Roman Catholic Diocese of Changanacherry
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The Archeparchy of Changanacherry is a
Syro-Malabar Catholic lat, Ecclesia Syrorum-Malabarensium mal, മലബാറിലെ സുറിയാനി സഭ , native_name_lang=, image = St. Thomas' Cross (Chennai, St. Thomas Mount).jpg , caption = The Mar Thoma Nasrani Sl ...
archeparchy with an area of 24,595 km2 comprising the districts of Kottayam,
Alappuzha Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
,
Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...
,
Kollam Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city i ...
, 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.
Joseph Perumthottam Mar Joseph Perumthottam (born 5 July 1948) is a prelate of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Since 2007 he as served as the Archbishop of Changanassery. Education He was educated in St. Joseph's High School in Punnathura and St. Berchmans' ...
is the current Metropolitan Archbishop, serving since 2007.
Thomas Tharayil Thomas Tharayil (5 May 1899 – 26 July 1975) was an eparchial bishop of the Knanaya Catholic Eparchy of Kottayam, belonging to the Syro-Malabar Church. He was born in Kaipuzha, India. He is buried in Christ the King Cathedral Kottayam. Refer ...
has been the auxiliary bishop since 2017. And Joseph Powathil is the bishop emeritus, having served from 1985 to 2007. Suffragan eparchies of the Changanassery archeparchy includes Palai, Kanjirappally-Nilackal, and Thuckalay-Thiruvithancode (Tamil Nadu). The Changanacherry (originally named Kottayam) was one of the first two Syro-Malabar vicariates, along with
Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur The Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Trichur-Palayoor, 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-Malaba ...
, when Pope Leo XIII in 1887 re-organized Syro-Malabar Catholics as a separate church from the Latin Church's jurisdiction ever since the
Synod of Diamper The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperoor Synod) ( mal, ഉദയംപേരൂർ സൂനഹദോസ്, Udayampērūṟ Sūnahadōs), held at Udayamperoor (known as Diamper in non-vernacular sources) in June 1599, was a diocesan synod, or cou ...
in 1599.


