Reverend Father Dr. Cherian Puthiyottil

life story

Renowned Theologian, Scholar, and Servant Leader

Reverend Father Dr. Cherian Puthiyottil, an internationally respected priest, theologian, and scholar who dedicated his life to faith, education, and service across cultures and communities, passed away peacefully on September 28, 2025, at his home in Minnesota, surrounded by family. Born in Kerala, India, Cherian devoted his ministry to building bridges across traditions and nurturing inclusive communities. A polyglot, author, and pastor, he touched countless lives through his teaching, leadership, and deep commitment to family. He is survived by his wife of 43 years, Carrie, daughters Shaba and Saja, and three grandchildren, whose lives continue his legacy of love, resilience, and service.

Renowned Theologian, Scholar, and Servant Leader

Reverend Father Dr. Cherian Puthiyottil left this world on Sunday, September 28, 2025, at 2:14pm. He passed peacefully in his home, in his own bed, surrounded by his beloved wife (Carrie), both his daughters (Shaba and Saja), and even his favorite feline companions, Voltaire and Rousseau.

Cherian was born in Kallooppara, Kerala, India on May 26, 1944, at the close of World War II, when the world was a far different place than it is now. He was the youngest of six children and was recognized from an early age for his remarkable intellect and aptitude. As a result, his mother adjusted his birth year on his birth certificate to allow him to enter school 2 years earlier than his peers, which created a lifetime of confusion (and comedy) around his actual age, and his documented age.

From an early age, his extraordinary intellect was evident, and by his teens he had already begun the journey toward his lifelong calling in the priesthood. He was ordained in 1971 in the Syrian Orthodox Church and went on to serve in many leadership roles in India, including as General Secretary of the Christian Student Movement of India, chaplain of the Kottayam Medical College, and assistant to the bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Church. He was also one of the few international scholars of the ancient Aramaic language.

Cherian was an internationally respected theologian, scholar, and priest. He completed advanced studies in India, Germany, England, and Minnesota, and earned a wide range of graduate and post-graduate degrees in a variety of fields. Over his lifetime, he learned to read, write, and speak 14 different languages, authored two books, and devoted his ministry to building bridges across faiths, cultures, and communities.

In 1981, while studying at Oxford University in London, he met his future wife, Carrie Walker, who was studying abroad from Minnesota. They began writing letters to one another across an ocean, fell in love, and soon decided to began their life together in Minnesota. Married in 1982, they welcomed their daughters into the world in 1986 (Shaba) and 1988 (Saja), at a time where mixed-race families were not as common (or accepted). Cherian served as a chaplain at United Hospital, and went on to earn an additional doctoral degree in Social and Pastoral Ministry from Luther Seminary in St. Paul, became a U.S. citizen in 1993, and was later able to obtain dual nationality with India as well.

In 1982, he was ordained as a Lutheran pastor in the Evangelical Lutheran Church in America and soon began a 17-year ministry at Central Lutheran Church in Minneapolis. His work focused on social ministry, refugee sponsorship, and building welcoming spaces for immigrants and newcomers. During his time at Central Lutheran, he helped to found and run a childcare center, and later a school, (both of which his own children attended), and began numerous programs to support immigrants, refugees, and communities in need. He authored two books; “Welcoming Strangers to a New Land” and “Our Neighbors: An Introduction to Cultural Diversity and World Religions”; and in 2000 became the founding director of the Multicultural Mission Center, later known as AGORA. Through this work, he helped congregations across the Twin Cities grow into more inclusive and vibrant communities of faith.

While his scholarship and ministry touched people across the globe, Cherian's greatest pride was always his family, and his two daughters in particular. He took great joy watching his family thrive and carry forward the values of education, service, and love for others that he instilled in us. He was a fiercely loving husband, father, and grandfather, with impossibly high standards and expectations that sometimes created arguments and frustration, but inspired the best in others. He would do anything to ensure the safety, joy, and success of his children, and he often accomplished this by encouraging his children to tackle challenges that he knew would serve us well long term.

Cherian baptized both of his daughters at Central Lutheran Church in unique ceremonies pairing his Syrian Orthodox and Lutheran faith, he presided over the wedding of his eldest daughter Shaba to Natanael in 2013 in a uniquely diverse Mexican-Indian ceremony, and also baptized his first grandson, Amar Kiran in 2018, in a ceremony in their home. He found immense joy in being an Apachan (grandfather) to his three grandchildren, Amar, Soraya, and Sima.

