KOCHI: Born on September 8, 1918, Cornelius Elanjikal was ordained a priest on March 18, 1945. In 1950, he became the auxiliary vicar at Chathiath Carmel Mary Parish and in 1951 was appointed the secretary to Archbishop Joseph Attipetty.In 1954, he became the auxiliary vicar at the Cathedral of St Francis of Assisi in Ernakulam. In 1956, he was appointed the rector at the Archdiocese of Verapoly Minor Seminary.In 1961, Elanjikal became the Pro-Vicar-General of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and in 1970 became the Vicar Capitular. He was ordained a bishop on April 4, 1971. Elanjikal was consecrated an Archbishop on March 19, 1987 and retired on August 5, 1996. He was the head of the Kerala Latin Church from 1987 to 1996 and was the president of Kerala Catholic Bishop Council (KCBC) from 1989 to 1992.Elanjikal, respected for his exceptional knowledge in the Upanishads, had received doctorates for his works in the field. Elanjikal was well-known for the hymns he wrote and had penned down over 500 songs, most of them on Virgin Mary.Throughout his life, Elanjikal practised and preached a very important biblical verse about service to mankind - ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’
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