Ola22W86488 at 03:14, 21 April 2026

2026-04-21T03:14:38Z

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{{Short description|Eastern Catholic archeparchy in Kerala, India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2019}}{{Use Indian English|date=January 2019}}
{{Infobox diocese
| jurisdiction = Archeparchy
| name = Changanacherry
| latin = Changanacherrensis
| local = {{nobold|{{ubl
| {{big|{{lang|syr|ܐܪܟܝܕܝܘܩܝܐ ܕܫܢܓܢܫܪܝ}}}}
| {{lang|ml|ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി അതിരൂപത}}
}}}}
| border = Catholic
| image = Cathedral Changancherry.jpg
| image_size =
| image_alt =
| caption = St Mary’s Metropolitan Cathedral Changanacherry
| coat = The Offical Logo of MAR THOMAS THARAYIL.jpg
| coat_size = 150px
| coat_alt =
| coat_caption =
| flag = 
| flag_size =
| flag_alt =

| country = {{flagu|India}}
| territory = Districts of [[Kottayam]], [[Alappuzha]], [[Pathanamthitta]], [[Kollam]], and [[Thiruvananthapuram]] in [[Kerala]], and [[Kanyakumari district|Kanyakumari ]] in [[Tamil Nadu]]
| episcopal conference = Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops
| ecclesiastical region =
| province =
| metropolitan =
| archdeaconries =
| deaneries =
| subdivisions =
| headquarters =
| coordinates = {{coord|9|26|38.49|N|76|32|10.77|E|display=inline, title}}

| area_km2 = 8,450
| area_footnotes = <ref name="ch.dccsm">{{Cite encyclopedia |encyclopedia=[[Catholic-Hierarchy.org]] |url=https://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dccsm.html |title=Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar) |publisher=David M. Cheney |date=29 August 2025 |accessdate=25 March 2026}}</ref>
| population = {{up}} 10,455,520<ref name="ch.dccsm"/>
| population_as_of = 2023
| catholics = {{up}} 402,275<ref name="ch.dccsm"/>
| catholics_percent = {{down}} {{percentage|402,275|10,455,520|1|%=}}
| parishes = {{same}} 248 (2023)<ref name="ch.dccsm"/>
| churches = 
| schools = 
| members = 

| denomination = [[Catholic Church]]
| sui_iuris_church = [[Syro-Malabar Church]]
| rite = [[Syro-Malabaric Rite]]
| established = {{ubil
| '''Vicariate Apostolic''': {{start date and age|28 July 1896|p=y}}
| '''Eparchy''': {{start date and age|21 December 1923|p=y}}
| '''Archeparchy''': {{start date and age|29 July 1956|p=y}}
}}
| dissolved =
| archdiocese = Changanacherry
| diocese =
| cathedral = [[St Mary's Metropolitan Cathedral]] in [[Changanassery]]
| cocathedral =
| patron = [[Saint Joseph]]
| patron_title = 
| priests = 508 (2026)<ref>{{cite web
| url = https://www.syromalabarchurch.in/eparchies/changanacherry-
| title = Syro-Malabar Church Statistics
| author = Syro-Malabar Church
| publisher = Syro-Malabar Church Official Website
| date = 2025-12-01
| access-date = 2026-04-07
}}</ref>
| language =
| calendar =
| music =

| pope = {{Incumbent pope}} 
| major_archbishop = [[Raphael Thattil]]
| bishop = 
| bishop_title = 
| metro_archbishop = [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]]
| coadjutor =
| auxiliary_bishops = 
| apostolic_admin =
| vicar_general =
| episcopal_vicar =
| judicial_vicar =
| dean =
| archdeacons = 
| emeritus_bishops = [[Joseph Perumthottam]]
| website = {{Official URL}}
}}

[[File:Archbishop's House, Changanassery, Kerala.jpg|thumbnail|Headquarters of the Metropolitan Archeparchy of Changanacherry]]
The '''Archeparchy of Changanacherry'''
({{langx|syr|ܐܦܪܟܝܐ ܪܒܬܐ ܕܫܢܓܢܐܣܐܪܐ|translit=Afarkaya Rabbta d-Shanganasara}}; {{langx|ml|ചങ്ങനാശ്ശേരി അതിരൂപത|translit=Changanassery Atirūpata)}} is a [[Syro-Malabar Church]] archeparchy of the [[Catholic Church]] with an area of 24,595 km2 comprising the districts of [[Kottayam]](excluding [[Vaikom]]), [[Alappuzha]](excluding [[Cherthala]]), [[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 [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]] is the current [[Metropolitan Archbishop]], serving from 2024. [[Suffragan diocese|Suffragan eparchies]] of the Changanassery archeparchy includes [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai|Palai]], [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally|Kanjirappally-Nilackal]], and [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay|Thuckalay-Thiruvithancode]] (Tamil Nadu).