Cherian believed fiercely in the power of education and instilled in his children discipline, curiosity, and resilience; often through routines and rules they resisted (and were annoyed by) as children, but learned to be deeply grateful for later on. From early morning newspaper readings and political debates, mandatory music and tennis lessons, forced learning of the Spanish language, weekly trips to the library to ensure sufficient reading material was on hand at all times, early morning Saturday house cleanings, and long summer road trips across the country to see all of our nations monuments and parks, his influence shaped every part of his children's lives.

Cherian was endlessly energetic, curious, quick-witted, a problem-solver, and fantastically disciplined. Others would seek out his guidance and support to help them tackle obstacles, solve problems, and find solutions to challenges. Cherian was known for his way of bringing projects to fruition, making things happen, and helping others reach their goals. He was a man who rose before dawn to read (and write), who pushed his daughters to study hard, who believed deeply in the American dream and true democracy, and who never lost his love for Kerala, his culture, and his people. Even as Alzheimer’s and dementia slowly stole away his sharpness and cognition in recent years, his warmth, humor, and pride in his family remained constant, and somehow he continued to know how to navigate between English and Malayalam, even in his last days.

Cherian was a man of contradictions that made him unique: a deeply devout Orthodox priest who was also profoundly liberal in his politics, a lover of tradition who eagerly embraced every new form of technology and Apple computer to give his children a technological advantage. He was an immigrant who fiercely defended both his Indian roots and his American identity. He survived a heart attack, cancer, diabetes, and countless health battles with courage, but his greatest trial came with Alzheimer’s and dementia in recent years, which slowly dimmed the brilliance of his once boundless intellect. Through it all, his love for his family and his pride in all of us never wavered.

Cherian was an intellectual giant, and dedicated his life to serving his community and others, and his loss is deeply felt by his friends, family, and loved ones that live across the globe. He had a long and abundant life, blessed with incredible successes as a result of his scholarship, hard work, dedication, and desire to serve those around him. His legacy will continue to live on through his family, his writings, and the many communities he touched across the globe. His family is grateful that Cherian is finally at peace and reunited with those who went before him, including his first granddaughter, Sofia Aadya, who was lost 6 months into Shaba's first pregnancy. Shaba is grateful her little Sofia has her Apachan to play with for all of eternity.

Cherian is finally at peace and able to rest after a lifetime of hard work and dedication to the service of others. His daughters are deeply grateful to have benefitted from his tireless and loving guidance, influence, and support, and are proud to know they have been raised to walk in his footsteps and carry on his legacy. Cherian is survived by his wife of 43 years (Carrie Walker), his eldest daughter Shaba (Natanael Martinez), his youngest daughter Saja (Saboun Nasseri), as well as three grandchildren (Amar, Soraya, and Sima).

Written by Shaba Martinez - September 28, 2025

memorial service

Memorial Service for Reverend Father Dr. Cherian Puthiyottil

October 25, 2025

Central Lutheran Church (ELCA) 333 S 12th St, Minneapolis, MN 55404, USA

The family of Reverend Father Dr. Cherian Puthiyottil invites you to join us in honoring his life, faith, and legacy in a Memorial Service.

📍 Location: Central Lutheran Church, Minneapolis, MN

📅 Date: Late October 2025 at 10:00am

📹 Live Streaming: Services will be live streamed for friends and family across the world here: https://www.centralmpls.org/event/funeral-for-cherian-puthiyottil/

This will be a memorial service (not a visitation). Together, we will gather in prayer, reflection, and remembrance of Cherian’s extraordinary life and the many ways he touched the hearts of those around him.

All friends and family are welcome to participate. During the service, there will be space for anyone who wishes to share; whether through spoken words, a prayer, a song, or a personal ritual; to celebrate Cherian’s memory in a way that feels meaningful.

If you would like to contribute to the services, offer your words, a prayer, or ritual, please contact Shaba Martinez at mrs.shabamartinez@gmail.com to ensure you are added to the memorial program.

We hope you will join us as we come together in community to honor his enduring legacy of love, wisdom, faith, and service.

Funeral/Cremation Provider: Crescent Tide Cremation Services