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{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = [[Mar]]
| name = Mathew Nellikunnel
| title = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur|Bishop-elect of Gorakhpur]]
| image =
| alt =
| caption =
| church = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| archdiocese =
| diocese = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur]]
| see =
| appointed = August 26, 2023
| enthroned =
| predecessor = Thomas Thuruthimattam
| successor =
| other_post = 
| ordination = December 30, 1998
| ordained_by = George Punnakottil
| consecration =
| consecrated_by =
| rank = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1970|11|13}}
| birth_place = Mariapuram, [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| previous_post =
| religion =
| motto =
| birth_name = Mathew Nellikunnel
}}[[Mar]] '''Mathew Nellikunnel''' is an [[India]]n-born [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] serving as the [[Bishop-elect]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur]] succeeding Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam.

== Biography ==

=== Early life ===
Mathew Nellikunnel was born on November 13, 1970, in the village of Mariapuram in the [[India]]n State of [[Kerala]] as the first born of Varkey and Mary Nellikunnel. His Brother John is the Bishop of [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki|Eparchy of Idukki]], making history as the first set of brothers to serve together in the Synod of Bishops.<ref>{{Cite web |first=Syro Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia |date=August 26, 2023 |title=Fr Matthew Nellikunnel CST Bishop of Gorakhpur Syro Malabar Eparchy |url=https://console.syromalabarchurch.in/uploads/documents/0893_-_Press_Release_ENG_Fr_Mathew_Nellikunnel_Bishop_Gorakhpur.pdf |website=Syro Malabar Church}}</ref>

=== Priesthood ===
In 1986 he entered the [[Little Flower Congregation]]) of the Syro-Malabar Church, and did his formation in the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Gorakhpur|Eparchy of Gorakhpur]], giving his vows on 17 May 1990 as a member of the Khrist Jyoti Punjab-Rajasthan Province. When he returned to his home state of Kerala, He received degrees of philosophy in Little Flower Seminary and in theology at the Saint Joseph Pontifical Seminary in [[Aluva]]. He was ordained a priest on 30 December 1998 by George Punnakottil of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kothamangalam]], which he was a member of until the bifurcating of the diocese and creation of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki|Idukki Eparchy]]. He moved to [[Rajasthan]], where he served as a formator in the minor seminary, superior of the Community and parish priest. In 2005 he studied philosophy in Rome, and was awarded a doctorate from the [[Pontifical University of Saint Thomas Aquinas]]. When he came back to India, He taught at his alma mater for 2 years until he moved to [[Germany]], and served in the [[Roman Catholic Diocese of Regensburg|Latin Diocese of Regensburg]]. In 2015, He was provincial superior of the ''Khrist Jyoti'' Province until he was appointed to become the rector Little Flower Seminary in 2018.<ref>{{Cite web |title=From the Eastern Churches |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2023/08/26/230826c.html |access-date=2023-08-26 |website=press.vatican.va}}</ref>

=== Bishop ===
On August 26, 2023, [[Pope Francis]] announced his assent to the Election of Msgr Matthew Nellikunnel to the office of Bishop of Goakhpur by the Syro Malabar Synod of Bishops to succeed the retiring Mar Thomas Thuruthimattam <ref>{{Cite news |last=Bureau |first=The Hindu |date=2023-08-26 |title=Meeting of bishops of Syro-Malabar Church ends; committee to hold talks with rebel group on Mass |language=en-IN |work=The Hindu |url=https://www.thehindu.com/news/cities/Kochi/meeting-of-bishops-of-syro-malabar-church-ends-committee-to-hold-talks-with-rebel-group-on-mass/article67238685.ece |access-date=2023-08-26 |issn=0971-751X}}</ref>

== References ==
<references />
{{Syro-Malabar Catholic Church hierarchy}}

[[Category:1970 births]]
[[Category:Indian Catholic bishops]]
[[Category:People from Kerala]]
[[Category:Living people]]

Mathew Nellikunnel - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article