List of leaders of the Syro-Malabar Church

Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church ܪܒܝ ܡܝܛܪܵܦܘܿܠܝܼܛܵܐܹ ܕܥܸܕܬܵܐ ܕܣܘܼܕܝܵܝܹܐ ܡܲܠܲܒܵܪܵܝܹܐ
Incumbent: Raphael Thattil 11 January 2024
Style	Mar
Location
Country	India
Headquarters	Mount Saint Thomas, Kakkanad
Information
Denomination	Catholic Church
Sui iuris church	Syro-Malabar Church
Rite	East Syriac
Archdiocese	Ernakulam-Angamaly
Cathedral	St. Mary's Syro-Malabar Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam
Co-cathedral	Mar Hormizd Syro-Malabar Cathedral, Angamaly
Website
syromalabarchurch.in

The Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church within the Catholic Church, is led by the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly in Kerala, India.

Cardinals of Syro-Malabar Church

Sl.No	Name	Term	Date and Place of Birth	Age at start/end of Term	Notes
1	Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil	1969 - 1987	1 Apr 1912 Kidangoor, Kingdom of Cochin	57/75 (†75)	Created Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Regina Pacis a Monte Verde by Pope St. Paul VI on 30 April 1969. Took part in Conclaves of August 1978 and October 1978. First Cardinal from the Syro Malabar Church. Became President of the Pontifical Commission for the Revision of the Code of Oriental Canon Law from 1972 to 1987.
2	Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara	1988 - 2000	11 February 1921 Manimala, Kingdom of Travancore	64 / 79 (†79)	Created Cardinal-Priest of Santa Maria Regina Pacis a Monte Verde by Pope St. John Paul II on 28 June 1988. Became the first Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church.
3	Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil	2001 - 2011	29 May 1927 North Parur, Kingdom of Travancore	70 / 83 (†83)	Created Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme by Pope St. John Paul II on 21 Feb 2001. Took part in Conclave of 2005.
4	Mar George Cardinal Alencherry	2012- present	19 April 1945 (age 79) Thuruthy, Kingdom of Travancore	67/	Created Cardinal-Priest of San Bernardo alle Terme by Pope Benedict XVI on 18 Feb 2012. Took part in the Conclave of 2013.
5	Mar George Cardinal Koovakad	2024 - present	11 Aug 1973 Chethipuzha, Kottayam	51/	Created Cardinal-Deacon of Sant Antonio di Padova a Circonvallazione Appia by Pope Francis on 7 December 2024. Became Prefect of the Dicastery for Interreligious Dialogue.

Major Archbishops of Ernakulam-Angamaly

No.	Term	Name	Date and Place of Birth	Age at start/end of Term	Notes
1	16 December 1992 – 11 November 1996	Cardinal Antony Padiyara	11 February 1921 Manimala, Travancore	64 / 75 (†79)	First Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church. Established the Syro Malabar Synod of Bishops.
2	6 January 1997 – 1 April 2011	Cardinal Varkey Vithayathil	29 May 1927 North Parur, Travancore	70 / 83 (†83)	Appointed by Pope John Paul II as the Apostolic Administrator before becoming the Full Time Major Archbishop in 1999. Helped Established the Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago along with other dioceses.
3	24 May 2011 _ 7 December 2023	Cardinal George Alencherry	(1945-04-19) 19 April 1945 (age 80) Thuruthy, Travancore	67 / 78	First Major Archbishop elected by the Synod of Bishops. Established All India Jurisdiction by the establishment of Eparchy of Shamshabad and Eparchy of Hosur. Also established the Eparchy of Mississauga,Eparchy of Melbourne, Eparchy of Great Britain, along with the Apostolic Visitation to Europe.
4	9 January 2024 _ Present	Raphael Thattil	(1956-04-21) 21 April 1956 (age 69) Trichur, Kerala	67	Thattil had previously served as the apostolic visitor of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church for Syro-Malabar resident "outside their proper territory" in India and as bishop of the Eparchy of Shamshabad since 2017. [1]

Curia Bishops

Sl.No	Name	Designation	Year of appointment	Last Year of appointment
1	Bosco Puthur	Curia Bishop	2010	2014
2	Sebastian Vaniyapurackal	Curia Bishop	2017	present

Brief History

The first Vicariates for the Syro-Malabar Church were established in 1887. The Syro-Malabar's current hierarchical structure was established in 1923, when Ernakulam was elevated as a Metropolitan See. In 1993, when the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was raised to major archiepiscopal church, Ernakulam became the seat of the major archbishop.

