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{{Short description|Assyrian Church of the East Metropolitan of India (1940–2025)}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=May 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}
{{Infobox Christian leader
{{Infobox Christian leader
| honorific-prefix = [[His Beatitude]] [[Dr.]] [[Mar]]
| honorific-prefix = [[His Beatitude]] [[Dr.]] [[Mar (title)|Mar]]
| name = Aprem Mooken
| name = Aprem
| title = [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
| title = [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
| image = MAR APREM METROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN OF MALABAR AND ALL INDIA NOW NATHAR KURSIYA.jpg
| image = MAR APREM METROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN OF MALABAR AND ALL INDIA NOW NATHAR KURSIYA.jpg
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| rank = [[Metropolitan Bishop|Metropolitan]]
| rank = [[Metropolitan Bishop|Metropolitan]]
| birth_name = George Mooken
| birth_name = George Mooken
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|df=yes|1940|06|13}}
| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|6|13|df=y}}
| birth_place = [[Thrissur]], [[British India]]
| birth_place = [[Thrissur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]], [[British Raj|India]]
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|7|1940|6|13|df=y}}
| death_place =
| nationality = Indian
| nationality = Indian
| religion = [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
| religion = [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
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| alma_mater = [[Serampore University]], [[Union Theological Seminary (New York City)]],  [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]]
| alma_mater = [[Serampore University]], [[Union Theological Seminary (New York City)]],  [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]]
| ordained_by = [[Mar Thoma Darmo]]
| ordained_by = [[Mar Thoma Darmo]]
| predecessor = [[Thoma Darmo]]
| successor = [[Awgin Kuriakose]]
}}
}}
'''Mar Aprem Mooken''' (born '''George Mooken''') is the Metropolitan of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] ({{Lang-syc|ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ}}) in India ([[Chaldean Syrian Church]]).


== Early life ==
[[Mar (title)|Mar]] '''Aprem Mooken''' (born '''George Mooken'''; 13 June 1940 – 7 July 2025) was a prelate who served as the Metropolitan of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] ({{Langx|syc|ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ}}) in India ([[Chaldean Syrian Church]]).
 
== Biography ==
[[File:With other prelates.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Aprem Mooken, with his two bishops, Yohannan Yoseph (left) and Awgin Kuriakose (right).]]
[[File:With other prelates.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Aprem Mooken, with his two bishops, Yohannan Yoseph (left) and Awgin Kuriakose (right).]]
George Mooken was born on 13 June 1940 in [[Thrissur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]], [[British India]]. Educated in India, England, and America, he specialized in Church History. He served as President of the Church History Association of India between 1976 and 1982. He studied at [[Leonard Theological College]], Jabalpur for B.D.
George Mooken was born on 13 June 1940 in Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India. Educated in India, England, and America, he specialized in Church History. He served as President of the Church History Association of India between 1976 and 1982. He studied at [[Leonard Theological College]], Jabalpur for B.D.
 
George Mooken gained [[master's degrees]] in Church History from both the [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] (1966) and the [[Union Theological Seminary, New York]] (1967). He was ordained a deacon on 25 June 1961, and a priest four years later on 13 June 1965. He was a candidate for Doctor of Theology (Th. D.) degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, when he was consecrated as Bishop on 21 September 1968, and eight days later as Metropolitan at Baghdad, Iraq by [[Mar Thoma Darmo]], Catholicos Patriarch of the [[Ancient Church of the East]]. In 1976 he earned his D.Th. degree from Serampore University near Calcutta.  He was created Associate Companion of the Roll of Honour of the Memorial of Merit of King Charles the Martyr in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=ROLL OF HONOUR OF THE MEMORIAL OF MERIT OF KING CHARLES THE MARTYR |url=https://memorialofmerit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/master-roll-of-honour-mmcm-updated-august-2021-1.pdf |website=memorialofmerit.com |publisher=Memorial of Merit |access-date=25 February 2026}}</ref>


