Venerable Matthew Makil

Mathew Makil (27 March 1851 – 26 January 1914) was the second Vicar Apostolic and the first indigenous Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Changanacherry, which is the Syro Malabar Archeparchy of Changanacherry today. Mathew Makil was also the first Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Kottayam, which is the Knanaya Catholic Archeparchy of Kottayam today. In 1896, he became the Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Changanacherry, and in 1911, when a new Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam was constituted exclusively for the Knanaya Catholics, Mathew Makil was transferred to Kottayam as its first Vicar Apostolic. He died at Kottayam on 26 January 1914, and was declared a Servant of God on 26 January 2009 by Pope Benedict XVI, and Venerable on 22 May 2025 with the approval of Pope Leo XIV. He was born at Manjoor, Travancore now a part of Kerala. He was the third son of Thomman and Anna Makil-puthenpurayil. After primary education, he studied Syriac language at Mannanam. Then he joined Puthenpally Seminary that was common for Latin and Syrian priestly formation. He was trained under the rector and future co-adjutor Bishop of Verapoly Marcelinus Berarthi OCD. The Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly, Leonard Mellano of St. Louis, OCD, ordained him as priest on 30 May 1874 at the age of 23. His first Holy Mass was offered on 8 June 1874. Fr. Mathew Makil's first assignment was to teach Syriac language for two years in the same seminary where he had studied. Then he was made vicar of his home parish at Kaipuzha. Later, he served as vicar of Edacat parish at Kottayam, and then transferred back again as vicar of Kaipuzha church. Co-adjutor Bishop of Verapoly Marcelinus Berarthi OCD, who was his former seminary rector assigned him as his secretary in 1885. Fr. Mathew received the appointment order on 25 December 1885 and took charge on 1 March 1886. He continued his service until the establishment of the Vicariate of Kottayam with Charles Lavigne as the Vicar Apostolic.