Metropolitan and Gate of India (Chaldean)

• Mar Yawsep Archbishop of Angamaly, (1558–1569)
• Mar Abraham Archbishop of Angamaly, (1569

–1597) ^[2]

Bishop of Angamaly

Through the Synod of Diamper, the Latin Catholic Padroado rule under Jesuit missionaries abolished the All India jurisdiction. They erected the Diocese of Angamaly, suffragan to the Padroado Primatal See of Goa, in place of the Metropolitanate of All India. ^[3]

• Francisco Ros SJ (1599–1610)

Archbishops of Cranganore

Was promoted as an Archdiocese in 1608 and renamed the Archdiocese of Cranganore in 1610.

• Francisco Ros SJ (1610–1624)
• Stephen Brito SJ (1624–1641)
• Francisco Garcia Mendes S.J. (1641–1659)

Parallel Rule of Daroado and Propaganda

Garcia was overthrown through the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653. However, he remained Archbishop of Cranganore for a small minority of Latin Christians until he died in 1659. Following his death, two parallel rules governed the church. The Padroado Rule of the Latin Bishops of Cranganore, who were Jesuits, and the Propaganda Rule of the Vicars Apostolic of Malabar who were Carmelites until 1887.

Administrators in Italics or not numbered are known to the Church, but lack proper sources. ^[4]

Sl.No	Duration	Padroado Rule	Duration	Propaganda Rule
8.			1659-1663	Joseph Sebastiani OCD
9.			1663-1687	Palliveettil Chandy (Mar Alexander Parambil) [5]
10.			1687-1694	Raphael Figuerdo Salgado
11.			1700-1712	Angelus Francis OCD
12.	1701-1716	John Riberio SJ
13.			1714-1750	John Baptist Moltedi OCD
14.	1716-1752	Antonio Pimental SJ
15.			1750-1773	Florence of Jesus OCD
16.	1753-1756	John Concellos SJ
17.	1756-1777	Salvador Reis SJ
18.			1775-1779	Francis Sales OCD
			Unknown	Carolo of St. Conrad OCD
				John of St. Margaret OCD
				John Mary of St. Thomas OCD
				Carolo of St. Conrad OCD
19.	1782-1786	Mar Joseph Kariattil - (Never took office)
20.			1784-1802	Aloysius Mary OCD
21.	1786-1799	Paremakkal Thoma Kathanar - never been consecrated as bishop, but appointed as Gobernador (Administrator)
	1799-1800	Ribamar
	1800-1801	Sankurikal George
	1810	Dominicus
	Unknown	Joachim Bohlho
22.			1808-1816	Raymond of St. Joseph OCD
			1816-1821	Peter Alcantara OCD
23.			1821-1827	Prendergast Miles OCD
24.	1821-1823	Aquinas Thomas OP
	1823-1825	Joachim
	1826-1838	Paiseioto Doforto J
	1864-1866	Antony Paul Pinto Joseph
	1866	Joseph Ayres deSilveria Mascarenhas
	1867-1869	Antony Correa dos Reis Coehlo
	1870	Antony Vincent Lisboa
	1875	Valentine constant Fernandes
	1876	Francis Barbosa
	1877-1884	Benedict R. Gomes & Casmir Nazareth
	1885	Narcise (Pro-Administrator)
	1885-1886	Cajetan JM Abreu
25.			1827-1831	Stabilini Maurilius OCD
26.			1831-1844	Francis Xavier of St. Anna OCD
27.			1844-1855	Ludovicus OCD
			1844-1853	Bernardine of St. Agnes OCD
			1853-1859	Bernardine Baccinelli of St. Therese OCD
28.			1859-1868	Bernardine Baccinelli of St. Therese OCD
29.			1868-1887	Leonard Louis Mellano OCD
30.			1877-1887	Marceline Berardi of St. Therese OCD - (Coadjucator-Separate Jurisdiction for the Syrians)