George Mooken gained [[master's degrees]] in Church History from both the [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] (1966) and the [[Union Theological Seminary, New York]] (1967). He was ordained a deacon on 25 June 1961, and a priest four years later on 13 June 1965. He was consecrated Bishop on 21 September 1968, by [[Mar Thoma Darmo]], Catholicos Patriarch of the [[Ancient Church of the East]], taking the name Mar Aprem Mooken, and promoted as a [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the [[Ancient Church of the East]] eight days later in Baghdad.<ref>Aprem, ''The Assyrians in Iraq'', 39–41</ref> Then later, in 1999, mooken re- joined the Assyrian church of the East. He was instrumental in healing the rift that had developed in the church over the question of hereditary appointments since the 1960s.
On 7 July 2025, Mar Aprem died at the age of 85.<ref>[https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/chaldean-syrian-church-archbishop-mar-aprem-metropolitan-dies-at-85-juasv3tg Chaldean Syrian Church Archbishop Mar Aprem Metropolitan dies at 85]</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Aprem Metropolitan |first=Mar |title=5 The Church of the East in China (Jingjiao) |date=2018-01-01 |work=Yearbook of Chinese Theology 2018 |pages=71–81 |url=https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004384972_006 |access-date=2025-07-07 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-38497-2}}</ref>


== Publications ==
== Publications ==
Mar Aprem is the author of 65 books on topics which include church history, theology, social issues, and humour.
Mar Aprem was the author of 65 books on topics which include church history, theology, social issues, and humour.


===Selected works===
===Selected works===


====Biographies====
====Biographies====
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Thoma Darmo: A Biography|year=1974|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marthomadarmobio0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Thoma Darmo: A Biography|year=1974|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marthomadarmobio0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abimalek Timotheus: A Biography|year=1975|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marabimalektimot0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abimalek Timotheus: A Biography|year=1975|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marabimalektimot0000mara}}
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* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abdisho Thondanat: A Biography|year=1987|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZxKAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abdisho Thondanat: A Biography|year=1987|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZxKAAAAMAAJ}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Not So Strange: 2nd Part of an Honest and Humorous Autobiography|year=1991|location=Trichur|publisher=Author′s publication|url=https://archive.org/details/notsostrangeseco0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Not So Strange: 2nd Part of an Honest and Humorous Autobiography|year=1991|location=Trichur|publisher=Author′s publication|url=https://archive.org/details/notsostrangeseco0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV: The Man and His Message|year=2004|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/patriarchmardink0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV: The Man and His Message|year=2004|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|isbn=9788190220507 |url=https://archive.org/details/patriarchmardink0000mara}}
 
====Church History====


====Church history====
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Nestorian Fathers|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianfathers0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Nestorian Fathers|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianfathers0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Nestorian Missions|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianmission0000mara}}
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Nestorian Missions|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianmission0000mara}}
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====Travelogues====
====Travelogues====
*''America Revisited'', 1977.
*''America Revisited'', 1977.
*''Germany via Vienna: A Travelogue''. 1980.
*''Germany via Vienna: A Travelogue''. 1980.
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====Humour====
====Humour====
*''Bishop's Jokes.'' 3rd ed., Bombay: Light of Life Magazine''.'' 1983.
*''Bishop's Jokes.'' 3rd ed., Bombay: Light of Life Magazine''.'' 1983.
*''Laugh with the Bishop.'' 8th ed., Bombay: St.Paul's''.'' 1988.
*''Laugh with the Bishop.'' 8th ed., Bombay: St.Paul's''.'' 1988.
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====Malayalam====
====Malayalam====
*''An Introduction to the History of the Eastern Churches.'' 1976.
*''An Introduction to the History of the Eastern Churches.'' 1976.
*''Christeeya Bhakti Ganangal.'' 1985.
*''Christeeya Bhakti Ganangal.'' 1985.
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====General====
====General====
*''From Relief to Development''. 1979.
*''From Relief to Development''. 1979.
*''Teach Yourself Aramaic''. 1981.
*''Teach Yourself Aramaic''. 1981.
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==See also==
==See also==
*[[Assyrian Church of the East]]
* [[Assyrian Church of the East]]
*[[Ancient Church of the East]]
* [[Ancient Church of the East]]
*[[Chaldean Syrian Church]]
* [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]


