Born
10 February 1805, Kainakary, Kuttanad, Travancore, British Raj (now in Alappuzha District, Kerala, India)
Died
3 January 1871 (aged 65), Koonammavu, Kingdom of Cochin, British Raj (now in Ernakulam, Kerala, India)
Venerated in
Catholic Church
Beatified
8 February 1986, Kottayam by Pope John Paul II
Canonized
23 November 2014, Rome by Pope Francis
Major Shrine
St. Joseph's Church, Mannanam, St.Philomena's Forane Church, Koonammavu
Feast
18 February (Roman Latin Catholic Church) 3 January (Syro-Malabar Church)
Attributes
Catholic saint, founder and social reformer
Patronage
Press industry, media, literature, congregations

 

Kuriakose Elias Chavara, C.M.I. (10 February 1805 – 3 January 1871) was an Indian Syro-Malabar Catholic priest, philosopher and social reformer.He is the first canonised Catholic male saint of Indian origin and belongs to the Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church based in the state of Kerala.He was the co-founder and first Prior General of the first congregation for men in the Syro-Malabar Church, now known as the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.), and of a similar one for women, the Congregation of the Mother of Carmel (C.M.C.).he is a pioneer in many fields.