Thomas Kuzhinapurath:

An Indian Canonical Theologian

Thomas John Kuzhinapuath (born May 24, 1969) is an author and priest of the Syro-
Malankara Catholic Church of India.

Writing career

Kuzhinapurath has published articles in both English and Malayalam.1 He served as

student-chief editor of the philosophical journal, Mathavum Chinthayum. The University
of Kerala has selected one of his articles for the pre-degree syllabus.2.

Kuzhinapurath served as a contributor of Bhasha Thilakam. (University of Kerala Press,

ISBN-81-86397-13-2).3

Kuzhinapurath has authored Daivajanam4 and Salvific Law,5 each of which has been
published in two editions. Daivajanam is a collection of essays in Malyalam on socio-
theological issues. His article within the volume argued that the juridical status of the
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church (which was as a Metropolitan) is incompatible with its
jurisdictional history.6 In 2005, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the
status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church.7 Daivajanam presents the complex theological
works of Karl Rahner, Jürgen Moltmann, Teilhard de Chardin, and Ladislas Orsy in
ordinary unstrandable language without losing the depth of their thought. D. Babu Paul
qualified the book as that of a "prophetic youth". 8 Daivajanam was reviewed in various

1
Mathavum Chinthayum (1991, 1994); VijnanaKairali (1997); Christian Orient (1998).
2
The University of Kerala Bhashathilakam, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 1998.
3
The University of Kerala, Bhashathilakam, Thiruvananthapuram, India,1998
4
Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath,Daivajanam, Collection of Essays, ISBN 81-87655-13-5, Carmel
Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, India, 1998.
5
Thomas Kuzhinapurath, Salvific Law , MS Publications, Thiruvananthapuram, India, 2008.
6
Kuzhinapurath, Thomas. "Malankara Katholikka Sabhayute Vyakthithvam" in Daivajanam,
1998, pp. 35-41; See also, Thomas Kuzhinanapurath, "Malankara Catholic Church sui iuris:
Juridical Satus and Power of Governance" in www.scribd.com; Thomas Kuzhinapurath,
"Metropolitan Church sui iuris Juridical Status and Power of Governance", Christian Orient
XXI/I, pp. 41-48
7
www.wikipedia.org/wiki/Syro-Malankara_Catholic_Church
8
D. Babu Paul, “Upodkhadam”, Daivajanam, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, India,
1998, pp. xi-xix.
journals,9 and on the fifth anniverssary of its publication, Daniel Poovannathil published
a collection of five studies on Daivajanam in the volume Daivajanapadhanangal.10

Salvific Law is a doctoral work which studies the concept of law from a sotereological11
context. In this book Kuzhinapurath argues that the law of the church should
fundamentally aim at the salvation of the soul.12 Dr. Daniel G. Fulton has commented in a
supplement of L'Osservatore Romano, "Salvific Law succeeds in demonstrating that the
Code of Canons of the Oriental Churches has a particular congruence with the Divine
Will. "13

Early life

Kuzhinapurath was born in 1969 to Pakalomattom Kuzhinapurath John Thomas and

Annamma John at Omallur in Pathanamthitta District, Kerala, India.

Kuzhinapurath had his school education in Aryabharati High School, Omallur near
Pathanamthitta. The school is under the management of the Syro-Malankara Catholic
Church. In 1984, Kuzhinapurath joined St. Aloysius Seminary, Trivandrum. By this time
he had studied for Pre-Degree in the University of Kerala, and he passed the examination
with first class. He then joined St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, Trivandrum for his
philosophical studies which lasted for three years. As a requirement of the studies he
prepared a thesis, Towards the Absolute: A Comparative Study of the Evolutionary
Theories of Chardin and Aurobindo. Dr. Thomas Naickamparambil, the director of the
thesis qualified it as a "painstaking endeavour".14 The study of philosophy led
Kuzhinapurath to the field of Malayalam fiction. And he wrote and published many short
stories in Malayalam. A few of them are: "Vetikkettu", "Anveshanam", "Kelante
Arthamkandethal".15 Along with this Thomas succeeded in taking a bachelor's degree
from the University of Kerala.

