the Bachelors in Divinity (B.Th.) and Masters of Theology (NIIPGIS) degrees,  from the Sermapore University. The seminary education of His Grace was at the Manjinikkara Dayro (1989-90) and Vettikkal M.S.O.T Seminary (1994-’98).  

His Grace was ordained ‘Koroyoo’ on May 27, 1990 by Mor Osthatheos Benyamin Joseph, the late lamented Metropolitan of Simhasana churches, and ‘Kassisso’ on May 15, 1998 by Mor Polycarpus Geevarghese, the senior Metropolitan of Evangelical Association of the East.  Before assuming the general charge of the various newly formed congregations of Australia in 2006, he had served as Vicar of the churches in Karnataka, Rajasthan, West Bengal and New Delhi. For a while he had been the manager of St. Antony’s Educational Society (Honnavar Mission), Karnataka and also the bishops house of the Evangelical Association of the East, Perumbavoor and was also the superior of St. Thomas Orphanage in Perumbavoor.

In July 2008, the general  body of the newly formed diocese of Calicut that met to elect a Metropolitan for the diocese, submitted the names of Rev. Fr. Paul (Ullas) Varkey and two others before the Holy Synod. The Malankara Episcopal Synod in its sitting on July 29, 2008 choose Fr. Paul Ullas Varkey Vettikkunnel (His Grace Mor Irenious Paulose) and Fr. Dr. Kuriakose T Abraham Pulliattu Thukalan, as bishops for the newly formed dioceses of Calicut and Idukki respectively.  After the formal approval of the supreme head of the Church, H.H. Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, both Fr. Paul Ullas Varkey Vettikkunnel (assumed the name 'Semavun') and Fr. Dr. Kuriakose T Abraham Thukalan (assumed the name 'Sthepahnos') were elevated to the order of Rabbans by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I, in a  solemn function held at St. Athanasius Cathedral, Puthencuriz.

On August 24, 2008, V. Rev. Semavun Rabban (Rev. Fr. Paul Ullas Varkey) was consecrated as metropolitan by name Irenious Paulose for the diocese of Calicut by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, the Patriarch of Antioch & all the East and the Supreme head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church at the St. Peter's & St. Paul's Cathedral in the Monastery of St. Aphrem the Syrian, in Ma`rrat Sayyidnaya, Damascus, Syria. His Beatitude the Catholicos of the Church in India Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas-I,  their Eminences Metropolitans, Mor Timotheos Aphrem Aboodi (Former Patriarchal Vicar for Canada), Mor Theophilos George Saliba (Secretary to the Holy Synod), Mor Gregorios Joseph (Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese & Malankara Episcopal Synod Secretary), Mor Silwanos Petros AL-nemeh (Metropolitan of Homs & Hama), Mor Justinos Paulos Yousef Safar (Patriarchal-Vicariate of Zahle & Beqa', Zahle, Lebanon), Mor Philexinos Mathias Nayis (Patriarchal Assistant & Metropolitan of St. Aphrem Theological Seminary, Ma’arrat Saidnaya,Damascus), Mor Severios Malke Mourad (Patriarchal-Vicar for Jerusalem & Jordan) and Mor Aphrem Mathews (Angamali High-Range region) assisted His Holiness in the holy ceremony. The solemn function was also attended by a large gathering of Rabbans (Monks), Priests, Deacons, Nuns, the Syrian Orthodox Faithful and other distinguished guests from Syria, India and and 40 Syriac Orthodox Faithful from Malankara.

Photos from the the Consecration ceremony of Metropolitans their Graces

Mor Clemis Kuriakose and Mor Irenious Paulose

(August 24, 2008)

Metropolitans Their Graces Mor Irenious Paulose (Kozhikode diocese)

and Mor Clemis Kuriakose (Idukki diocese)

The newly ordained Metropolitans with His Holiness the Patriarcah Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas

and His Beatitude the Catholicose Aboon Mor Baselios Thomas I

   1.  http://www.socmnet.org/Aug242008.htm