Aprem Mooken

Mar Aprem Mooken (born George Mooken; 13 June 1940 – 7 July 2025) was a prelate who served as the Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East (Classical Syriac: ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ) in India (Chaldean Syrian Church).

His Beatitude Dr. Mar Aprem
Metropolitan of the Chaldean Syrian Church
Church	Assyrian Church of the East ܥܕܬܐ ܕܡܕܢܚܐ ܕܐܬܘܖ̈ܝܐ (of India) (Chaldean Syrian Church)
Metropolis	India
See	Marth Mariam Cathedral
Installed	29 September 1968
Predecessor	Thoma Darmo
Successor	Awgin Kuriakose
Orders
Ordination	29 September 1968, Baghdad, Iraq by Mar Thoma Darmo
Rank	Metropolitan
Personal details
Born	George Mooken (1940-06-13)13 June 1940 Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India
Died	7 July 2025(2025-07-07) (aged 85)
Nationality	Indian
Denomination	Chaldean Syrian Church
Residence	Thrissur, Kerala, India
Parents	Devassy Mooken and Kochu Mariyam Mooken
Occupation	Cleric
Alma mater	Serampore University, Union Theological Seminary (New York City), St. Thomas College, Thrissur

Biography

Aprem Mooken, with his two bishops, Yohannan Yoseph (left) and Awgin Kuriakose (right).

George Mooken was born on 13 June 1940 in Thrissur, Kingdom of Cochin, India. Educated in India, England, and America, he specialized in Church History. He served as President of the Church History Association of India between 1976 and 1982. He studied at Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur for B.D.

George Mooken gained master's degrees in Church History from both the United Theological College, Bangalore (1966) and the Union Theological Seminary, New York (1967). He was ordained a deacon on 25 June 1961, and a priest four years later on 13 June 1965. He was a candidate for Doctor of Theology (Th. D.) degree at Princeton Theological Seminary, USA, when he was consecrated as Bishop on 21 September 1968, and eight days later as Metropolitan at Baghdad, Iraq by Mar Thoma Darmo, Catholicos Patriarch of the Ancient Church of the East. In 1976 he earned his D.Th. degree from Serampore University near Calcutta.

On 7 July 2025, Mar Aprem died at the age of 85.^[1][2]

Publications

Mar Aprem was the author of 65 books on topics which include church history, theology, social issues, and humour.

Selected works

Biographies

• Mooken, Aprem (1974). Mar Thoma Darmo: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1975). Mar Abimalek Timotheus: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1981). Strange But True: An Honest and Humorous Autobiography of the Youngest Indian Archbishop. Trivandrum: Maryland Printers and Publishers.
• Mooken, Aprem (1987). Mar Abdisho Thondanat: A Biography. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1991). Not So Strange: 2nd Part of an Honest and Humorous Autobiography. Trichur: Author′s publication.
• Mooken, Aprem (2004). Patriarch Mar Dinkha IV: The Man and His Message. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press. ISBN 9788190220507.

Church history

• Mooken, Aprem (1976). The Nestorian Fathers. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1976). Nestorian Missions. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1977). The Chaldean Syrian Church in India. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Mooken, Aprem (1978). The Council of Ephesus of 431. Trichur: Mar Narsai Press.
• Sacraments of the Church of the East. 1978.
• Nestorian Theology. 1978.
• Nestorian Lectionary & Julian Calendar. 1982.
• Western Missions Among Assyrians. 1982.
• A Nestorian Bibliography. 1982.
• Mooken, Aprem (1983). Indian Christian: Who is Who. Bombay: Bombay Parish.
• Mooken, Aprem (1983). The Chaldean Syrian Church of the East. Delhi: National Council of Churches in India.
• Good News Festivals in India. 1984.
• Indian Christian Directory. 1984.
• Mar Aprem, Theologian & Poet. 1990.
• Mooken, Aprem (2003). The History of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Twentieth Century. Kottayam: St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute.
• Lectures on Indian Church History. 2007.

Travelogues

• America Revisited, 1977.
• Germany via Vienna: A Travelogue. 1980.
• From Baghdad to Chicago: A Travelogue. 1985.
• Australian Assyrians. 1988.
• Belgium and Holland via U.K. & U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1989.
• Sydney to Canberra: A Travelogue. 1989.
• The Assyrians in Iraq. 1989.
• Washington New York: A Travelogue. 1992.
• London to Moscow: A Travelogue. 1994.
• Los Angeles to Tokyo: A Travelogue. 1993.
• Oxford to Austria: A Travelogue. 1995.
• Salzburg to Boston: A Travelogue. 1995.
• Israel, Scandinavia & U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1996.
• Hassake to Hollywood: A Travelogue. 1998.
• Italy, Liban & Iran: A Travelogue. 1998.
• To U.K. Via U.S.A.: A Travelogue. 1999.
• USA, Canada, Europe & Thailand: A Travelogue. 2000.
• Austria to Australia: A Travelogue. 2001.
• India to Indiana: A Travelogue. 2002.
• Two Trips in 2002: A Travelogue. 2003.
• Budapest to Rugby: A Travelogue. 2003.
• UAE via U.K. and USA: A Travelogue. 2005.
• Sharjah, Qatar & Brazil: A Travelogue. 2006.
• Wiesbaden to Moscow: A Travelogue. 2007.
• Dubai to Duhok: A Travelogue. 2009.
• Sydney, Melbourne & Perth: A Travelogue. 2009.
• Chicago via Abu Dhabi: A Travelogue. 2010.
• Los Angeles to Dubai: A Travelogue. 2012.
• Rugby to Rome: A Travelogue. 2012.
• 14th Holy Synod & Sir Baniyas Monastery: A Travelogue. 2013.
• Muscat and Sri Lanka: A Travelogue. 2014.

Humour

• Bishop's Jokes. 3rd ed., Bombay: Light of Life Magazine. 1983.
• Laugh with the Bishop. 8th ed., Bombay: St.Paul's. 1988.
• Laugh to Health. Madras: C.L.S.. 1992.
• Holy Humour. 1993.
• Joy to the World. 1994.
• Holy Smile. 1997.
• Not So Funny. 2004.

Malayalam

• An Introduction to the History of the Eastern Churches. 1976.
• Christeeya Bhakti Ganangal. 1985.
• Sabha Charitra Dictionary. 1985.
• Christuvinte Kalpadukalilude: A Travelogue. 1985.

General

• From Relief to Development. 1979.
• Teach Yourself Aramaic. 1981.
• Behold the Cross of Calvary. 1987.
• Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. I] from Advent to Pentecost. 1988.
• Sermons From the Gospels [Vol. II]. 1988.
• The Nestorian Canon Law. 1990.
• Mesopotamia Light. 1993.
• Voices of the East. 1998.
• Mother of the Motherless. 2002.
• Poems and Prayers. 2002.
• The History of the Assyrian Church of the East in the Twentieth Century. Kottayam: St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute. 2003.
• Assyrian Manuscripts in India. 2011.

See also

• Assyrian Church of the East
• Ancient Church of the East
• Chaldean Syrian Church