During his year of pastoral training, Kuzhinapurath was appointed in Archbishop's

House, Trivandrum to assist the editorial work of the periodical, Christava Kahalam.
During this time he could come closer to the life of the holy prelate, Archbishop Benedict
Mar Gregorios and of Fr. Daniel Kadakampallil. After the successful completion of the
pastoral training, Kuzhinapurath joined St. Joseph's Pontifical Institute , Mangalapuzha,
Aluva for four years of theological studies. He prepared a theological thesis on the
Christology of Karl Rahner under the guidance Dr. George Karakunnel. By this time

9
Dr. Geevarghese Panicker, Aikyadeepam, July 1998, p.34; M. V. Thomas, Deepika, July
26,1998.
10
Daniel Poovannathil, ed. Daivajanapadhanangal. Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, 2002.
11
Sotereology is the Science which studies salvation
12
Philip Chempakassery, "Book Review", Aikya Samiksha, 4/2, 2007
13
Daniel G. Fulton, Book Review, L'Osservatore Romano, (Malayalam Edition Supplement) 1/21
(2008) p.vi..
14
Thomas Naickamparambil, "An Appraisal", Towards The Absolute, Trivandrum, p. iv.
15
See, Christava Kahalam, 1987-1990.
Kuzhinapurath had published many theological articles in various journals16 and he
became the Student-Chief Editor of the philosophico-theological journal Mathavum
Chinthayum. In his final year of theological studies he co-edited the book, Viriyunna
Navalokam, a scriptural study on the parables of Jesus.

Priesthood

Kuzhinapurath was ordained a priest for the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 1994 at
the age of 25. His first appointment was in St. John's Leprosy Hospital, Pirappancode,
Trivandrum. In 1995 Fr. Kuzhinapurath started the Malankara Catholic Mission Centre at
Attingal,Kerala.17 In 1996, Fr. Kuzhinapurath became the Chancellor of the Archieparchy
of Trivandrum, where he assisted with the formulation and publication of the statutes of
the Archieparchy of Trivandrum, of the Presbytral Council and of the Pastoral Council.

In 1998 Fr. Kuzhinapurath was sent to Rome for higher studies in Oriental Canon Law
(CCEO). In 2000 he took master's degree in Oriental Canon Law and he registered for
Doctoral Research at the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome where he studied under
guidance of Bishop Dr. Dimitri Salachas, an authority in Oriental Canonical Studies. He
completed the Research of Doctorate in August 2002.

Kuzhinapurath was the contact person of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church for the
Great Jubilee 2000 Celebrations in Rome. He had an audience with the Pope John Paul II
and presented his book Daivajanam to the Holy Father.18 During his studies in Rome Fr.
Kuzhinapurath went for pastoral work in a parish at Montecchio Emilia in Italy. He could
establish the first Malankara Catholic Community in Italy (of Bethany Sisters) there at
Montecchio Emilia in 2000. Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath visited United Nations
Headquarters (UNO) at New York in 2000.

At present, Fr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath is the Notary of the Major Archiepiscopal Tribunal
of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.19 He serves as the Promoter of Justice of the
Eparchial Tribunal of Mavelikkara.20 He is also working as the chaplain of Good
Samaritan Home,Trivandrum, a centre which takes care of cancer patients. The centre
offers accommodation and care for the patients of Regional Cancer Centre (RCC),
Trivandrum.

Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis Catholicos released the second edition of Salvific Law by
giving the first copy to Dr. Alexander Jacob IPS, the Director of Kerala Police Academy,

16
See, Mathavum Chinthayum, Christava Kahalam, Aikyadeepam, Preshita Keralam 1991-1994.
17
See, Jose Thaiparambil, Malankara Catholic Church,Attingal: A Memento '97, Trivandrum,
1997
18
Monsignor Pedro Lopez Quintana, Letter to The Reverend Thomas Kuzhinapurath, The City of
Vatican, Secretariate of State/First Section, General Affairs, 2 December 2000 quoted in Daniel
Poovannathil, ed Daivajanapadhanangal, Carmel Publishing Centre, Trivandrum, 2002, p.4.
19
Malankara, December, 2007.
20
Amala Voice, May 2008
in the presence of Yuhanon Mar Chrysostom, Joshua Mar Ignathios, Abraham Mar Yulios
and all the priests of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum on May 13,2008.21

Thomas Kuzhinapurath being an expert of Oriental Canon Law (CCEO) was invited to
the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church to assist the
discussions on the Particular Law, on July 15 -17, 2008 at the Catholicate Centre,
Trivandrum.22

Various audio-visual Media in Kerala broadcasted talks and programmes on the

theological vision and social activities of Thomas Kuzhinapurath.23

21
Malayala Manorama, May 14, 2008; Deepika, May 15, 2008; Mathrubhumi May 15, 2008
22
News of the Holy Episcopal Synod published on 30/07/08
23
All India Radio, Trivandrum, Talks Branch, Contract dated September 23, 2008; Power Vision
TV, Guest Room, October 9, 2008, IST 19.30