The Syro-Malabar Church, is an Oriental Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church based in Kerala, India. It is an autonomous particular church in full communion with the pope and the worldwide Catholic Church, with self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches (CCEO). The Church is headed by the Metropolitan and Gate of all India Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alencherry. The Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops canonically convoked and presided over by the Major Archbishop constitutes the supreme authority of the Church. Syro-Malabar is a prefix coined from the words Syriac as the church employs the East Syriac Rite liturgy, and Malabar which is the historical name for modern Kerala. The name has been in usage in official Vatican documents since the nineteenth century.
The Marthoma Nazrani Archeparchy of Changanacherry is a Syro-Malabar Catholic archeparchy with an area of 24,595 km2 comprising the districts of Kottayam, Alappuzha, Pathanamthitta, Kollam, and Thiruvananthapuram in Kerala, and also Kanyakumari district in Tamil Nadu. It is one of the largest Catholic dioceses in India in terms of area. Mar Joseph Perumthottam is the current Metropolitan Archbishop, serving since 2007. Mar Thomas Tharayil has been the auxiliary bishop since 2017. And Mar Joseph Powathil is the bishop emeritus, having served from 1985 to 2007. Suffragan eparchies of the Changanassery archeparchy includes Palai, Kanjirappally, and Thuckalay.
The Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly is an archeparchy and the See of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Mar Cardinal George Alencherry is the present Major Archbishop, and his vicar is Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil CMI, who is responsible for the ordinary administration of the archeparchy. He reports to the major archbishop and the Holy Synod of the Syro Malabar Church. Mar Jacob Manathodath, Bishop of Palghat was the former apostolic administrator sede plena. Kothamangalam and Idukki are the two suffragan eparchies of the archeparchy. the archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly occupies a prominent position in the history of the Syro-Malabar church. It was established as a Vicariate by the Bull Quae Rei Sacrae of pope Leo on 28 July 1896 maar Alocious Pazheparambil was appointed as the first figure apostolic, who assumed charge on 5th November 1896. Under the able guidance of Mar Pazheparambi, the vicariate begin to flourish.city of Ernakulam was chosen to be the location for The Bishop's house which was completed and blessed on 24th April 1900.
The St. Thomas Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy (Diocese) of Chicago is an Eastern Catholic eparchy (diocese) for Syro-Malabar Catholics in the United States. The eparchy (diocese) was erected by Pope John Paul II on 13 March 2001. It is one of the four eparchies (dioceses) of the Syro-Malabar Church outside India. It has jurisdiction over Syro-Malabar Catholics in the entire USA, including Knanaya Catholics in the US. The seat of the bishop is Mar Thoma Sleeha Cathedral based in Chicago, Illinois. The first and current bishop of the eparchy (diocese) is Mar Jacob Angadiath, serving since 1 July 2001. Mar Joy Alappat was installed as an auxiliary bishop since 27 September 2014.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Trichur, in Thrissur District of Central Kerala, India, with nearly half a million Syro-Malabar Catholics now, used to be the largest Catholic diocese in India when it included the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda until 1978 and Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palghat until 1973. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda, also located in Thrissur District, has over a quarter million Syro-Malabar Catholics now. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat in Central Kerala extends to some regions in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. In 2010, the parts of Tamil Nadu under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat were separated to form another Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Mananthavady is an Eastern Catholic eparchy in India, under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. It was established in 1973 by Pope Paul VI. It is a suffragan diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Tellicherry, the bishop of the diocese is Jose Porunnedom.
The Eparchy of Palghat is a diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, centred on the town of Palakkad in the state of Kerala, in South India. It is a suffragan bishopric of the Archdiocese of Trichur. The current bishop is Jacob Manathodath, who succeeded Joseph Irimpen in 1997.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda is a suffragan eparchy in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur in Kerala state's Thrissur District, southern India.It is part of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (which follows a Chaldean = Syro-Oriental Rite.
Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, one of the largest churches in Kerala, is located in the heart of Thrissur City in the state of Kerala, India. Dedicated to Our Lady of Lourdes, the Syro-Malabar Catholic church is noted for its imposing interior. The main attraction is an underground shrine, considered a masterpiece of architectural design. Fr John Maliekkal is said to have planned and constructed this church. The exterior of the church features an Indo-European facade with white spires. The centenary of this church was celebrated during the historic visit of Pope John Paul II to Thrissur City in 1986. The cathedral church attracts thousands of pilgrims every month.
This is a timeline of the history of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India.
Mar Francis Vazhapilly, Late Bishop of Trichur (1921–1942).
The Metropolitan Archbishop of Thrissur is the chief bishop and principal leader of the nearly half a million Syro Malabar Catholics now used to be the largest catholic diocese in India, when it included the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur, Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda, Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat and Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram. He is also the Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. The title is more powerful as he is the custodian of St. Thomas Church (Palayur), where Christianity came to Indian sub-continent, and have two blessed people, Maria Theresa Chiramel and Euphrasia Eluvathingal in the Archdiocese.
St Thomas Cathedral is the Syro Malabar Catholic cathedral of the eparchy of Irinjalakuda in India got its present existence under the nomenclature and the Canonical Status as Cathedral in the Wake of the Origin of the New Eparchy. This was effected by the amalgamation of the two independent and important parishes of the locality, namely, St. George’s Forane Church and St. Mary’s church, which amicably situated side by side for about a century.
Mar Bosco Puthur is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Bishop. He is the Curia Bishop of the Syro Malabar Church. Previously, he has served as Rector of St. Joseph's Pontifical Seminary, Mangalapuzha. He was also a Monsignor of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur. Following the sudden death of Mar Varkey Vithayathil, he has also served as the Administrator of the Major Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly and of the Syro-Malabar Church. On 11 January 2014 Bishop Bosco Puthur was appointed by Pope Francis as the bishop of the Eparchy of Melbourne of St. Thomas in Australia for the Syro-Malabar Catholics. He was also appointed as the Apostolic Visitator of the Syro-Malabar Faithful in New Zealand.
St. Mary's Forane Church, Chalakudy, is one of the 10 Foranes or deaneries under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda, which was established in 1978 by the bifurcation of Thrissur Diocese. Prior to that, Chalakudy was part of Thrissur diocese, the most ancient Diocese of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Thrissur diocese has since been elevated to an archdiocese, Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, within which comes the Irinjalakuda diocese. There are 16 parishes under the Chalakudy Forane. The people of Chalakudy, mainly in business or service sectors, belong to middle or upper-middle-class families. Chalakudy is one of those areas in Kerala with a high concentration of Christian population, most belonging to the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church.
St. Joseph Church, Aloor is a parish of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in Aloor. It was the first parish church in Aloor Muri of the Mukundapuram and Kodassery taluks. Aloor parish is one of the 83 parishes between the Bharathappuzha and Periyar rivers, during the erection of syro-Malabar hierarchy and Trichur Vicariate.
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Hosur is an Eastern Catholic eparchy headquartered in Tamil Nadu, India, under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. It was established by Pope Francis on 10 October 2017, and Mar Sebastian Pozholiparampil was appointed its first bishop. The cathedral is St. Antony's Syro-Malabar Catholic Cathedral Church at Noothenchery and the bishop's chancellory is at St. Thomas Pastoral Centre Ayanavaram.
