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<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Assyrian Church of the East Metropolitan of India (1940–2025)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2018}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=July 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox Christian leader<br />
| honorific-prefix = [[His Beatitude]] [[Dr.]] [[Mar (title)|Mar]]<br />
| name = Aprem<br />
| title = [[Metropolitan bishop|Metropolitan]] of the [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]<br />
| image = MAR APREM METROPOLITAN METROPOLITAN OF MALABAR AND ALL INDIA NOW NATHAR KURSIYA.jpg<br />
| church = [[Assyrian Church of the East]] ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ (of India) ([[Chaldean Syrian Church]])<br />
| metropolis = India<br />
| see = [[Marth Mariam Cathedral]]<br />
| began = 29 September 1968<br />
| ordination = 29 September 1968, [[Baghdad]], [[Iraq]]<br />
| rank = [[Metropolitan Bishop|Metropolitan]]<br />
| birth_name = George Mooken<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date|1940|6|13|df=y}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Thrissur]], [[Kingdom of Cochin]], [[British Raj|India]]<br />
| death_date = {{death date and age|2025|7|7|1940|6|13|df=y}}<br />
| death_place = <br />
| nationality = Indian<br />
| religion = [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]<br />
| residence = Thrissur, Kerala, India<br />
| parents = Devassy Mooken and Kochu Mariyam Mooken<br />
| occupation = [[Cleric]]<br />
| alma_mater = [[Serampore University]], [[Union Theological Seminary (New York City)]], [[St. Thomas College, Thrissur]]<br />
| ordained_by = [[Mar Thoma Darmo]]<br />
| predecessor = [[Thoma Darmo]]<br />
| successor = [[Awgin Kuriakose]]<br />
}}<br />
<br />
[[Mar (title)|Mar]] '''Aprem Mooken''' (born '''George Mooken'''; 13 June 1940 – 7 July 2025) was a prelate who served as the Metropolitan of the [[Assyrian Church of the East]] ({{Langx|syc|ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ}}) in India ([[Chaldean Syrian Church]]).<br />
<br />
== Biography ==<br />
[[File:With other prelates.JPG|thumb|right|250px|Aprem Mooken, with his two bishops, Yohannan Yoseph (left) and Awgin Kuriakose (right).]]<br />
George Mooken was born on 13 June 1940 in Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India. Educated in India, England, and America, he specialized in Church History. He served as President of the Church History Association of India between 1976 and 1982. He studied at [[Leonard Theological College]], Jabalpur for B.D.<br />
<br />
George Mooken gained [[master's degrees]] in Church History from both the [[United Theological College, Bangalore]] (1966) and the [[Union Theological Seminary, New York]] (1967). He was ordained a deacon on 25 June 1961, and a priest four years later on 13 June 1965. He was a candidate for Doctor of Theology (Th. D.) degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, when he was consecrated as Bishop on 21 September 1968, and eight days later as Metropolitan at Baghdad, Iraq by [[Mar Thoma Darmo]], Catholicos Patriarch of the [[Ancient Church of the East]]. In 1976 he earned his D.Th. degree from Serampore University near Calcutta. He was created Associate Companion of the Roll of Honour of the Memorial of Merit of King Charles the Martyr in 2012.<ref>{{cite web |title=ROLL OF HONOUR OF THE MEMORIAL OF MERIT OF KING CHARLES THE MARTYR |url=https://memorialofmerit.com/wp-content/uploads/2021/08/master-roll-of-honour-mmcm-updated-august-2021-1.pdf |website=memorialofmerit.com |publisher=Memorial of Merit |access-date=25 February 2026}}</ref><br />
<br />
