[3] He received his bachelor's degree in philosophy from Arul Anandar College, Karumathur.

He has acquired a master's degree in canon law from St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary.

He also obtained Doctorate in Canon Law with Summa Cum Laude from the Pontifical Urban University Rome.

[2][6][3][4] Rayappan was appointed bishop of the Roman Catholic Diocese of Salem on 31 May 2021 by Pope Francis.

He was consecrated as a bishop on 4 August 2021 and took possession of the Diocese of Salem on the same day.