Rev. Fr. Thomas Manonu Thomas was born in Maramon, Kerala on May 23, 1931 to Manonu Iype Thomas and Rahelamma Thomas. As the elder of twins, he earned his BA from the University of Madras in 1954, MA from the University of Bombay, 1957. While studying for his BA degree, he won several accolades for swimming. From 1960 -1961, he served as a mission worker in Sihera Ashram in Madya Pradesh, India.

He married his wife, Grace from Chenganur, Kerala in 1965 at Chenganur Mar Thoma Church. They moved to Ethiopia, where Rev. Thomas served as a teacher. In 1971, after the birth of two sons, Stephen and Peter, the family moved to the US, where Rev. Thomas joined Drew University in Madison, New Jersey. While in NJ, his younger sons, twins Joseph and Koshy were born. He earned his M. Div in 1975 and an additional Masters in Sacred Theology in 1977.

In 1975, H.H. Ignatius Yakub III, Patriarch of Antioch, in Damascus, Syria, ordained him a deacon. In 1978, along with his twin brother, Rev. M. T. Philip, he was ordained as priest by H.H. Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II. Along with his family, he moved to Houston in 1979 and started as the Associate Priest at St. Gregorios Orthodox Church until 1986. He served as the vicar of the Dallas St. George Church, from 1992-1995. He was currently serving as associate priest at St. Thomas Orthodox Church in Houston.

Thomas Achen, as his parishioners referred to him, is lovingly survived by his wife Grace Kochamma, his sons, Stephen, Peter, Joseph and Koshy, his twin brother, Rev. Fr. M. T. Philip, and numerous nieces, nephews and grandnieces and grand nephews.