==Notes==
==Notes==
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==External links==
==External links==
*[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefLnojxZ1A Documentary:'Humour, Music, Scholastic Divinity: A Day in the Life of His Grace Mar Aprem Metropolitan of Malabar and India Assyrian Church of the East']
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefLnojxZ1A Documentary:'Humour, Music, Scholastic Divinity: A Day in the Life of His Grace Mar Aprem Metropolitan of Malabar and India Assyrian Church of the East']


{{Authority control}}
{{Authority control}}


{{DEFAULTSORT:Mooken, Aprem}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Mooken, Aprem}}
[[Category:Living people]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:1940 births]]
[[Category:2025 deaths]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East]]
[[Category:21st-century bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East]]
[[Category:Church of the East in India]]
[[Category:Chaldean Syrian Church]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Thrissur]]
[[Category:Christian clergy from Thrissur]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]
[[Category:St. Thomas College, Thrissur alumni]]
[[Category:St. Thomas College, Thrissur alumni]]
[[Category:Leonard Theological College alumni]]
[[Category:Leonard Theological College alumni]]

Latest revision as of 18:16, 25 February 2026


His Beatitude Dr. Mar

Aprem
Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church
ChurchAssyrian Church of the East ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ (of India) (Chaldean Syrian Church)
MetropolisIndia
SeeMarth Mariam Cathedral
Installed29 September 1968
PredecessorThoma Darmo
SuccessorAwgin Kuriakose
Orders
Ordination29 September 1968, Baghdad, Iraq
by Mar Thoma Darmo
RankMetropolitan
Personal details
Birth nameGeorge Mooken
Born(1940-06-13)13 June 1940
Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India
Died7 July 2025(2025-07-07) (aged 85)
NationalityIndian
DenominationChaldean Syrian Church
ResidenceThrissur, Kerala, India
ParentsDevassy Mooken and Kochu Mariyam Mooken
OccupationCleric
Alma materSerampore University, Union Theological Seminary (New York City), St. Thomas College, Thrissur

Mar Aprem Mooken (born George Mooken; 13 June 1940 – 7 July 2025) was a prelate who served as the Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East (Script error: The function "langx" does not exist.) in India (Chaldean Syrian Church).

Biography[edit | edit source]

Aprem Mooken, with his two bishops, Yohannan Yoseph (left) and Awgin Kuriakose (right).

George Mooken was born on 13 June 1940 in Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India. Educated in India, England, and America, he specialized in Church History. He served as President of the Church History Association of India between 1976 and 1982. He studied at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur for B.D.

George Mooken gained master's degrees in Church History from both the United Theological College, Bangalore (1966) and the Union Theological Seminary, New York (1967). He was ordained a deacon on 25 June 1961, and a priest four years later on 13 June 1965. He was a candidate for Doctor of Theology (Th. D.) degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, when he was consecrated as Bishop on 21 September 1968, and eight days later as Metropolitan at Baghdad, Iraq by Mar Thoma Darmo, Catholicos Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East. In 1976 he earned his D.Th. degree from Serampore University near Calcutta. He was created Associate Companion of the Roll of Honour of the Memorial of Merit of King Charles the Martyr in 2012.[1]

On 7 July 2025, Mar Aprem died at the age of 85.[2][3]

Publications[edit | edit source]

Mar Aprem was the author of 65 books on topics which include church history, theology, social issues, and humour.

Selected works[edit | edit source]

Biographies[edit | edit source]

  • Mooken, Aprem (1974). Mar Thoma Darmo: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
  • Mooken, Aprem (1975). Mar Abimalek Timotheus: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
  • Mooken, Aprem (1981). Strange But True: An Honest and Humorous Autobiography of the Youngest Indian Archbishop. Trivandrum: Maryland Printers and Publishers.
  • Mooken, Aprem (1987). Mar Abdisho Thondanat: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
  • Mooken, Aprem (1991). Not So Strange: 2nd Part of an Honest and Humorous Autobiography. Trichur: Author′s publication.
  • Mooken, Aprem (2004). Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV: The Man and His Message. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press. ISBN 9788190220507.

