Jacob Manathodath was born on 22 February 1947 in
Kodamthuruthu, one of seven children born to Kurian and Kathreena. He attended the L.P. School, Kodamthuruthu, the E.C.E.K. Union High School,
Kuthiathode. He entered the Sacred Heart Minor Seminary, Ernakulam, and then the
Papal Seminary,
Pune, where he earned his Licentiate in Philosophy and Master's in Theology. He was ordained priest on 4 November 1972. His first assignments after ordination included Assistant Vicar of St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, and then private secretary to Cardinal
Joseph Parecattil. He earned his Doctorate in Theology from the
Gregorian University in Rome from 1979 to 1984. ==Real Estate & Fake Document controversy==