The Changanacherry (originally named Kottayam) jurisdiction was one of the first two Syro-Malabar vicariates, along with [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur]], 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]] in 1599.

==History==
The Apostolic Church of [[St. Thomas Christians]] traditionally traces its origin to [[Thomas the Apostle|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 Rite|East Syriac]] Church. The presbiteral office of the [[Archdeacon]] of all India did the temporal administration.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

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 Rite|East Syriac]] 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|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|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 [[Synod of Diamper|Udayamperur sunnahadose (Synod of Diamper)]].{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

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 [[Vicariate Apostolic|Vicariates Apostolic]] - Kottayam and Thrissur; exclusively for the Syro-Malabarians. [[Charles Lavigne|Dr. Charles Lavigne]] for Kottayam and [[Adolph Medlycott|Dr. Adolph Medlycott]] for Trichur respectively were appointed the [[Vicars Apostolic]].{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

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]] for Changanacherry, Mar Louis Pazheparambil (from Changanacherry Vicariate) for Ernakulam and [[Mar John Menacherry]] (from Ernakulam Vicariate) for Thrissur.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

A new Vicariate of Kottayam was constituted in 1911 exclusively for the Southists and [[Mar Mathew Makil]] was transferred to Kottayam as the Vicar Apostolic of Southists and [[Mar Thomas Kurialachery|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]], the [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur|Diocese of Thrissur]], Changanacherry and [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Kottayam|Kottayam]] became suffragans of the [[Archdiocese of Ernakulam]] thereby constituting the first Modern Syro-Malabar Province.{{citation needed|date=January 2019}}

On 25 July 1950 the Diocese of Changanacherry was bifurcated by the Bull ‘Quo Ecclesiarum’ of [[Pope Pius XII]] and the new [[Diocese of Palai]] was created. [[The Holy See]] 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]], dated 29 April 1955. Changanacherry was raised to the status of an [[archdiocese]] on 26 July 1956 by [[Pope Pius XII]] 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]].

In 1975 the missionary work of three (now five) civil districts of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Agra|Archdiocese of Agra]] 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 [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally|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 [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay|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]], [[Pathanamthitta]], [[Alappuzha]] and [[Kottayam]] in [[Kerala]] and [[Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Palai|Palai]], [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally|Kanjirapally]] and [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Thuckalay|Thuckalay]] as its suffragans. Archbishop [[Mar Joseph Powathil]] assumed the office of the Archbishop of Changanacherry on 17 January 1986 and resigned in 2007. [[Joseph Perumthottam|Mar Joseph Perumthottam]] was appointed on 20 January 2007 as the new Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry and was installed on 19 March 2007.<ref>{{cite web|last=Changanacherry|first=Archdiocese|title=History|url=http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/archdiocesechanganacherry-archdiocese.php?id=3|publisher=Archdiocese|access-date=31 January 2012}}</ref>

==Ordinaries==
'''Bishops and Archbishops'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sl.no
! style="background: #efefef;" | Ordinary
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Designation
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Year of appointment
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Last year of service
|-
| 1
| [[Charles Lavigne]]
| align="center" | Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry
| align="center" | 1887
| align="center" | 1896
|-
| 2
| [[Matthew Makil]]
| align="center" | Vicar Apostolic of Changanassery
| align="center" | 1896
| align="center" | 1911
|-
| 3
| [[Thomas Kurialacherry]]
| align="center" | Bishop
| align="center" | 1911
| align="center" | 1925
|-
| 4
| [[James Kalacherry]]
| align="center" | Bishop
| align="center" | 1927
| align="center" | 1949
|-
| 5
| [[Mathew Kavukattu]]
| align="center" | Archbishop
| align="center" | 1950
| align="center" | 1969
|-
| 6
| [[Antony Padiyara]]
| align="center" | Archbishop
| align="center" | 1970
| align="center" | 1985
|-
| 7
| [[Joseph Powathil]]
| align="center" | Archbishop
| align="center" | 1985
| align="center" | 2007
|-
| 8
| [[Joseph Perumthottam]]
| align="center" | Archbishop
| align="center" | 2007
| align="center" | 2024
|-
| 9
| [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]]
| align="center" | Archbishop
| align="center" | 2024
| align="center" | ''present''
|}
'''Auxiliary Bishops'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sl.no
! style="background: #efefef;" | Ordinary
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Designation
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Year of appointment
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Last year of service
|-
| 1
| [[Joseph Powathil]]
| align="center" | Auxiliary bishop
| align="center" | 1972
| align="center" | 1977
|-
| 2
| [[Joseph Perumthottam]]
| align="center" | Auxiliary bishop
| align="center" | 2002
| align="center" | 2007
|-
| 3
| [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Thomas Tharayil]]
| align="center" | Auxiliary bishop
| align="center" | 2017
| align="center" | 2024
|}

