Thrissur: Archbishop of the Chaldean Syrian Church of the East, Mar Aprem Metropolitan (85), passed away on Monday. He led the Indian Church for 56 of his 64-year priestly career. He was a multifaceted personality, a spiritual teacher, a Church leader, a cultural figure, a Church history researcher, an author, and a Syriac language enthusiast.

George Davis Mooken, alias Mar Aprem Metropolitan, was born on 13 June 1940, the fourth of ten children of Devasi and Parapulli Kochumariam in the Mooken family of Mar Yohannan Mandannapalli parish in Kizhakkekotta, Thrissur. He completed his theological studies at United Theological College, New York; Union Theological Seminary; and Princeton Theological Seminary.

He was ordained a priest on 25 June 1961 and then as a bishop on 13 June 1965, his 26th birthday. He was consecrated again as bishop on 21 September 1968, and a week later, on 29 September 1968, was elevated as metropolitan at the renowned Mar Sayyaka Cathedral in Iraq. He was the second youngest bishop in the history of the Indian Church. He returned to India on 26 October 1968 and assumed the administrative responsibilities of the Church.

Following the death of Maran Mar Dinha IV as Patriarch in 2015, he led the Church as its global head for six months until the election of a new Patriarch. He authored more than 70 books, covering subjects such as travel, humour, and Church history. He played a crucial role in establishing Marthoma Higher Secondary School in Madras and the Chaldean College in Thrissur.

He was passionate about music as he was about writing.