Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly (Syro-Malabar)
Raphael Thattil was born on April 21, 1956, in Thrissur. After completing his seminary training in Vadavathoor, he obtained a doctorate in Eastern Canon Law from the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome. He is proficient in Malayalam, English, Italian, and German. He was ordained a priest on December 21, 1980, and subsequently held the following positions: Assistant Vicar in Aranattukara (1981), Prefect of the Minor Seminary (1982), Vice-Chancellor of the Eparchial Curia (1988), Vice-Rector of the Minor Seminary (1991), Director of the Department of Catechetics (1992–1995), Chancellor and Eparchial Judge (1995–2000), and first Rector of the "Mary Matha" Seminary (1998–2007). From 2007 to 2010, he served as Protosyncellus of the Archeparchy of Trichur. On January 18, 2010, he was appointed Titular Bishop of Buruni and Auxiliary Bishop of Trichur for the Syro-Malabar Church. He received episcopal ordination on April 10, 2010.