Matthew Makil (1851–1914) was a prominent Catholic prelate who served as a key leader for the Syrian Catholic community in India. He held the position of Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry starting in 1896 and later became the first indigenous Vicar Apostolic of the newly established Vicariate of Kottayam in 1911. Throughout his ministry, he worked to address the pastoral needs of both the Northist and Southist communities, striving to provide equitable governance for the diverse groups within the Syrian Catholic Church.
Ecclesiastical career
Ordained a priest in 1874, Makil served as a teacher of Syriac and held various roles as a vicar. He later acted as Vicar General for the Southists, exercising several episcopal privileges. His leadership led to his appointment as the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry in 1896. In 1911, he successfully petitioned the Holy See to create a separate vicariate for the Knanaya Catholics, subsequently becoming its first indigenous leader.
Veneration
Following his death in 1914, Makil's service to the Church was recognized through the process of canonization. He was declared a Servant of God by Pope Benedict XVI in 2009. He was later declared Venerable by Pope Leo XIV in 2025, marking a significant step in his path toward sainthood within the Catholic tradition.