Syro-Malabar Catholic Major Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly

Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly Archidioecesis Ernakulamensis–Angamaliensis
Belfry of St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly.
Location
Metropolitan	Ernakulam, Kerala, India
Statistics
Population - Total	466,990
Information
Denomination	Roman Catholic
Rite	Syro-Malabar Rite
Cathedral	St Mary's Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam
Current leadership
Pope	Benedict XVI
Archbishop	Mar George Alencherry
Auxiliary Bishops	Mar Thomas Chakiath Mar Sebastian Adayantharath
Website
ernakulamarchdiocese.org

Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Ernakulam–Angamaly is a Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Archdiocese in Ernakulam, Kerala, India. It is the See of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. Mar George Alencherry is the present Major Archbishop. The archdiocese has two auxiliary bishops, Mar Thomas Chakiath and Mar Sebastian Adayantharath. The archdiocese has two suffragan dioceses, Kothamangalam and Idukki. Fr. Varghese Palakkappillil (Payapilly) and Mgr. Joseph C. Panjikaran have been declared Servants of God from the archdiocese.

History

In 1896, Pope Leo XIII established the Vicariate of Ernakulam by the Papal Bull Quae Rei Sacrae, which was then the third Vicariate of Syro Malabar Church, in addition to the previous two Apostolic Vicariates, Kottayam and Trichur. Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil was appointed as the first Apostolic Vicar, who assumed charge on 5 November 1896. Mar Pazheparampil governed the Vicariate till he died in 1919, and Mar Augustine Kandathil was appointed the Bishop the same year.

Archbishop Kandathil guided the life and work of the archdiocese and of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy for well over three decades. The Syro-Malabar Hierarchy was established in 1923, and Ernakulam was raised to the Metropolitan status or Archdiocesan status, and Mar Augustine Kandathil was made the first Archbishop. Mar Augustine Kandathil served the Archdiocese till his death in January 1956.

Archbishop Salvatore Pennacchio, the Apostolic Nuncio to India read the message of Pope Benedict XVI during the installation of Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church at St Marys Basilica, Ernakulam and presenting the first elected Major Archbishop, Mar George Alencherry with the papal gift

On 20 July 1956, Mar Joseph Parecattil became the Archbishop of Ernakulam. On 29 July 1956, Ernakulam was bifurcated and the Diocese of Kothamangalam was erected. The dioceses of Thrissur, Thalassery and Kothamangalam became suffragan dioceses of Ernakulam archdiocese. Mar Parecattil became Cardinal on 28 March 1969 and Mar Sebastian Mankuzhikary was appointed as his auxiliary on 15 November 1969. A large number of churches, monasteries, convents, seminaries, schools, colleges, technical institutions, printing presses, hospitals, homes for retired priests, social centres and various associations and institutes dedicated to intellectual and vocational apostolates came into being in this archdiocese during Cardinal Parecattil's tenure of office.

In 1 April 1984, Mar Joseph Parecattil retired from the office, and Mar Sebastian Mankuzhikary was designated as the apostolic administrator of the Archdiocese. In the year 1985, Mar Antony Padiyara was appointed as Archbishop of Ernakulam archdiocese. Mar Antony Padiyara was made Cardinal in 1988 and Mar Jacob Mananthodath became the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese in 1992. On 16 December 1992 the Syro-Malabar Church was declared a Major Archiepiscopal Church Sui Iuris with the title of Ernakulam-Angamaly, by Pope John Paul II. This was a landmark in the history of the Syro Malabar Church and especially in the history of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam. The Archdiocese of Ernakulam was elevated as the See of Syro Malabar Church. Thereby the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church is also the Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly. By this, the name of the Archdiocese was changed from Ernakulam to Ernakulam-Angamaly. Angamaly, an ancient residential See of the Bishop of St Thomas Christians and now a municipal town in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam, also got associated with the title of the Major Archbishop. During this period, the powers of Major Archbishop were vested in the Pontifical Delegate Mar Abraham Kattumana (1992-1995). Major Archbishop Antony Padiyara retired from his office on 18 December 1996.

