Four new Bishops for Malankara Orthodox Church were elected at the Malankara Association held at Parumala Seminary premises on June 10, 2004. Mar Yoohanon Ramban, Mar Augen Ramban, Rev. Dr. K.J. Gabriel and Rev. Dr. M.C. Cherian are the ones who were elected to be ordained as Bishops. The Church decision was to elect seven candidates to elevate to post of Bishops. Church Managing Committee comprised of 171 members inclusive of Bishops, Priests and representative laymen, had screened out seven candidates as a Panel, out of all candidatures, considering their merits and suitability for the episcopate. The Association had only endorsed four out of them through a democratic ballot system in the Association Meeting held under the presidentship of H.H. Basalios Marthoma Mathews II whose is the President of the Association and Malankara Metropolitan.

Holy Episcopal Synod had approved all the elected Bishop candidates in an Assembly of the Synod held at Sophia Center, Kottayam on June 18, 2004 under the presidentship of H.H. Basalios Marthoma Mathews II. Also it was announced that two Bishop Elects Fr.Dr. K. J. Gabriel and Fr.Dr. M. C. Cherian will be ordained as Rambans as per the Church traditions, on Saturday, August 7, 2004 at Devalokam Catholicate Aramana Chapel. The episcopal consecration ceremony of all the four will be conducted within six months.

The chosen and separated for His Episcopate are:

MAR AUGEN RAMBAN M.A., B.D., GST [48]:

V. Rev. Augen Ramaban, formerly known as Fr.P.K. Zachariah, was born to Mathai Kurien couple of Ranni Pakalomattom Thazhamon family at Mavelil Perangattu house at Mukkalumon, Ranni on July 1, 1955. After acquiring a postgraduate degree (M.A.) in History, Zachariah proceeded for the Theological studies at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. After completing his B.D. with distinction of 'Best Outgoing Student' in 1979, he was ordained as Deacon by H.H. Marthoma Mathews I. In 1980 Dn. Zachariah was ordained to priesthood and further in 1992 he was elevated as a Ramban by H.H. Basalios Marthoma Mathews II.

Ramaban Augen served as the Secretary to late Catholicos Marthoma Mathews I for 16 years. Ramaban Augen have served in different capacities in the Church as Devalokam Aramana manager, First secretary of Central diocesan secretary Kottayam, Holy Episcopal Synod Office Secretary, Distribution Manager for Church Utensils, Member of Church Publication Department, and Member of Church Defense Committee etc. He was Vicar to Parishes Kummanam St. George Church, Karapuzha Mar Gregorios Church and Azhutha St. Thomas Church. He had edited and published Devotional Meditations, Prayer Books and Liturgical studies and Travelogue Marusadhvalangalilude. From 1982 onwards he is the Manager of Vallikkattu Dayara, Vakathanam, Kottayam.

MAR DR. YOOHANON RAMBAN B.Sc., B.D., M.Th., D.M. [49]:

V. Rev. Yoohanon Ramban formarly known as Fr.Varghese John, was born to K.V. Yohannan couple Mannil Puthenprayil, Kottoor Thiruvalla of St. Mary's Parish, Niranam Diocese on Dec 1, 1954. After graduated from Kerala University (B.Sc) Varghese John proceeded for theological studies in Theological Seminary, Kottayam. After completing B.D. degree, he acquired M.Th. degree from Serampore University and D.M. from Sanfransisco Theological Seminary, U.S.A. He was ordained as a priest in 1982.

Ramban Yoohanon served as superior MGDM Ashram, Karunagiri and as Vicar in Parishes at Mundikuzhy, Perumpetty, Elavunkal, Kadamankulam. Currently he holds the positions of Co-Ordinator Malankara Orthodox Church Mission Board, Principal St. Pauls Mission Training Center Mavelikkara, Director St.Thomas Karunya Guidance Center Ulloor Trivandrum and Director Visranti Bhavan, Kattela, Trivandrum.

FR.DR. K.J. GABRIEL B.A., GST, B.D., M.Th., D.Th. [55]:

Fr.Dr.K.J.Gabriel was born on January 28, 1948 as third son of Thumpamon Vadakke Thazhethil, Kanjikkal Chacko John and Pandalam Kudassinadu Ramanattu Mulamoottil Aleyamma John. He is a member of the Kudassinadu St. Stephens Cathedral. Preliminary education of Gabriel was done at St. Stephens High School, Pathanapuram. After graduating in English Literature (B.A.) from Basalios College, Kottayam Gabriel proceeded for Theological studies at Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam. He had Acquired GST and B.D. degree from Serampore University. He had done his M.Th. in New Testament Studies from Catholic University at Paris. For his research done at Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago about the Epistles of St. Paul, he was awarded with a Doctorate Degree from Serampore University. Fr.Gabriel acquired proficiency in Hebrew, Aramaic, Greek, Syriac, German and French. He had done his Post-Doctoral Research at Cambridge University. He was ordained as Deacon on Nov. 4, 1969 and as priest on Feb. 8, 1974.

Fr.Gabriel served as Vicar of various parishes at Churches of Bombay, Delhi, Kottayam, Trivandrum Dioceses for thirty years. he had also served as Registrar and Director of F.F.R.R.D, and Church Representative of ecumenical organizations like Orthodox-Marthoma Dialogue Forum, Orthodox-Lutheran Dialog Forum, Bible Society Kerala Auxiliary Committee, Theological Literature Forum etc. From 1982 onwards he is the Professor of New Testament in Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. He also holds the post of Fellow of George Bell Ecumenical Institute, England, Administrative Committee Member of Serampore University etc. He had also authored many Theological Books like Towards A New Humanity, Towards The Grace Of God, Cross And Grace etc.

FR.DR. M.C. CHERIAN M.A., B.D., M.Th., D.Min (U.S.A) [55]:

Fr.M.C. Cherian belovedly known as Cherian Achen with his long association with MGOCSM, was born on Sept. 16, 1952 to M.P.Chandy couple of Manjanamkuzhiyil, Chengaroor. He is a member of St.George Orthodox Church, Chengaroor. After post-graduating from Kerala University (M.A.) he had proceeded for theological studies. He had acquired B.D. and M.Th. from Serampore University. He had done his Doctoral Studies in Ministry (D.Min.) at Saint Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York, U.S.A.

Fr.Cherian is well known for his inseparable association with MGOCSM (Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement), which is the students, and youth mission wing of the Malankara Orthodox Church. He had served for this essential wing of the Church at different capacities from 1979 and currently serves as the General Secretary. Considering the importance of the growing children in the spiritual nourishment Symposium, Seminars, Study Classes, Conferences, Discussion Forums, Workshops etc. are organized at Church, Diocese, and Parish levels nationally and internationally. Also residential cum touring program for overseas students and youths are been organized by MGOCSM.