Vikibnf at 17:43, 26 March 2026

2026-03-26T17:43:53Z

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{{Short description|Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India}}
{{Multiple issues|
{{primary sources|date=August 2018}}
{{One source|date=February 2021}}
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox diocese
|jurisdiction =
|name = Diocese of Kollam
|image = Malankara Emblem.png
|imagewidth =
|alt =
|caption = '''Catholicate Emblem'''
|country = [[India]]
|headquarters = Bishop's House, Cross Jn., Kollam - 691 001
|coordinates =
|denomination =
|border = Orthodox
|territory = [[Kollam]]
|metropolitan = H. G. Dr. [[Joseph Mar Dionysius]]
|established = 1876, by [[Ignatius Peter IV]]
|website = [https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam/ Kollam Diocese]
|first_incumbent = [[Dionysious V]]
|diocese = Kollam Diocese
|rite = [[Malankara Rite]]
|bishop =
|parent_church = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
}}

The '''Kollam Orthodox Diocese''', one of the 32 dioceses of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]], was created after the Mulanthuruthy Synod in 1876. H.G. Dr. [[Joseph Mar Dionysius]] is the Metropolitan of the diocese, whose head office is in Bishop's House, Cross Junction, [[Kadappakada]], [[Kollam]], [[Kerala]], [[Christianity in India|India]].

==History==
[[File:Pallimeda Kundara.jpg|thumb|Old Building(Pallimeda) of St.Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Kundara]]
[[Kollam]] is an ancient commercial center and seaport. According to tradition, [[Thomas the Apostle]] arrived in the city and founded a church which is now underwater. Kollam is one of the seven dioceses created after the Mulanthuruthi Syrian Christian Association ([[synod]]) of 1876, led by Patriarch of Antioch [[Ignatius Peter IV]]; the other dioceses are Kottayam, Kandanadu, Angamali, Niranam, Thumpamon, and Kochi. Originally, there were over 30 churches in the diocese.<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=Malankara Orthodox Church Encyclopedia (Malayalam)|publisher=[[Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam]]|pages=268–269|edition=1993}}</ref> [[Dionysious V]] was its first [[metropolitan bishop]]. He was succeeded by [[Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala]], who also led the Niranam diocese.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> Vattasserril Geevarghese, [[Geevarghese II]] (when the diocese's head office was in the [[Kundara]] seminary), Alexios Mar Thevodosios of Bethany (who became metropolitan in 1938),<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> [[Mathews I]], and [[Mathews II]] followed.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

Mathews I moved the diocese's head office from Kottappuram Seminary in [[Kottarakkara]] to Cross Junction, near [[Kadappakada]], where the bishop's house (''aramana'') and St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral were built.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> Mathews II was appointed assistant metropolitan in 1985, and became metropolitan in 1991; the following year, there were 130 parishes and 13 churches.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> After his death, [[Didymos I]] became the diocese's eighth metropolitan. The [[Thiruvananthapuram Orthodox Diocese]] was created from the Kollam diocese in 1979, and the [[Adoor Kadampanad Orthodox Diocese|Adoor Kadampanad]] and [[Kottarakkara Punalur Orthodox Diocese]]s were created from the Thiruvananthapuram diocese in 2010.

==Diocesan Metropolitans==

{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" | Kollam Orthodox Diocesan Metropolitan
|-
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 15%;" | From
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 15%;" | Until
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 35%;" | Metropolitan
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 35%;" | Notes

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1876
| style="text-align: center;" | Unknown
| Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II also known as [[Dionysious V]]
| 1st Metropolitan of the diocese (Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan)<ref name="Dionysious V">{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Dionysious V |publisher=malankaraorthodoxchurch.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | Unknown
| style="text-align: center;" |1902
|Chathuruthiyil [[Gregorios of Parumala|Geevarghese Mar Gregorios]]
| 2nd Metropolitan of the diocese<ref>{{cite web|url= http://www.syriacchristianity.info/StGG/as_metropolitan.htm|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20170515191445/http://www.syriacchristianity.info/StGG/as_metropolitan.htm|url-status= usurped|archive-date= 15 May 2017|title= Geevarghese Mar Gregorious |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1902
| style="text-align: center;" |1909
|Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious II also known as [[Dionysious V]]
| Ruled Again as the Malankara Metropolitan<ref name="Dionysious V"/>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1909
| style="text-align: center;" | 1912
| [[Saint Dionysius of Vattasseril|Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril]]
| 3rd Metropolitan of the diocese <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril |publisher=malankaraorthodoxchurch.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1912
| style="text-align: center;" | 1934
| Kallasseril Geevarghese Mar Gregorious and as [[Baselios Geevarghese II]]
| 4th Metropolitan of the diocese <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Geevarghese Mar Gregorious |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref> as mar Gregorios (1912-1929) as Catholicos (1929-1934)

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1934
| style="text-align: center;" |1941
|[[Baselios Geevarghese II]] Catholicos
|Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1941
| style="text-align: center;" | 1965
| Mattackal Alexios Mar Theodosios
| 5th Metropolitan of the diocese <ref>{{cite web|url= http://dioceseofniranam.org/945/1047/metropolitans-from-the-diocese/late-metropolitans/alexios-mar-theodosius|title= Alexious Mar Thevedosius |publisher=malankaraorthodoxchurch.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1966
| style="text-align: center;" | 1991
| Mathews Mar Coorilos <br />(Later [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews II]])
| 6th Metropolitan of the diocese <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1991
| style="text-align: center;" | 2009
| [[Mathews Mar Epiphanios]]
| 7th Metropolitan of the diocese <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Mathews Mar Epiphanios |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
|style="text-align: center;" |2009
|style="text-align: center;" |14-Oct-2022
|Zachariah Mar Anthonios
|8th Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
|style="text-align: center;" |03-Nov-2022
|style="text-align: center;" |Present
|[[Joseph Mar Dionysius]]
|9th Metropolitan of the diocese
|}
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" | Assistant Metropolitan
|-
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 15%;" | From
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 15%;" | Until
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 35%;" | Metropolitan
! style="background-color: #D4B1BB; width: 35%;" | Notes