• Hierarchs associated with the church during the Parallel Rule, who had an impact on church governance, but with partial recognition.
  • Shemon of Ada (1700 – 1720) - sent by Patriarch Eliah IX Yohannan Augen. He was arrested by Latin missionaries. Hoping to get freed, he consecrated Angelus Francis OCD, the Vicar Apostolic of Malabar in 1701. But he was imprisoned in Pondicherry, where he was found dead in a well.
  • Gabriel of Azerbaijan (1705–1730)- sent by Patriarch Eliah X Augen, he maintained considerable support among both factions of Saint Thomas Christians.
  • Abraham Paulose Pandari (1796–1799) - consecrated by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Yohannan VIII Hormizd, briefly recognised by Dionysius I and Paremmakkal Thoma in 1799, but never recognised by the Pope.
  • Thoma Rokkos - consecrated by Chaldean Catholic Patriarch Joseph VI Audo, achieved limited recognition from a section of Saint Thomas Christians of both factions, received by the Jacobite Metropolitan in Angamaly, however, was excommunicated by the Pope. ^[6]
  • Yohannan Elia Mellus (1874 – 1882) - sent by Patriarch Joseph VI Audo, consolidated strong support among the Catholic Saint Thomas Christians, but was excommunicated by the pope. He led the movement which led to the formation of the Chaldean Syrian Church and the erection of a separate Syro-Malabar hierarchy. ^{[3] [7] [8] [9] [6]}

Vicariates of Syro-Malabar Church

Following the schism, Pope Leo XIII having abandoned the latinisation policy, separated St. Thomas Christians in 1887 from the Vicariate of Verapoly, the local Latin Catholic hierarchy. ^[6] Initially they were organized under two vicariates, Thrissur and Kottayam. Later in 1896, Ernakulam vicariate was formed by bifurcating southern parts of Thrissur and northern parts of Changanacherry. During the same time native prelates were also appointed for all three vicariates. In 1911 a fourth vicariate was established in Kottayam for southists exclusively.

Vicars of the Vicar Apostolics of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Kottayam (Changanacherry) Charles Lavigne SJ (1887–1896) Mar Mathew Makkil (1896–1911) Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1911-1923)

Thrissur Adolph Medlycott (1887–1896) Mar John Menacherry (1896–1919) Mar Francis Vazhapilly (1919-1923)

Ernakulam Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil (1896–1919) Mar Augustine Kandathil (1911-1923)

Kottayam (Southists) Mar Mathew Makkil (1911–1914) Mar Alexander Chulaparambil (1914-1923)

Syro Malabar Hierarchy

Metropolitan See of Ernakulam

In 1923, Ernakulam was raised as a Metropolitan Archdiocese, and the other three Vicariates were raised as Suffragan Eparchies, thus establishing the Syro-Malabar hierarchy.

• Mar Augustine Kandathil
  • 1923 – 1956
• Mar Joseph Cardinal Parecattil
  • 1956 – 1984
• Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara
  • 1985 – 1992
• Promoted to Major-Archepiscopal See

Eparchs before changes to Ecclesiastical Provinces

Eparchy of Thrissur	Eparchy of Kottayam	Eparchy of Changanassery	Eparchy of Pala	Eparchy of Thalassery
Mar Francis Vazhapilly (1923-1944) Mar George Alapatt (1944-1970) Mar Joseph Kundukulam (1970-1995) Promoted to Metropolitan See	Mar Alexander Choolaparampil (1923-1951) Mar Thomas Tharayil (1951-1974) Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry (1974-2005) Promoted to Metropolitan See	Mar Thomas Kurialacherry (1923-1925) Mar James Kalacherry (1927-1949) Mar Mathew Kavukattu (1950-1956) Promoted to Metropolitan See	Mar Sebastian Vayalil (1950-1981) Became Suffragan of Changanassery in 1956	Mar Sebastian Valloppilly (1956-1989) Mar George Valiamattam (1989-1995) Promoted to Metropolitan See
Eparchy of Mananthavady	Eparchy of Palakkad	Eparchy of Irinjalakkuda	Eparchy of Thamarassery
Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (1973-1995) Became Suffragan of Thalassery in 1995	Mar Joseph Irimpen (1974-1994) Became Suffragan of Thrissur in 1995	Mar James Pazhayattil (1978-2010) Became Suffragan of Thrissur in 1995	Mar Sebastian Mankuzhikar (1978-2010) Became Suffragan of Thalassery in 1995

Current Metropolitan Sees

Metropolitan of Changanassery	Metropolitan of Thrissur	Metropolitan of Thalassery	Metropolitan of Kottayam
Mar Mathew Kavukattu (1956 - 1969) Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara (1970 - 1985) Mar Joseph Powathil (1985 - 2007) Mar Joseph Perumthottam (2007 - 2024) Mar Thomas Tharayil (2024 - present)	Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (1996-2007) Mar Andrews Thazhath (2007-present) Mar Tony Neelankavil (Auxiliary 2017-present)	Mar George Valiamattam (1995-2014) MarGeorge Njaralakatt (2014-2022) Mar Joseph Pamplany (2022-present)	Mar Kuriakose Kunnacherry (2005-2006) Mar Mathew Moolakkattu (2006-present) Mar Joseph Pandarasseril (Auxiliary 2006-present) Mar Gheevarghese Aprem Kurisummottil (Auxiliary 2020-present)

