Mar Raphael Thattil is the 4th Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church

The Synod, comprising all the Bishops of the Syro Malabar Church, convened at Mount St. Thomas, the headquarters on 8 January 2024, with the sole agenda of electing a successor for Mar George Alenchery, who resigned as the Major Archbishop of the Church in November 2023.

On the first day of the Synod was dedicated to prayers and meditation, seeking divine assistance and wisdom from the Holy Spirit. The Bishops earnestly prayed for discernment, pledging to exercise their discretion judiciously, free from any personal sentiments.

Successfully accomplishing their objective on the second day (i.e., yesterday 9-1-2024), the Synod, guided by the Holy Spirit, elected Mar Raphael Thattil as the new Major Archbishop.

The proceedings on the second day of the Synod, which took place on January 9, 2024, resulted in the election of Mar
Thattil as the new head of the Church. The election results had been submitted to the Holy See for approval, and the official announcement was just made at Mount St. Thomas in Kakkanad by Mar Mathew Moolakkattu, the Archbishop of the Kottayam Knanaya Diocese, on behalf of the Syro Malabar Synod.

Mar Raphael Thattil presently serves as the Bishop of the Shamshabad Eparchy, encompassing the largest areas in India.