Church history[edit | edit source]

Travelogues[edit | edit source]

  • America Revisited, 1977.
  • Germany via Vienna: A Travelogue. 1980.
  • From Baghdad to Chicago: A Travelogue. 1985.
  • Australian Assyrians. 1988.
  • Belgium and Holland via U.K. & U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1989.
  • Sydney to Canberra: A Travelogue. 1989.
  • The Assyrians in Iraq. 1989.
  • Washington New York: A Travelogue. 1992.
  • London to Moscow: A Travelogue. 1994.
  • Los Angeles to Tokyo: A Travelogue. 1993.
  • Oxford to Austria: A Travelogue. 1995.
  • Salzburg to Boston: A Travelogue. 1995.
  • Israel, Scandinavia & U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1996.
  • Hassake to Hollywood: A Travelogue. 1998.
  • Italy, Liban & Iran: A Travelogue. 1998.
  • To U.K. Via U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1999.
  • USA, Canada, Europe & Thailand: A Travelogue. 2000.
  • Austria to Australia: A Travelogue. 2001.
  • India to Indiana: A Travelogue. 2002.
  • Two Trips in 2002: A Travelogue. 2003.
  • Budapest to Rugby: A Travelogue. 2003.
  • UAE via U.K. and USA: A Travelogue. 2005.
  • Sharjah, Qatar & Brazil: A Travelogue. 2006.
  • Wiesbaden to Moscow: A Travelogue. 2007.
  • Dubai to Duhok: A Travelogue. 2009.
  • Sydney, Melbourne & Perth: A Travelogue. 2009.
  • Chicago via Abu Dhabi: A Travelogue. 2010.
  • Los Angeles to Dubai: A Travelogue. 2012.
  • Rugby to Rome: A Travelogue. 2012.
  • 14th Holy Synod & Sir Baniyas Monastery: A Travelogue. 2013.
  • Muscat and Sri Lanka: A Travelogue. 2014.

Humour[edit | edit source]

  • Bishop's Jokes. 3rd ed., Bombay: Light of Life Magazine. 1983.
  • Laugh with the Bishop. 8th ed., Bombay: St.Paul's. 1988.
  • Laugh to Health. Madras: C.L.S.. 1992.
  • Holy Humour. 1993.
  • Joy to the World. 1994.
  • Holy Smile. 1997.
  • Not So Funny. 2004.

Malayalam[edit | edit source]

  • An Introduction to the History of the Eastern Churches. 1976.
  • Christeeya Bhakti Ganangal. 1985.
  • Sabha Charitra Dictionary. 1985.
  • Christuvinte Kalpadukalilude: A Travelogue. 1985.

General[edit | edit source]

  • From Relief to Development. 1979.
  • Teach Yourself Aramaic. 1981.
  • Behold the Cross of Calvary. 1987.
  • Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. I] from Advent to Pentecost. 1988.
  • Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. II]. 1988.
  • The Nestorian Canon Law. 1990.
  • Mesopotamia Light. 1993.
  • Voices of the East. 1998.
  • Mother of the Motherless. 2002.
  • Poems and Prayers. 2002.
  • The History of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Twentieth Century. Kottayam: St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute. 2003.
  • Assyrian Manuscripts in India. 2011.

See also[edit | edit source]

Notes[edit | edit source]

  1. ↑ "ROLL OF HONOUR OF THE MEMORIAL OF MERIT OF KING CHARLES THE MARTYR" (PDF). memorialofmerit.com. Memorial of Merit. Retrieved 25 February 2026.
  2. ↑ Chaldean Syrian Church Archbishop Mar Aprem Metropolitan dies at 85
  3. ↑ Aprem Metropolitan, Mar (1 January 2018), "5 The Church of the East in China (Jingjiao)", Yearbook of Chinese Theology 2018, BRILL, pp. 71–81, ISBN 978-90-04-38497-2, retrieved 7 July 2025{{citation}}: CS1 maint: work parameter with ISBN (link)

References[edit | edit source]

External links[edit | edit source]

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