His Grace Most Rev. Dr. Cornelius Elanjikal, the Metropolitan Archbishop Emeritus of Archdiocese of Verapoly, passed away on August 7, 2011 at 7.30 am. He was under treatment at Lourdes Hospital, Ernakulam for a couple of weeks due to lungs infection.

His funeral ceremony took place on August 9, 2011, Tuesday, at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral of Archdiocese of Verapoly, at 03.00 pm. The mortal remains of His Grace was exposed for paying homage at the Cathedral and St. Albert’s H. S. School Grounds on August 8 and 9, 2011 respectively. His mortal remains was laid to rest in the crypt of the Cathedral.

The late Archbishop was born in Kara, a village near Kodungallur in Trichur district, in Kerala on September 8, 1918. He had his school education at Mount Carmel School, Kara and St. Albert’s Higher Secondary School, Ernakulam, and his seminary studies at St. Joseph’s Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha, Aluva and Collegio Urbano de Propaganda Fide, Rome. He obtained doctorates in Philosophy and in Canon Law from the Urbaniana University, Rome. He was ordained priest on March 18, 1945 in Rome.

He served as the assistant parish priest at Mount Carmel Church, Chathiath (1950), secretary to the late Archbishop Joseph Attipetty (1951), assistant parish priest at St. Francis Assisi Cathedral, Ernakulam (1954), Rector of the St. Joseph’s Minor Seminary, Ernakulam (1956), Pro-Vicar General of the Archdiocese (1961) and Vicar Capitular (1970). 

He was appointed the Bishop of Vijayapuram on February 15 1971 and was consecrated on April 4, 1971, at St. Albert’s Grounds, Ernakulam together with the late Archbishop Joseph Kelanthara by His Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdusamy. His Holiness John Paul II transferred him to Archdiocese of Verapoly as its Archbishop on February 11, 1987 and was installed the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly on March 19, 1987. He received Pallium from His Holiness John Paul II on June 29, 1987. He retired from the office on August 5, 1996. 

Most Rev. Dr. Cornelius Elanjikal was the President of the Kerala Catholic Bishops’ Council (KCBC) from 1989 to 1992. He was also the President of the Kerala Regional Latin Catholic Bishops’ Council (KRLCBC) from 1987 to 1996. He is the author of nearly a dozen books as well as hundreds of articles. His book, ‘Concept of God in Upanishads” is well known. There are over five hundred Christian devotional songs in Malayalam, the vernacular language of Kerala, to his credit. 

During his Episcopal ministry, both at Vijayapuram and Verapoly, his top priority was the work of evangelization and deepening the faith of his flock. He always maintained a good relationship with leaders of other religions. The hallmark of his endearing personality was his simplicity coupled with kindness. He left an indelible mark of unflinching loyalty to the Holy See and the doctrines of the Church. He was a man of God who offered his life for the uplift of the downtrodden and the disadvantaged.