History

The Apostolic Church of
St. Thomas Christians The Saint Thomas Christians, also called Syrian Christians of India, ''Marthoma Suriyani Nasrani'', ''Malankara Nasrani'', or ''Nasrani Mappila'', are an Ethnoreligious group, ethno-religious community of Indian Christians in the state of Ker ...
traditionally traces its origin to St. Thomas, the Apostle, who is held to have arrived on the Kerala Coast in A.D. 52. In the course of history this Church entered into good relationship with the
East Syriac The East Syriac Rite or East Syrian Rite, also called the Edessan Rite, Assyrian Rite, Persian Rite, Chaldean Rite, Nestorian Rite, Babylonian Rite or Syro-Oriental Rite, is an Eastern Christian liturgical rite that employs the Divine Liturgy ...
Church. The presbiteral office of the
Archdeacon An archdeacon is a senior clergy position in the Church of the East, Chaldean Catholic Church, Syriac Orthodox Church, Anglican Communion, St Thomas Christians, Eastern Orthodox churches and some other Christian denominations, above that o ...
of all India did the temporal administration. The Portuguese missionaries who arrived in the 15th century could not decipher the liturgical traditions and the mode of governance of this Church. They Latinized the ancient liturgical texts and forced existing
East Syriac The East Syriac Rite or East Syrian Rite, also called the Edessan Rite, Assyrian Rite, Persian Rite, Chaldean Rite, Nestorian Rite, Babylonian Rite or Syro-Oriental Rite, is an Eastern Christian liturgical rite that employs the Divine Liturgy ...
Christians or Nasranis to convert to the Roman Catholic Church under the Padroado Archbishop of Goa. When the domination of the Portuguese missionaries became unbearable, a section of this community broke away from western supremacy in 1653 and accepted allegiance to Antiochian West Syriac Rite and Miaphysite belief. But a good number returned to the East Syriac Catholic fold through unification efforts. Those who did not return constitute the present Malankara Churches. The others maintained and regained loyalty to the Apostolic See of Rome. This relationship started only in 1553 as a half Catholic-half Nestorian position due to a split in the Babylonian Church of the East and strengthened in 1599 through the Udayamperur sunnahadose (Synod of Diamper). The first two Vicariates of the Syro-Malabar Church are Trichur and Kottayam. The Archdiocese of Changanacherry is part of the Kottayam Vicariate and the second Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Syro-Malabar Church, after the establishment of the Syro-Malabar hierarchy which was the prelude to the restoration of the identity of the Church in 1992 as a Sui Iuris Church. Pope Leo XIII of happy memory by his Bull ‘Quod Iam Pridem’ dated 20 May 1887 established two Vicariates Apostolic - Kottayam and Thrissur; exclusively for the Syro-Malabarians. Dr. Charles Lavigne for Kottayam and Dr. Adolph Medlycott for Trichur respectively were appointed the Vicars Apostolic. The same Pope reorganised the existing Vicariates by the Bull ‘Quae Rei Sacrae’ dated 28 July 1896 establishing a new Vicariate, Ernakulam, with territories carved out from the two existing Vicariates (1) Pallippuram, Alappuzha, 2) Edappally and 3) Arakuzha divisions from Kottayam Vicariate). Indigenous bishops were appointed Vicars Apostolic in the new Sees. They included
Mar Mathew Makil Mathew Makil (27 March 1851 – 26 January 1914) was the second Vicar Apostolic and the first indigenous Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Kottayam (Changanacherry), which is the Syro Malabar Archeparchy of Changanacherry today. Mathew Mak ...
for Changanacherry, Mar Louis Pazheparambil (from Changanacherry Vicariate) for Ernakulam and Mar John Menacherry (from Ernakulam Vicariate) for Thrissur. A new Vicariate of Kottayam was constituted in 1911 exclusively for the Southists and
Mar Mathew Makil Mathew Makil (27 March 1851 – 26 January 1914) was the second Vicar Apostolic and the first indigenous Vicar Apostolic of the Vicariate of Kottayam (Changanacherry), which is the Syro Malabar Archeparchy of Changanacherry today. Mathew Mak ...
was transferred to Kottayam as the Vicar Apostolic of Southists and Mar Thomas Kurialacherry was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry. With the establishment of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy on 21 December 1923 by the Bull ‘Romani Pontifices’ of
Pope Pius XI Pope Pius XI ( it, Pio XI), born Ambrogio Damiano Achille Ratti (; 31 May 1857 – 10 February 1939), was head of the Catholic Church from 6 February 1922 to his death in February 1939. He was the first sovereign of Vatican City fro ...
, the
Diocese of Thrissur In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associ ...
, Changanacherry and Kottayam became suffragans of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam thereby constituting the first Modern Syro-Malabar Province. On 25 July 1950 the Diocese of Changanacherry was bifurcated by the Bull ‘Quo Ecclesiarum’ of
Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
and the new
Diocese of Palai The Eparchy of Palai is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Syro-Malabar Catholic ecclesiastical territory or eparchy of the Catholic Church with an area of 1166 km2 comprising the Meenachil taluk and a few villages of the neighbouring taluks ...
was created.
The Holy See The Holy See ( lat, Sancta Sedes, ; it, Santa Sede ), also called the See of Rome, Petrine See or Apostolic See, is the jurisdiction of the Pope in his role as the bishop of Rome. It includes the apostolic see, apostolic episcopal see of the ...
being impressed by the wonderful progress achieved by the Syro-Malabarians, extended the hitherto held boundaries of Changanacherry to the areas south of river Pamba, up to (including) Kanyakumari, by the Bull ‘Multorum Fidelium’ of
Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
, dated 29 April 1955. Changanacherry was raised to the status of an
archdiocese In church governance, a diocese or bishopric is the ecclesiastical district under the jurisdiction of a bishop. History In the later organization of the Roman Empire, the increasingly subdivided provinces were administratively associate ...
on 26 July 1956 by
Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
constituting the second province in the Syro-Malabar Church and Kottayam and Pala became its suffragans. The Apostolic Constitution ‘Regnum Caelorum’ of 26 November 1959 of Pope John XXIII gave effect to this decision of
Pope Pius XII Pope Pius XII ( it, Pio XII), born Eugenio Maria Giuseppe Giovanni Pacelli (; 2 March 18769 October 1958), was head of the Catholic Church and sovereign of the Vatican City State from 2 March 1939 until his death in October 1958. Before his e ...
. In 1975 the missionary work of three (now five) civil districts of the
Archdiocese of Agra The Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra ( la, Agraën(sis)) is a Latin Metropolitan archdiocese in northern India's Uttar Pradesh state. It comproses the following districts in Uttar Pradesh: Agra, Aligarh, Auraiya, Budaun, Bulandshahr, Etah, E ...
in the State of Uttar Pradesh was taken up completely by the Archeparchy of Changanacherry. The Archdiocese was again divided on 26 February 1977 by the Bull ‘Nos Beati Petri’ of Pope Paul VI and the new Eparchy of Kanjirappilly was set up comprising parts of the Civil districts of Kottayam and Idukki. The Archeparchy was divided a fourth time when its Kanyakumari Mission was elevated to the status of a new diocese by the Bull Apud Indorum Gentes of John Paul II, dated 18 December 1996. The formal inauguration of the new eparchy of Thuckalay and the Episcopal consecration of Mar George Alencherry as its first Bishop took place on 2 February 1997. The Archeparchy of Changanacherry now comprises the civil districts of Thiruvananthapuram,
Kollam Kollam (), also known by its former name Quilon , is an ancient seaport and city on the Malabar Coast of India bordering the Laccadive Sea, which is a part of the Arabian Sea. It is north of the state capital Thiruvananthapuram. The city i ...
,
Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...
,
Alappuzha Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
and Kottayam in Kerala and Palai, Kanjirapally and Thuckalay as its suffragans. Archbishop
Mar Joseph Powathil Joseph Powathil (born 14 August 1929) is an Indian prelate of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. He is the Archbishop Emeritus of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery. Early life Powathil was born in the hamlet of Kurumbanado ...
assumed the office of the Archbishop of Changanacherry on 17 January 1986 and resigned in 2007. Mar Joseph Perumthottam was appointed on 20 January 2007 as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry and was installed on 19 March 2007.


