Bishop of Saint Mary
Philipose Mar Stephanos Thottathil was born in Ranni, Pathanamthitta District (Kerala), on May 9, 1952. After attending the minor seminary, he completed his institutional studies in philosophy and theology at the Papal Seminary in Pune and was ordained a priest on April 27, 1979. After serving in various parishes, he obtained a doctorate in moral theology from the Alphonsian Academy in Rome. Upon returning home, he held the following positions: Vice-Rector of the minor seminary, Head of the Mission in Delhi, Director of Pushpagiri Hospital, Professor of Moral Theology, Dean of Theology and Rector of St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, and Bursar and Protosyncellus of Tiruvalla (2003–2005). Consecrated Auxiliary Bishop of Tiruvalla on March 13, 2010, Mar Stephanos was assigned the titular see of Sozopolis in Haemimonto.