Joseph Kallarangatt


Mar Joseph Kallarangatt ܡܵܪܝ ܝܵܘܣܹܦ ܐܲܦܸܣܩܘܿܦܵܐ is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Bishop and Theologian. He currently serves as the Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Palai, which has the largest concentration of Syro-Malabar Catholics.

Early life

After his school studies, Joseph Kallarangatt joined Good Shepherd Minor Seminary, Palai. Later he went on to the Saint Thomas Apostolic Seminary Kottayam, where he studied philosophy and theology. He was ordained priest by Bishop Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil on 2 January 1982, at Christuraja Church Kayyoor.

Ecclesiastical and academic career

After a short period of fruitful apostolate at Aruvithura and Ramapuram, Fr. Kallarangatt was sent to Rome for higher studies at the Pontifical Gregorian University. In 1989, he secured a doctorate in systematic theology. On his return to India, he was appointed professor of Dogmatic Theology at St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary and at Paurastya Vidyapitham, Kottayam
On 18 March 2004, while serving as the president of Paurastya Vidyapitham, Fr. Kallarangatt was named as the third Bishop of Palai. On 2 May 2004, he received his episcopal consecration from Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil and the same day he was enthroned as Bishop of Palai by the Syro-Malabar Major-Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil.
Bishop Kallarangatt was a participant in the XIII Ordinary General Assembly of the Synod of Bishops,.
In 2014, the Bishop lead his diocese to host the 31st plenary assembly of the Catholic Bishops Conference of India.

A Theologian Bishop: Chairman of Doctrinal Commission

Bishop Kallarangatt is considered to be an authority in Ecclesiology and Oriental Theology; he has authored 30 books and a good number of articles related to Ecclesiology and Eastern theological studies. Currently, he is the Chairman of the Doctrinal Commission of The Catholic Bishops' Conference of India and the Chairman of the Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Doctrine as well as member of the Syro-Malabar Synodal Commission for Liturgy. Bishop Kallarangatt serves also as a member of the Biblical Commission of Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council.

Well known Scholar

Besides Malayalam and English, Bishop Kallarangatt speaks German and Italian languages. He is scholarly competent in ancient East Syriac language.
He has in his credit more than 30 books on Theology and Oriental Liturgy and has written a large number of Systematic Theological articles. He has published extensively on secular topics as well.

Works in English

1. The Holy Spirit: Bond of Communion of Churches, Roma, Pontificia universitas Gregorianum, 1989.
2. Pneumatocentric Eccesiology in Nikos Nissiotis, Kottayam, OIRSI, 1999.
3. Reflections on theology and Church, Kottayam, OIRSI,2001.
4. " The Ecumenical Theology of Nikos A. Nissiotis", in Christian Orient 11, Dec. 1990, p. 173-86.
5. " THe First Sunday of the Period of Qayt ", in Journal of Eastern Christian Studies, Vol. 56, Issues 164, 2004, p. 303-317.
6. " Windows to HEAVEN "
Contours of an Ecclesial and Oriental way of life : April 2018
WORKS IN MALAYALAM
7. Beth Purkhana. OIRSI
8. Ennale Paranjathu- Deepanalam Publications Pala