Aprem Mooken


Aprem Mooken was a prelate who served as the Metropolitan of the Assyrian Church of the East in India.

Biography

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 and the Union Theological Seminary, New York. 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 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.

Publications

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

Selected works

Biographies

  • Church history

  • 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.
  • Good News Festivals in India. 1984.
  • Indian Christian Directory. 1984.
  • Mar Aprem, Theologian & Poet. 1990.
  • 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 from Advent to Pentecost. 1988.
  • Sermons From the Gospels . 1988.
  • The Nestorian Canon Law. 1990.
  • Mesopotamia Light. 1993.
  • Voices of the East. 1998.
  • Mother of the Motherless. 2002.
  • Poems and Prayers. 2002.
  • Assyrian Manuscripts in India. 2011.