His Grace, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was born on August 13, 1959 to the famous Poothicote family in Mepral. His boyhood name was Cheriyachen, and he was the fourth of five children. Much of his spiritual upbringing centered around his home parish, Saint John's Orthodox Church in Mepral, Kerala, India. At this church, His Grace Thoma Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese, called young Cheriyachen to the service of the Holy Altar at the age of 9. This initiated a strong interest in Orthodox spirituality and the life of the Church. He was blessed to spend time with Metropolitan Thoma Mar Dionysius of Blessed Memory, and with spiritual giants such as Metropolitan Thomas Mar Thimithios (later His Holiness Catholicos Didymus I of Blessed Memory) and the convention speaker and retreat father, Reverend Father M. V. George (later Metropolitan Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios of Blessed Memory). His uncle, Reverend Father George Kurian (later Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Coorilose), began mentoring him.

Upon finishing high school, he enrolled in Malabar Christian College and later completed his Bachelor of Arts (English) from Saint Joseph College, Calicut. He then joined United Theological College in Bangalore, where he completed his Bachelor of Divinity and Master of Theology. His uncle and mentor, Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Coorilose, ordained him to the Holy Diaconate on January 4, 1986 and to the Priesthood on May 16, 1990 at his home parish St. John's Church, Mepral. As a priest, he served parishes in the Diocese of Kandanad, as Ecumenical Secretary of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church, and as professor at the Malankara Syrian Seminary at Mulanthuruthy.

On August 5, 1993, the eve of the Feast of the Transfiguration, His Beatitude Mar Baselios Paulose II tonsured him as a monk at Saint Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Moovattupuzha, Kerala. On the Feast of the Falling Asleep of Saint Mary, the Mother of God, August 15, 1993, His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church, consecrated him as Metropolitan. In 2002, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II appointed him Assistant Metropolitan of the American Diocese, then led by His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas of Blessed Memory. After the American Diocese was divided in April 2009, His Grace Mar Nicholovos continued assisting Metropolitan Mar Barnabas until his retirement in January 2011. On February 26, 2011, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II appointed Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as the ruling Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese; he was enthroned on May 21, 2011.

In addition to his diocesan responsibilities, His Grace serves in various ecumenical capacities: Vice President of the Department of Ecumenical Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church; Working Committee and Executive Committee Member of the World Council of Churches (WCC) and member of the WCC Permanent Commission on Consensus and Collaboration; Governing Board member of the National Council of Churches in the United States (NCCUSA); Member of the Board of Trustees of Saint Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary; and former Member of the Board of Directors of Church World Services (CWS).

Contact