Kuriakose Elias was born on February 10, 1805, the third son of Kuriakose and Mary in the Chavara family of Kainakari, Kerala, India. His baptismal name was Kuriakose, but his mother nicknamed him Kunchackochan. Mary Thoppil, a devout mother, took great care of her son’s physical and spiritual growth.
In 1811, primary education was started under a scholar. He continued his education in government schools from 1817. Kuriakose, with a clear conscience, received the Holy Communion with all due care. At the age of 11, he left the family environment and lived with his vicar in the parish priest’s house to lead a life of devotion to God. He joined Pallippuram Seminary in 1818 and started his studies.
On November 29, 1829, Kuriakose was ordained a priest by the then Vicar of the Apostolic, Bishop Maurelia Stabilini. Chavarayachan established the first monastery at Mannanam Hill in 1831, overcoming many obstacles. In 1855, Chavarayachan himself was appointed as the head of the church, which was officially approved by the church. Gradually new monasteries of the church were established in many places.
In 1866, along with the Leopold missionary, Chavarayachan started a monastic community for women. When he was elevated as the Vicar General of the Syro-Malabar Church, he tried to make the liturgy the same in all churches. Chavarayachan himself wrote the prescribed procedure. Funeral services, the other services, prayers, and liturgical calendar were arranged.
Chavarayachan, who had worked hard for God and his people throughout his life. He received the sacraments devoutly after months of illness and set out for God’s presence on January 3, 1871, amidst the prayers of his spiritual children. On November 23, 2015, Pope Francis canonized him.