Eparchs and archeparchs


Suffragan eparchies

*
Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai The Eparchy of Palai is a Syro-Malabar Catholic ecclesiastical territory or eparchy of the Catholic Church with an area of 1166 km2 comprising the Meenachil taluk and a few villages of the neighbouring taluks in Kottayam, Ernakulam, and ...
*
Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally The Syro Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally-Nilackal is a Syro-Malabar Catholic eparchy with an area of 1980 km2 comprising the Kanjirappally taluk in Kottayam district and a few villages of the neighbouring taluks in Kottayam distri ...
* Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay


Institutions and personnel

The total number of parishes is nearly 300. In addition,. The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Changanacherry Archdiocese is nearly about 400000. There are 18 foranes under Changanacherry Archdiocese. They are:


Parishes and population

Foranes under Archdiocese of Changanacherry include,
Alappuzha Alappuzha or Alleppey () is the administrative headquarters of Alappuzha district in States and territories of India, state of Kerala, India. The Kerala Backwaters, Backwaters of Alappuzha are one of the most popular tourist attractions in Indi ...
, Kollam-Ayur, Manimala, Kottayam, Thiruvananthapuram, Kurumpanadom, Edathua,
Amboori Amboori is a panchayath in Kattakkada Taluk of Thiruvananthapuram district in the state of Kerala in India. It is situated 38 km south-east of capital city Trivandrum.Census Village code = 00134400 The Amboori village has a population of ...
,
Nedumkunnam Nedumkunnam is a village in Kerala, India, located about 16 km East of Changanacherry on Changanacherry-Manimala Road, in Kottayam district. It is 3 km East of Karukachal towards Manimala/Cheruvally. Geography Literally, it is the ' ...
, Athirampuzha, Kudamaloor,
Pulincunnu Pulincunnoo or Pulinkunnoo (Churuli) is an island village in the Kuttanadu region of Alappuzha district in the Indian state of Kerala. The Pampa river in Pulincunnoo is one of the most favored routes of the houseboats tourism operators in Kut ...
, Champakulam, Changanacherry, Thrickodithanam, Thuruthy, Muhamma,
Chengannur Chengannur (also spelled Chengannoor or Chenganur) is a Municipality in the Alappuzha district of Kerala State, India. It is located in the extreme eastern part of the Alappuzha district, on the banks of Pamba River. Chengannur is north of ...
.


Important events

* 19 February 1892: Foundation Stone laid for the new Bishop's House at Vedikkunnu. * 21 March 1891: Bishop Lavigne shifts his residence to Changanacherry (Mount Carmel CMC Convent). * 3 February 1891: St. Berchmans, the first highschool of the Syrians founded on the precincts of St. Mary's Cathedral Changanacherry. * 1 October 1890: Letter of Permission to shift the headquarters of Kottayam, Vicariate to Changanacherry * 18 December 1888: Bishop Charles Lavigne convenes Changanacherry Synod. * 14 December 1888: Bishop Lavigne established St. Germane's, the first Orphanage and FCC. * 10 May 1888: Bishop Charles assumes charge * 13 September 1887: Bishop Charles Lavigne, Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam. * 20 May 1887: Establishment of Vicariates of Kottayam and Trissur. * 15 April 1887: Nazarani Deepika launched. * 16 January 1887: Reconstruction of the present Metropolitan Church. * 28 July 1896: Vicariate of Ernakulam created, with territories from both Vicariates. * 21 December 1923: Establishment of Syro Malabar Hierarchy with Ernakulam as the Metropolitan See * 29 July 1956: The diocese of Changanassery made Metropolitan See * 3 July 1962: Establishment of St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam. * 3 December 1972: Establishment of archdiocese youth movement, YUVADEEPTI-KCYM * 15 January 2003: Diocese of Idukki established. *15-August-2019 :Honorary Doctorate for Archbishop Emirates Mar Joseph Powathil


First vicar general

*1889-1892 Msgr Nidhiry Mani Kathanar


Saints and causes for canonisation

* St Alphonsa *St. Kuriakose Elias Chavara * Ven. Thomas Kurialacherry * Servant of God Thommachan Puthenparampil * Servant of God Mar Mathew Kavukattu * Philomena Vallayil (Mary Francesca de Chantal) *
Benedict Onamkulam Benedict Onamkulam (1929–2001) was an Indian priest who was convicted of the murder, rape and impregnation of a woman in 1960 and sentenced to death. He was acquitted in 1967 due to a lack of evidence. See also * Madatharuvi case References ...


References


External links


Website of the ArchdioceseArchdiocese of Changanassery: Information & PhotographsCatholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI)
{{DEFAULTSORT:Changanacherry Changanassery Religious organizations established in 1896 Syro-Malabar Catholic dioceses Eastern Catholic dioceses in India Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century Dioceses in Kerala Churches in Kottayam district