Bishop of Mandya (Syro-Malabar)
Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath was born in Vaikom, Ernakulam, on 5 April 1957. After attending the minor seminary of Ernakulam, he carried out his philosophical and theological studies in the Pontifical Seminary of Poona (1976-1983), concluding with a Master of Theology. He was ordained a priest for the archieparchy of Ernakulam on 18 December 1983. Since ordination he has held the following offices: parish priest, secretary to the archbishop, and representative of the Save a Family Plan in Kerala and subsequently as director of the same trust in London, Ontario, Canada. On 4 February 2002, the Holy Father appointed him as auxiliary bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars, assigning him the titular see of Macriana major. He received episcopal consecration on 20 April 2002.