Born in the Elappanal family of Pampady on 5th Dec 1941, Metropolitan Mor Philoxenos Yuhanon had his primary and High School education at Pampady and took his B.A degree from Baselios College, Kottayam, and M.A from S.V.University. In 1964 he was ordained deacon by Mor Philoxenos Paulose (Catholicose Mor Baselios Paulose II) and Kassiso by Catholicos Mor Baselios Augen in 1969. He had his G.S.T from the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and S.T.M from New York Theological Seminary, T.H.D from Logos Graduate School of Theology, New York and D.D from Orlando International Seminary, Florida. In Hindi, the national language of India, he had secured Hindi Bhooshan and Hindi Praveen. He has also C.P.E (Clinical Pastoral Education) from New York.

As a priest Fr.John Jacob served in many churches in Kerala and Abroad. His spiritual activities in the USA, where, for higher Theological studies, he had been sponsored by the most gracious H.E. Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, had been outstanding. He has to his credit the organisation of parish churches in Staten Island, Manhattan, Philadelphia, Chicago, Dallas, Houston and Augusta. The blessed Malabar Diocese was fortunate to have him as their metropolitan, succeeding the late Mor Philoxenos Samuel. H.B Mor Baselios Paulose II consecrated him in the title 'Mor Philoxenos' at the St.Mary's Cathedral Church at Meenangadi, one of the biggest churches in Malankara.