On 7 July 2025, Mar Aprem died at the age of 85.<ref>[https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/kerala/chaldean-syrian-church-archbishop-mar-aprem-metropolitan-dies-at-85-juasv3tg Chaldean Syrian Church Archbishop Mar Aprem Metropolitan dies at 85]</ref><ref>{{Citation |last=Aprem Metropolitan |first=Mar |title=5 The Church of the East in China (Jingjiao) |date=2018-01-01 |work=Yearbook of Chinese Theology 2018 |pages=71–81 |url=https://doi.org/10.1163/9789004384972_006 |access-date=2025-07-07 |publisher=BRILL |isbn=978-90-04-38497-2}}</ref><br />
<br />
== Publications ==<br />
Mar Aprem was the author of 65 books on topics which include church history, theology, social issues, and humour.<br />
<br />
===Selected works===<br />
<br />
====Biographies====<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Thoma Darmo: A Biography|year=1974|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marthomadarmobio0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abimalek Timotheus: A Biography|year=1975|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/marabimalektimot0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Strange But True: An Honest and Humorous Autobiography of the Youngest Indian Archbishop|year=1981|location=Trivandrum|publisher=Maryland Printers and Publishers|url=https://archive.org/details/strangebuttrueho0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Mar Abdisho Thondanat: A Biography|year=1987|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=6ZxKAAAAMAAJ}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Not So Strange: 2nd Part of an Honest and Humorous Autobiography|year=1991|location=Trichur|publisher=Author′s publication|url=https://archive.org/details/notsostrangeseco0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV: The Man and His Message|year=2004|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|isbn=9788190220507 |url=https://archive.org/details/patriarchmardink0000mara}}<br />
<br />
====Church history====<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Nestorian Fathers|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianfathers0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Nestorian Missions|year=1976|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/nestorianmission0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Chaldean Syrian Church in India|year=1977|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=QwkuAAAAYAAJ}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Council of Ephesus of 431|year=1978|location=Trichur|publisher=Mar Narsai Press|url=https://archive.org/details/councilofephesus0000mara}}<br />
*''Sacraments of the Church of the East''. 1978.<br />
*''Nestorian Theology''. 1978.<br />
*''Nestorian Lectionary & Julian Calendar''. 1982.<br />
*''Western Missions Among Assyrians''. 1982.<br />
*''A Nestorian Bibliography''. 1982.<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=Indian Christian: Who is Who|year=1983|location=Bombay|publisher=Bombay Parish|url=https://archive.org/details/indianchristianw0000mara}}<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The Chaldean Syrian Church of the East|year=1983|location=Delhi|publisher=National Council of Churches in India|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=HMoP4lsmGXoC}}<br />
*''Good News Festivals in India''. 1984.<br />
*''Indian Christian Directory''. 1984.<br />
*''Mar Aprem, Theologian & Poet''. 1990.<br />
* {{Cite book|last=Mooken|first=Aprem|author-link=Aprem Mooken|title=The History of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Twentieth Century|year=2003|location=Kottayam|publisher=St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute|url=https://archive.org/details/historyofassyria0018mara}}<br />
*''Lectures on Indian Church History''. 2007.<br />
<br />
====Travelogues====<br />
*''America Revisited'', 1977.<br />
*''Germany via Vienna: A Travelogue''. 1980.<br />
*''From Baghdad to Chicago: A Travelogue''. 1985.<br />
*''Australian Assyrians''. 1988.<br />
*''Belgium and Holland via U.K. & U.S.A.: A Travelogue''. 1989.<br />
*''Sydney to Canberra: A Travelogue''. 1989.<br />
