By Matters India Reporter

Bhadravathi, May 28, 2019: A seminarian of Karnataka’s Bhadravathi diocese died in road accident near Shimoga, some 300 km northwest of Bengaluru, the state capital.

Deacon Varghese Kannappilly died on the spot on May 27 when his motorcycle was hit from behind by a speeding jeep. The 26-year-old deacon, also called Vivin, was returning home after dropping a neighbor at the bus station in Shimoga. The incident occurred at 10 pm.

Kunnappally’s ordination was scheduled for December this year.

Vivin was born on January 20, 1993, to Eenasu Kannappilly and his wife Thressiamma, parishioners of St Sebastian’s Church in Makkod, some 260 km south of Shimoga.

After Pre University Course, he joined the Bhadravathi Syro-Malabar diocese in 2011. After a year of minor seminary studies in Mananthavady in Kerala, he joined Good Shepherd Major Seminary, at Kunnoth village in Kerala’s Kannur district.

After completing his philosophical studies in 2015, he did a year of regency at the Bishop’s House in Bhadravathi.

He was then sent for theology studies at St Ephrem’s Theological College in Satna, Madhya Pradesh.

Bishop Joseph Kodakallil of Satna ordained him a deacon on December 201, 2018.

His funeral is scheduled at 11 pm on May 29 at his native parish. Bishop Joseph Arumachadath of Bhadravathi will lead the funeral rites, the diocesan sources said.