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" |1938
| style="text-align: center;" |1941
| Alexios Mar Theodosios
|Assistant Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1953
| style="text-align: center;" | 1966
| [[Mathews Mar Coorilos]]
| Assistant Metropolitan <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Mathews Mar Coorilos |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref>

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
|style="text-align: center;" | 1985
|style="text-align: center;" | 1991
|Mathews Mar Epiphanios
|Assistant metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1991
| style="text-align: center;" | 2009
| [[Zachariah Mar Anthonios]]
| Assistant Metropolitan <ref>{{cite web|url= https://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kollam|title= Zachariah Mar Anthonios |publisher=mosc.in}}</ref>
|}

==Major churches==
{{Unreferenced section|date=March 2021}}
[[File:Mar Sabor and Mar Proth East Syriac Persian Saints of the Malabar Church.jpg|thumb|alt=Two bearded holy men, holding staffs|[[Mar Sabor and Mar Proth]]. According to [[Saint Thomas Christians|tradition]], they arrived in Kollam in 823.]]
[[File:Orthodox Bishop House, Kollam.jpg|thumb|St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral, Kollam (Bishop House)]]
The diocese has 64 parishes. The Kadeesha Syrian Church in Port Kollam, the tomb of Mar Abo in [[Thevalakkara]], [[St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallada|St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in West Kallada]], and St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church in [[Kundara]] are its oldest religious buildings. Kundara Seminary, the Nedumpaikulam St. George Orthodox Syrian Church, and the Nallila Bethel St. George Orthodox Syrian Church are other churches.

=={{anchor|Parish List}}Parishes==
[[File:Raja Ravi Varma, Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala (1905).jpg|thumb|upright=0.9|Chathuruthiyil Geevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|alt=Painting of a bishop]]
[[File:Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II.jpg|thumb|Mathews II|alt=Outdoor photo of a smiling Mathews II]]
{{div col}}
* Ananthamon Sehion St. George Orthodox Church
* Ambalanirap St. George Orthodox Church
* Chowallor St. George Orthodox Church
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, [[Chittumala]]
* Edavattom St. George Orthodox Church
* Edakulangara Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Erathukulakkada Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Kadamanthadom Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Karimthottuva St. Mary's Orthodox Church
* [[St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallada]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Kizhakkekallada|East Kallada]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Kareepra]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Puthoor]]
* Kunathoor St. George Orthodox Church
* Kulakkada St.George Orthodox Church
* Kadeeshtha Orthodox Church, [[Kundara]]
* St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kundara
* St. George Orthodox Church, Kaithacode
* St. Elijah Orthodox Church, [[Koduvila]]
* Kollam Kadeesha Orthodox Church
* St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kollam
* Mar Semavoon Desthuni Orthodox Church, Manjakala
* St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, [[Manappally]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, Maruthoorbhagam
* Mar Thevodoros Orthodox Church, Madhavasseri
* St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Maranadu
* Mar Barsauma Orthodox Church, Maranadu
* St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, [[Mukhathala]]
* St.George Orthodox Church, Mukhathala
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Muthupilakkadu
* St. George Orthodox Church, Muthupilakkadu
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Mynagapally
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Nallila]]
* St. Gabriel Orthodox Church, Nallila
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Nadutheri]]
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Nedumbaikulam
* St. George Orthodox Church, Nedumbaikulam
* St. Thomas Orthodox Church, [[Pattazhy]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
* Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
* St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Pandithitta
* St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Perinadu
* Mar Kuriakose Orthodox Church, [[Perayam, Kollam|Perayam]]
* St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, [[Perumpuzha]]
* St. George Orthodox Church, [[Puthoor]]
* Mar Baselios Gregorios Orthodox Church, [[Poruvazhy]]
* St. Thomas Orthodox Church, [[Sooranad]]
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Sooranad
* St. Thomas Orthodox Valiyapally, [[Thazhava]]
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, [[Thalavoor]]
* Marthamariam Orthodox Church, Thamarakkudy
* Marthamariam Orthodox Church, Thevalakara
* St. George Orthodox Church, Thevalappuram
* St. George Orthodox Church, Kundara Kuzhimathikadu
* St. Mary's Orthodox Church, [[Perinad]]
* St. Thomas Orthodox puthenpally, [[Thrippilazhikom]]
* St. Thomas Orthodox sehion church, [[Thrippilazhikom]]
{{div col end}}

==Gallery==
<gallery>
File:Kundara Valiyapally.jpg|St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Kundara
File:Holy Altar of Kundara ValiyaPally.jpg|Holy Altar of St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, [[Kundara]].
</gallery>

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/ Malankara Orthodox Church website]
* [https://www.facebook.com/MOSCKollamDiocese/ Diocese of Kollam]

{{Dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church}}

{{coord missing|Kerala}}

[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church dioceses]]
[[Category:Dioceses in Kerala]]
[[Category:1876 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Dioceses established in the 19th century]]
[[Category:Oriental Orthodox dioceses in India]]

Kollam Orthodox Diocese - Revision history

Vikibnf at 17:43, 26 March 2026