*''The Assyrians in Iraq''. 1989.<br />
*''Washington New York: A Travelogue''. 1992.<br />
*''London to Moscow: A Travelogue''. 1994.<br />
*''Los Angeles to Tokyo: A Travelogue''. 1993.<br />
*''Oxford to Austria: A Travelogue''. 1995.<br />
*''Salzburg to Boston: A Travelogue''. 1995.<br />
*''Israel, Scandinavia & U.S.A.: A Travelogue''. 1996.<br />
*''Hassake to Hollywood: A Travelogue''. 1998.<br />
*''Italy, Liban & Iran: A Travelogue''. 1998.<br />
*''To U.K. Via U.S.A.: A Travelogue''. 1999.<br />
*''USA, Canada, Europe & Thailand: A Travelogue''. 2000.<br />
*''Austria to Australia: A Travelogue''. 2001.<br />
*''India to Indiana: A Travelogue''. 2002.<br />
*''Two Trips in 2002: A Travelogue''. 2003.<br />
*''Budapest to Rugby: A Travelogue''. 2003.<br />
*''UAE via U.K. and USA: A Travelogue''. 2005.<br />
*''Sharjah, Qatar & Brazil: A Travelogue''. 2006.<br />
*''Wiesbaden to Moscow: A Travelogue''. 2007.<br />
*''Dubai to Duhok: A Travelogue''. 2009.<br />
*''Sydney, Melbourne & Perth: A Travelogue''. 2009.<br />
*''Chicago via Abu Dhabi: A Travelogue''. 2010.<br />
*''Los Angeles to Dubai: A Travelogue''. 2012.<br />
*''Rugby to Rome: A Travelogue''. 2012.<br />
*''14th Holy Synod & Sir Baniyas Monastery: A Travelogue''. 2013.<br />
*''Muscat and Sri Lanka: A Travelogue''. 2014.<br />
<br />
====Humour====<br />
*''Bishop's Jokes.'' 3rd ed., Bombay: Light of Life Magazine''.'' 1983.<br />
*''Laugh with the Bishop.'' 8th ed., Bombay: St.Paul's''.'' 1988.<br />
*''Laugh to Health.'' Madras: C.L.S.. 1992.<br />
*''Holy Humour.'' 1993.<br />
*''Joy to the World.'' 1994.<br />
*''Holy Smile''. 1997.<br />
*''Not So Funny.'' 2004.<br />
<br />
====Malayalam====<br />
*''An Introduction to the History of the Eastern Churches.'' 1976.<br />
*''Christeeya Bhakti Ganangal.'' 1985.<br />
*''Sabha Charitra Dictionary.'' 1985.<br />
*''Christuvinte Kalpadukalilude: A Travelogue.'' 1985.<br />
<br />
====General====<br />
*''From Relief to Development''. 1979.<br />
*''Teach Yourself Aramaic''. 1981.<br />
*''Behold the Cross of Calvary''. 1987.<br />
*''Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. I] from Advent to Pentecost''. 1988.<br />
*''Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. II].'' 1988.<br />
*''The Nestorian Canon Law.'' 1990.<br />
*''Mesopotamia Light''. 1993.<br />
*''Voices of the East''. 1998.<br />
*''Mother of the Motherless''. 2002.<br />
*''Poems and Prayers''. 2002.<br />
*{{Cite book|title=The History of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Twentieth Century|year=2003|location=Kottayam|publisher=St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute}}<br />
*''Assyrian Manuscripts in India.'' 2011.<br />
<br />
==See also==<br />
* [[Assyrian Church of the East]]<br />
* [[Ancient Church of the East]]<br />
* [[Chaldean Syrian Church]]<br />
<br />
==Notes==<br />
{{reflist}}<br />
<br />
==References==<br />
* [https://web.archive.org/web/20100115032146/http://www.churchoftheeastindia.org/marapremmetropolitan.html In Depth Biography Aprem Mooken]<br />
<br />
==External links==<br />
* [https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GefLnojxZ1A Documentary:'Humour, Music, Scholastic Divinity: A Day in the Life of His Grace Mar Aprem Metropolitan of Malabar and India Assyrian Church of the East']<br />
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{{Authority control}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Mooken, Aprem}}<br />
[[Category:1940 births]]<br />
[[Category:2025 deaths]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century bishops of the Assyrian Church of the East]]<br />
[[Category:Chaldean Syrian Church]]<br />
[[Category:Christian clergy from Thrissur]]<br />
[[Category:Senate of Serampore College (University) alumni]]<br />
[[Category:St. Thomas College, Thrissur alumni]]<br />
[[Category:Leonard Theological College alumni]]</div>Ambaputra