'''Prelates Hailing From The Archdiocese'''
{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Sl.no
! style="background: #efefef;" | Ordinary
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Designation
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Year of appointment
! style="background: #ffdead;" | Last year of service
|-
| 1
| [[Aloysius Pazheparambil]]
| align="center" | First Vicar Apostolic of Ernakulam
| align="center" | 1896
| align="center" | 1919
|-
| 2
| [[Antony Cardinal Padiyara]]
| align="center" | The First Major Archbishop
| align="center" | 1985
| align="center" | 1996
|-
| 3
| [[Msgr. Jacob Vadakkeveettil CM]]
| align="center" | Administrator of Balasore
| align="center" | 1968
| align="center" | 1990
|-
| 4
| [[George Anathil SVD]]
| align="center" | Bishop of Indore
| align="center" | 1973
| align="center" | 2009
|-
| 5
| [[Joseph Pathalil]]
| align="center" | Bishop of Udaipur
| align="center" | 1985
| align="center" | 2012
|-
| 6
| [[Hyppolitus Kunnumkal OFM]]
| align="center" | Bishop Emeritus of Jammu - Srinagar
| align="center" | 1986
| align="center" | 1998
|-
| 7
| [[ Simon Stock Palathra CMI]]
| align="center" | Bishop of Jagdalpur
| align="center" | 1993
| align="center" | 2013
|-
| 8
| [[George Alencherry]]
| align="center" | Bishop of Tuckalay
| align="center" | 1997
| align="center" | 2011
|-
| 9
| [[Mathew Cheriankunnel]]
| align="center" | Bishop Emeritus of Kurnool
| align="center" | 1987
| align="center" | 1995
|-
| 10
| [[George Kocherry]]
| align="center" | Apostolic Nuntio
| align="center" | 2000
| align="center" | 2022
|-
| 11
| [[George Cardinal Alencherry]]
| align="center" | Major Archbishop of Syro Malabar Church
| align="center" | 2011
| align="center" | 2023
|-
| 12
| [[Alex Thomas Kaliyaniyil SVD]]
| align="center" | Archbishop of Bulawayo (Zimbabwe)
| align="center" | 2009
| align="center" | ''present''
|-
| 13
| [[James Athikalam MST]]
| align="center" | Bishop of Sagar
| align="center" | 2020
| align="center" | ''present''
|-
| 14
| [[Thomas Padiyath]]
| align="center" | Auxiliary Bishop of Shamshabad
| align="center" | 2022
| align="center" | ''present''
|-
| 15
| [[George Jacob Koovakad]]
| align="center" | Titular Archbishop of Nisibis dei Caldei
| align="center" | 2024
| align="center" | ''present''
|}

==Suffragan eparchies==
*[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palai]]
*[[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Kanjirappally]]
*[[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 4 Lakh+. There are 18 [[dean (Christianity)|foranes]] under [[Changanacherry]] Archdiocese.

==Parishes and population==
There are 18 Foranes under Archeparchy of Changanasserry:

01) [[Alappuzha|Alappuzha Forane]] 
02) [[Amboori|Amboori Forane]] 
03) [[St. Mary's Forane Church, Athirampuzha|Athirampuzha Forane]] 
04) [[Basilica of St. Mary, Champakulam|Champakkulam Forane]] 
05) [[Changanacherry|Changanacherry Forane]] 
06) [[Chengannur|Chengannur Forane]] 
07) [[Edathua|Edathua Forane]] 
08) [[Kollam|Kollam-Ayur Forane]] 
09) [[Kottayam|Kottayam Forane]] 
10) Kudamaloor Forane 
11) Kurumpanadom Forane 
12) [[Manimala|Manimala Forane]] 
13) [[Muhamma|Muhamma Forane]] 
14) [[Nedumkunnam|Nedumkunnam Forane]] 
15) [[Pulincunnu|Pulincunnu Forane]] 
16) [[Thiruvananthapuram|Thiruvananthapuram Forane]] 
17) Thrickodithanam Forane 
18) Thuruthy Forane .

