Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara

Also known as

• Cyriacus Elias Chavara
• Cyriac Elias Chavara
• Kuriakose of the Holy Family

Memorial

• 3 January

Profile

Entered the seminary in 1818; ordained in 1829. Co-founder and first prior-general of the Congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate. The main work of the Congregation is education aiming at the intellectual, social, economic, moral and spiritual advancement of people, especially women and children; it works today in eight countries with almost 5,000 members. Kuriakose made his religious profession in the Congregation in 1855. Vicar-general for the Syro-Malabar church in 1861. Defended ecclesial unity which was threatened by schism by the consecration of Nestorian bishops in his area. Worked to renew the faith in Malabar. Co-founder of the Congregation of the Sisters of the Mother of Carmel in 1866. Known as a man of prayer with a devotion to the Eucharist and the Virgin Mary.

Born

• 10 February 1805 at Kainakary, Kersala, India

Died

• 3 January 1871 at Koonammuva, India of natural causes
• relics transferred to Mannanam in 1889

Venerated

• 7 April 1984 by Pope John Paul II (decree of heroic virtues)

Beatified

• 8 February 1986 by Pope John Paul II at Kottayam, India

Canonized

• if you have information relevant to the canonization of Blessed Kuriakose, contact
     Carmelites of Mary Immaculate
     P.B. No. 3105
     Chavara Hills
     Kakkanad, Kochi – 682 030, INDIA

Additional Information

• Book of Saints, by the Monks of Ramsgate
• CarmelNet
• CarmelNet
• Hagiography Circle
• Kirken i Norge
• Our Sunday Visitor’s Encyclopedia of Saints, by Matthew Bunson, Margaret Bunson, and Stephen Bunson

MLA Citation

• “Blessed Kuriakose Elias Chavara“. Saints.SQPN.com. 7 April 2013. Web. 20 June 2013. <>