On 6 January 1997, Mar Varkey Vithayathil C.Ss.R. was nominated titular Bishop of Antinoe and the Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese. Mar Thomas Chakiath was made auxiliary bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly in February 1998. On December 23, 1999, the Vatican appointed archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. Mar Sebastian Adayantharath was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly by Pope John Paul II on January 3, 2002. Mar Bosco Puthur was appointed as Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly on January 15, 2010.

Past and Present Ordinaries

Mar George Alenchery, the first elected Major Arch Bishop of Syro Malabar Church.

Ordinary	Year of appointment	Last year of service
Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil	1896	1919
Mar Augustine Kandathil	1919	1956
Mar Joseph Parecattil	1956	1984
Mar Antony Padiyara	1985	1996
Mar Varkey Vithayathil	1996	2011
Mar George Alencherry	2011

Congregations and Institutions

Varghese Palakkappillil (Payapilly), Servant of God from the archdiocese

Generalates of the four major religious congregations for men of the Syro-Malabar Church, namely the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.), the Vincentian Congregation (V.C.), the Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (C. S. T.), and the Missionary Congregation of the Blessed Sacrament (M.C.B.S.) and the only Syro-Malabar Provincialate of the Order of Friars Minor Capuchins, and the two Syro-Malabar Vice Provincialates of Franciscan Conventuals and of the Redemptorist Fathers and of the Claretians are situated in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam.

There are 11 college centers, 12 parallel colleges, 7 nursing schools and near to two hundred schools under the Archdiocese. The Archdiocese also manages near to 31 hospitals and 170 orphanages. The biggest Pontifical Seminary in the world, the Pontifical Institute of Theology and Philosophy, is in Alwaye, and run by the Kerala Catholic Bishops' Council.

Historical Places

The archdiocese has several places of historical significance to the Syro Malabar Church and the St.Thomas Christian community.

The ancient port of Muziris, the earlier gateway to India for traders from Middle East is in the borders of Ernakulam and Thrissur districts. Diamper (Udayamperoor), where the famous Synod convoked by Dom Menezes, Archbishop of Goa (1599) took place is in Ernakulam Archdiocese. According to tradition, a session of the Synod of Diamper was conducted in Edapally. Chendamangalam known for the ancient Vaippincotta Seminary of the Jesuits, Puthenpally where the Spanish Carmelites conducted a seminary for the Syro-Malabar clergy are within the boundaries of Ernakulam Archdiocese.

Many places which are believed to be associated with the coming of St. Thomas are in this diocese. Kottekkavu (N. Parur) and Kokkamangalam (Cherthala) are two places where St Thomas established churches in the first century. It's believed that St.Thomas used to frequently come for meditation and prayers in the hills of Malayattoor.

Notable churches

Interior of Malayattoor church

Kottakavu Church

When St. Thomas reached Kerala in AD 52, he brought Christianity to India. The Kottakavu Church is said to be one of the seven churches founded by him. In the 19th century, due to the lack of space in the old church for conducting Holy Mass and community functions, the new church was built.

St.George Forane Church, Angamaly

It is recorded that the first church of Angamally, dedicated to St. George (AD 450), was the St.George Forane Church, Angamaly. In this church there was a chapel, which was dedicated to St. George, where both the Catholics and the Jacobites conducted their services in a cordial manner.

St.George Forane Church, Edappally

St George Forane Church, popularly known as Edappally church, is situated in Edappally, which is about 10 km from Cochin. This Roman Catholic Church is one of the oldest churches in Kerala built in 594 AD. The deity of this church is said to have the power of getting rid of snakes. Every year, a grand nine-day festival is celebrated here in the month of April - May. The church is also quite popular amongst the non-Christians, who also come here for veneration.

See also

• List of Major Archbishops of Ernakulam-Angamaly

Further reading

• Official web page
• List of Colleges managed by the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
• List of Higher Secondary Schools managed by the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
• List of High Schools managed by the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
• List of Hospitals managed by the Archdiocese of Ernakulam-Angamaly
• Archdiocese of Ernakulam
• St.George Forane Church, Angamaly