Current Ecclesiastical Provinces - Eparchial See

Eparchy of Kothamangalam	Eparchy of Idukki	Eparchy of Faridabad	Eparchy of Hosur	Eparchy of Shamshabad
Mar Matthew Pothanamuzhi (1956-1977) Mar George Punnakottil (1977-2013) Mar George Madathikandathil (2013-present)	Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil (2003-2018) Mar John Nellikunnel (2018-present)	Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara (2012-present) Mar Jose Puthenveettil (Auxiliary Eparch - 2019-present)	Mar Sebastian Pozholiparampil (2017-present)	Mar Raphael Thattil (2017-2024) Mar Joseph Kollamparambil (Auxiliary 2022 - present) Mar Thomas Padiyath (Auxiliary 2022 - present) Mar Antony Prince Panengaden (2024-present)

Eparchy of Pala	Eparchy of Kanjirappally	Eparchy of Thuckalay
Mar Sebastian Vayalil (1950-1981) Mar Joseph Pallikaparampil (1981-2004) Mar Joseph Kallarangatt (2004-present) Mar Jacob Muricken (Auxiliary 2012-2022)	Mar Joseph Powathil (1977-1985) Mar Mathew Vattackuzhy (1986-2000) Mar Mathew Arackal (2000-2020) Mar Jose Pulickal (2020-present)	Mar George Alencherry (1996-2011) Mar George Rajendran Kuttinadar (2011-present)

Eparchy of Irinjalakkuda	Eparchy of Palakkad	Eparchy of Ramanathapuram
Mar James Pazhayattil (1978-2010) Mar Pauly Kannookadan (2010-present)	Mar Jacob Manathodath (1996-2022) Mar Peter Kochupurackal (2022-present)	Mar Paul Alappatt (2010-present)

Eparchy of Mananthavady	Eparchy of Thamarassery	Eparchy of Belthangady	Eparchy of Bhadravathi	Eparchy of Mandya
Mar Emmanuel Giles Pothanamuzhi (1996-2003) Mar Jose Porunnedom (2004-present) Mar Alex Tharamangalam (Auxiliary 2022-present)	Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (1995-1997) Mar Paul Chittilappilly (1997-2010) Mar Remigiose Inchananiyil (2010-present)	Mar Lawrence Mukkuzhy (1999-Present)	Mar Joseph Erumachadath (2007-Present)	Mar George Njaralakatt (2010-2014) Mar Antony Kariyil (2015-2019) Mar Sebastian Adayantharath (2019-present)

References

1. "Pope Francis confirms election of head of Syro-Malabar Church". Vatican News. 10 January 2024. Retrieved 10 January 2024.
2. "Syro-Malabar Metropolitan Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly | India". gcatholic.org.
3. Eugène Tisserant: Eastern Christianity in India. Longmans, Green and Co., London 1957, 112-119
4. "Prelates of the Church". Syro Malabar Church. Retrieved 5 May 2025.
5. "Divisions and Rite of the Churches- Syro Malabar Church, Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church, Malankara Orthodox Syriac Church, Thozhiyur Church, Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Syro Malankara Church, Chaldean Syrian Church". nasrani.net. 14 January 2007. Retrieved 20 May 2022. Bishop Sebastaini, then consecrated Alexander Parampil as the Bishop.
6. Perczel, István (2013). Peter Bruns; Heinz Otto Luthe (eds.). "Some New Documents on the Struggle of the Saint Thomas Christians to Maintain the Chaldaean Rite and Jurisdiction". Orientalia Christiana: Festschrift für Hubert Kaufhold zum 70. Geburtstag; pp. 415-436. Wiesbaden: Harrassowitz Verlag.
7. Georg Graf: History of Christian Arabic literature. 4th Bd Apost Bibl. Vaticana, Città del Vaticano 1951, 112f
8. Joseph Habbi: Les Chaldéens et les Malabar au 19e siècle.In: Oriens Christianus 64 (1980) 82-107.
9. Wilmshurst, David (2000). The Ecclesiastical Organisation of the Church of the East, 1318–1913. Louvain: Peeters Publishers. ISBN   9789042908765.

External links

• Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly