Archbishop of Kalyan (Syro-Malabar)
Sebastian Vaniyapurackal was born in Mulamkunnu on March 29, 1967; he entered the minor seminary and subsequently the St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary in Vadavathoor for his formal studies. Ordained a priest on December 30, 1992, he held various pastoral roles—serving as parish priest in two parishes and as Director of the diocesan youth movement *Yuvadeepti*—before being sent to Rome for advanced studies. After obtaining a doctorate in Eastern Canon Law from the University of the Holy Cross, he served first as a tribunal judge and later as Judicial Vicar. Since 2014, he has held the position of Vice-Chancellor at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia. In addition to Malayalam and English, he also speaks Italian.