His Eminence Abraham Mar Stephanos Metropolitan
Diocese of UK-Europe and Africa
His Eminence Abraham Mar Stephanos has served as the Metropolitan of the Diocese of UK-Europe and Africa since November 2022, succeeding His Eminence Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios.
Born on 11 June 1969 to the Late Mr. K. A. Thomas and Mrs. Annamma of the Kadakkamannil family, His Eminence hails from St. George Orthodox Church (Valiyapalli), Mylapra, under the Diocese of Thumpamon, Kerala, India. He completed his early education at Seventh Day Adventist School, Pathanamthitta, and Marthoma High School, before earning his Pre-Degree and a Bachelor of Science in Mathematics from Catholicate College, Pathanamthitta.
In 1994, he began theological formation at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, where he obtained his Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) and Graduate in Sacred Theology (G.S.T.) in 1999. He went on to complete a Master of Theology (M.Th.) from the Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture (FFRRC) under the Senate of Serampore University (2000–2002), and later earned a Master of Arts in Late Antiquity and Byzantine Studies from King’s College, London.
He was ordained Sub-Deacon in 1998 by H.G. Kuriakose Mar Clemis Metropolitan, Deacon in 1999 by the Late Lamented Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II, and Priest on 8 April 2000 by H.G. Kuriakose Mar Clemis Metropolitan. On 25 February 2022, he was elected as Bishop Designate at the Malankara Syrian Christian Association meeting in Kolencherry. Professed as a Ramban (Monk) on 2 June 2022 at Parumala Seminary, he was consecrated Metropolitan with the name Abraham Mar Stephanos on 28 July 2022 by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pazhanji, and assumed charge of the Diocese on 3 November 2022.
Between 2002 and 2009, while serving as Vicar of London Brockley St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, he also held several ecumenical leadership roles: Secretary to the Council of Oriental Orthodox Churches in the UK, Secretary to The Catholic and Oriental Orthodox Forum of the UK, Secretary to The Anglican–Oriental Orthodox Regional Forum of the UK, and Executive Committee Member of The Anglican–Eastern Churches Association of the UK.
From 2009 to 2022, His Eminence served as Lecturer in the Department of Theology at the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam, teaching Christian Doctrines, Patristic Theology, the Doctrine of the Holy Spirit, and Biblical Greek at beginner and advanced levels, while also serving as Seminary Registrar. As Secretary to the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Church, he made notable contributions during the tenure of the Late Lamented Catholicos Baselios Paulose II.
His pastoral ministry has included service in parishes such as London St. Gregorios, Cambridge St. Thomas, and Marathamcode St. Gregorios.
Contact: ✉️ metropolitan@indianorthodoxuk.org