St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara

St. Kuriakose was a Syro-Malabar Catholic priest, an Eastern Catholic church in communion with the Roman Catholic church that uses the East Syriac rite. He founded schools in his area for the poorest members of the community, and started an Indian Eastern Catholic order of Carmelites for men and for women. He was also a prolific writer, publishing numerous letters, prayers, theological texts, history, and administrative work on the printing press he established.


Lifetime: 1805 to 1871
Region: Kerala, India
Patronages: Media; Literature; Carmelites of Mary Immaculate order
Iconograpy: Carmelite habit; Scripture; Hand lifted in blessing
Feast Day: February 18

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