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{{Infobox Christian leader
| type = Bishop
| honorific-prefix = [[Mar]]
| name = Stephen Chirappanath
| title = [[Apostolic Visitator]] for the [[Syro Malabar Church]] in [[Europe]] <br/> [[Procurator (Catholic canon law)|Procurator]] for the [[List of Major Archbishops of the Syro-Malabar Church|Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church]] in [[Rome]]
| image = Mar_Stephen_Chirappanath.jpg
| alt =
| caption =
| church = [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]]
| archdiocese =
| diocese =
| see =
| appointed = July 28, 2016
| enthroned = November 1, 2016
| predecessor = Office Established
| successor =
| other_post = 
[[Titular Bishop]] of [[Slebte]]
| ordination = December 26, 1987
| ordained_by = [[James Pazhayattil]]
| consecration = November 1, 2016
| consecrated_by = [[George Alencherry]], [[Leonardo Sandri]] and Pauly Kannookadan
| rank = 
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1961|12|26}}
| birth_place = [[Puthenchira]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| death_date =
| death_place =
| previous_post =
| religion = [[Roman Catholic]]
| motto =
| birth_name = Stephen Chirappanath
}}

[[Mar]] '''Stephen Chirappanath''' (born December 27, 1961) is an [[India]]n-born [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|bishop]] of the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Church]] in [[Europe]]. He serves as the [[Apostolic visitor|Apostolic vistator]] for the [[Syro Malabar Church]] in [[Europe]], along with that role he is the [[Procurator (Catholic canon law)|Procurator]] for the [[List of Major Archbishops of the Syro-Malabar Church|Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church]] in [[Rome]].

== Biography ==

=== Early life and Priesthood ===
Stephen Chirappanath was born on December 27, 1961, in the village of [[Puthenchira]] in the [[India]]n State of [[Kerala]]. He attended studies at the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor under the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanacherry]] after which he obtained a [[Doctorate]] in theology at the [[Alphonsian Academy]] in Rome. He was ordained by [[James Pazhayattil]] on December 26, 1987, to the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda]]. After his ordination he served as a Parish Priest before going to administrative work. He served as the Director of Centers for Drug Rehabilitation, Rector of St. Paul's Minor Seminary, [[Irinjalakuda]] before going to serve as Vice Rector of his alma matter in Vadavathoor. In 2011, He moved to Rome to serve as the procurator to the Major Archbishop in Rome and the coordinator for the Syro Malabar faithful, a role which he still serves today.<ref>{{Cite web |title=KCBC Site |url=https://kcbc.co.in/KCBC/Bishops/190 |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=kcbc.co.in}}</ref>

=== Apostolic Visitator ===
On July 28, 2016, [[Pope Francis]] appointed Msgr. Chirappanath as the [[Apostolic visitor|Apostolic vistator]] for the [[Syro Malabar Church]] in [[Europe]]. He was ordained a bishop by Cardinal and Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church [[George Alencherry]], with Cardinal [[Leonardo Sandri]] and [[Irinjalakuda]] Bishop Pauly Kannookadan at the [[Basilica of Saint Paul Outside the Walls]] on November 1, 2016.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Other Pontifical Acts |url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2016/07/28/160728f.html |access-date=2023-08-25 |website=press.vatican.va}}</ref>

=== Potential Elevation to Eparch ===
In the August 2022 Session of the Syro Malabar Synod of Bishops, The Synod voted to request the Apostolic See to raise the Apostolic Visitation of Europe for the Syro Malabars to a status of an Eparchy with its centre in Rome. As the Apostolic Vistator, Mar Stephen would become the Eparch of this new Europe Eparchy. Currently, there is no word if the Apostolic See will grant their request.<ref>{{Cite journal |first=Syro Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia |date=December 1, 2022 |title=Request to raise the Apostolic Visitation in Europe to the Status of an Eparchy |url=https://www.syromalabarchurch.in/synodal-news |journal=Synodal News : Bulletin of the Syro Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church |volume=30 |page=121}}</ref>

== References ==
{{Reflist}}
<references group="" responsive="1"></references>
{{Syro-Malabar Catholic Church hierarchy}}

[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1961 births]]

Stephen Chirappanath - Revision history

Ajay Kumar: Creating a new article