{| class="wikitable"
|-
! Institutions !! Number
|-
| Foranes || 18
|-
| Parishes || 300
|-
| Filial churches || 35
|-
| Shrines/Chapels || 18
|-
| Colleges/Institutes || 29
|-
| Higher Secondary Schools || 29
|-
| Hostels || 16
|}

== Important events ==
* 16 January 1887: Reconstruction of the present Metropolitan Church.
* 15 April 1887: Nazarani Deepika launched.
* 20 May 1887: Establishment of Vicariates of Kottayam and Thrissur .
* 13 September 1887: Bishop Charles Lavigne, Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam.
* 10 May 1888: Bishop Charles assumes charge.
* 14 December 1888: Bishop Lavigne established St. Germane's, the first Orphanage and FCC.
* 18 December 1888: Bishop Charles Lavigne convenes Changanacherry Synod.
* 1 October 1890: Letter of Permission to shift the headquarters of Kottayam, Vicariate to Changanacherry.
* 3 February 1891: [[St. Berchmans Higher Secondary School|St. Berchmans English High School]], the first high school of the Syrians founded on the precincts of St. Mary's Cathedral Changanacherry.
* 21 March 1891: Bishop Lavigne shifts his residence to Changanacherry (Mount Carmel CMC Convent).
* 19 February 1892: Foundation Stone laid for the new Bishop's House at Vedikkunnu.
* 28 July 1896: Vicariate of Ernakulam created, with territories from both Vicariates.
* 19 June 1922: [[Thomas Kurialacherry|Venerable Mar Thomas Kurialacherry]] started its first institution of higher education, [[St. Berchmans College|St Berchmans College (SB College)]], on the premises of Parel St Mary's Church.
* 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: [[Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki|Diocese of Idukki]] established.<ref>{{cite web|last=Changanacherry|first=Archdiocese|title=Archdiocese|url=http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/archdiocesechanganacherry-church.php?id=1|work=Chronicles|publisher=Archdiocese|access-date=31 January 2012}}</ref>
*15-August-2019 :Honorary Doctorate for [[Archbishop Emeritus]] [[Joseph Powathil|Mar Joseph Powathil]]
*30 August 2024: [[Thomas Tharayil (archbishop of Changanassery)|Mar Thomas Tharayil]] has been elected as the Youngest Archbishop of Changanacherry.

==First vicar general==

*1889-1892 Msgr [[Nidhiry Mani Kathanar]]

==Saints and causes for canonisation==
* St Alphonsa
*St. [[Kuriakose Elias Chavara]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/saints.php?saintname=Chavara&page=history |title=Saint Kuriakose Elias Chavara |publisher=Syromalabarchurch.in |access-date=2020-02-26}}</ref>
* Ven. [[Thomas Kurialacherry]]<ref name="CCBI">{{cite web|url=http://ccbi.in/saints-blessed/|title=Saints & Blessed – CCBI|access-date=Oct 17, 2019}}</ref>
* Ven. Mar Mathew Kavukattu<ref name="CCBI" />
* Servant of God Thommachan Puthenparampil<ref name="CCBI" />
* Servant of God Mother Mary Francisca De Chanthal (Philomena Vallayil) <ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/1972.htm|title=1972|website=newsaints.faithweb.com|access-date=Oct 17, 2019}}</ref>
* [[Benedict Onamkulam]]<ref>{{cite web|url=http://newsaints.faithweb.com/year/2001.htm|title=2001|website=newsaints.faithweb.com|access-date=Oct 17, 2019}}</ref>

== References ==
{{reflist}}

==External links==
{{Wikisource1913CatholicEnc|Changanacherry}}
* {{Official website}}
* [http://www.syromalabar.com/dioceses/changanassery/ Archdiocese of Changanassery: Information & Photographs]
* [http://www.gcatholic.org/dioceses/diocese/chan0.htm GCatholic.org]
* [http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/diocese/dccsm.html Catholic-hierarchy.org]
* {{usurped|1=[https://web.archive.org/web/20041010180706/http://www.theindiancatholic.com/ Catholic Bishop Conference of India (CBCI)]}}

{{Syro-Malabar Catholic Church Hierarchy}}
{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Archeparchy of Changanacherry}}
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Changanassery| ]]
[[Category:Changanassery]]
[[Category:Christian organizations established in 1896]]
[[Category:Syro-Malabar Catholic dioceses|Changanacherry]]
[[Category:Eastern Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 19th century|Changanacherry]]
[[Category:Eastern Catholic dioceses in India|Changanacherry]]

Archeparchy of Changanacherry - Revision history

Ola22W86488 at 03:14, 21 April 2026