Ankushraj at 16:20, 17 March 2026

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{{Short description|Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in India}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=September 2019}}
{{Use Indian English|date=September 2019}}
{{Infobox diocese
|jurisdiction =
|name = Diocese of Kottayam
|image = Malankara Emblem.png
|imagewidth =
|alt =
|caption = '''Catholicate Emblem'''
|country = [[India]]
|headquarters = Mar Kuriakose Dayara, Pothenpuram PO, Pampady, Kottayam Dist., Kerala, India - 686 502
|coordinates =
|denomination =
|border = Orthodox
|territory = [[Kottayam]]
|metropolitan = H. G. [[Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros]]
|established = 1876, by [[Ignatius Peter IV]]
|website = [https://www.mosckottayam.com/ Kottayam Diocese]
|first_incumbent = Kadavil [[Athanasius Paulose Kadavil|Paulose Mar Athanasios]]
|diocese = Kottayam Diocese
|rite = [[Malankara Rite]]
|bishop =
|parent_church = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
}}

'''Kottayam Diocese''' is one of the 32 dioceses of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]. The diocese was created in Mulanthuruthy Synod in 1876.<ref name="mosc.in">{{cite web|title=Diocese of Kottayam|url=http://mosc.in/dioceses/diocese-of-kottayam|website=mosc.in|publisher=[[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]}}</ref>

==History==

Kottayam is one of the seven dioceses created after the Mulanthuruthi Christian association (synod) conducted under the leadership of [[Ignatius Peter IV]], [[Patriarch of Antioch]] in 1876. Others are Kollam, Kandanadu, Angamali, Niranam, Thumpamon, Kochi.<ref name="Encyclopedia">{{cite book|title=Malankara Orthodox Church Encyclopedia (Malayalam)|publisher=[[Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam]]|pages=270–271|edition=1993}}</ref>
In initial time there were 20 churches in the diocese. Kadavil Paulose Mar Athanasios was the first Metropolitan. After this, Paulose Mar Evanios, later [[Baselios Paulose I]] become Metropolitan. Then, Geevarghese Mar Pilaxinos, later [[Baselios Geevarghese I]], [[Vattaserill Mar Dionysius]] led the diocese. Kuriakos Mar Gregorios (Pampadi Thirumeni) led the diocese in the period of 1929–1965. In this time Pampady Daira become head office. Paret Mathews Mar Ivanios was appointed as Assistant Metropolitan in 1954 and as Metropolitan from 1965 to 1980.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/> Joseph Mar Pacomios, Yuhanon Mar Athanasios led the diocese as assistant Metropolitans.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>
In 1982 Kottayam diocese was divided into Kottayam, [[Kottayam Central Orthodox Diocese|Kottayam Central]] and [[Idukki Orthodox Diocese|Idukki]] dioceses. In 1985 August, Geevarghese Mar Evanios become Metropolitan. In 1987, head office shifted to Kuriakos Mar Gregorios Centre. In 1992, there were 6 chapels, 70 parishes and one cathedral in the diocese.<ref name="Encyclopedia"/>

==Now==

Now, H.H Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros serving as the metropolitan bishop of Kottayam diocese. The head office of Kottayam diocese is situated in Kuriakose Mar Gregorios Centre, MD Seminary, Kottayam. There are numerous institutes work under this diocese.{{citation needed|date=March 2018}} Pampadi Kuriakose Dayara, MGM Abhaya Bhavan, MGM Bala Bhavan, Mar Ivanios ITC, BMM English Medium school etc. are some of them. Some colleges of Malankara Church is in the boundary of this diocese.<ref name="mosc.in"/>

==Diocesan Metropolitans ==
{| class="wikitable" style="width: 100%;"
|-
! colspan="4" style="background-color: #7F1734; color: white;" | Kottayam 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;" | 03-Dec-1876
| style="text-align: center;" | 02-Nov-1907
| Kadavil [[Athanasius Paulose Kadavil|Paulose Mar Athanasios]]
| 1st Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | Unknown
| style="text-align: center;" | 02-May-1913
| Paulose Mar Ivanios<br />(Later [[Baselios Paulose I]])
| 2nd Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1913
| style="text-align: center;" | 17-Dec-1928
| Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos<br />(Later [[Baselios Geevarghese I]])
| 3rd Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 17-Dec-1928
| style="text-align: center;" | 1929
| [[Dionysius Vattasseril|Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril]] (Dionysius VI)
| 4th Metropolitan of the diocese, Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 16-Feb-1929
| style="text-align: center;" | 05-Apr-1965
| Kuriakose Mar Gregorios
| 5th Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1965
| style="text-align: center;" | 31-Aug-1980
| Paret Mathews Mar Ivanios
| 6th Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 31-Aug-1980
| style="text-align: center;" | Aug-1985
| [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews I]] Catholicos
| 7th Metropolitan of the diocese, Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | Aug-1985
| style="text-align: center;" | 12-Apr-2013
| Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
| 8th Metropolitan of the diocese

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 12-Apr-2013
| style="text-align: center;" | 12-Jul-2021
| [[Baselios Marthoma Paulose II]] Catholicos
| 9th Metropolitan of the diocese, Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 15-Oct-2021
| style="text-align: center;" | 03-Nov-2022
| [[Baselios Marthoma Mathews III]] Catholicos
| 10th Metropolitan of the diocese, Ruled as Malankara Metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 03-Nov-2022
| style="text-align: center;" | Incumbent
| [[Yuhanon Mar Diascoros]]<ref>{{cite news|title=Kalpana No. 344/2022 Appointments of Bishops|url=https://mosc.in/uploads/2022/01/Kalpana-344-2022-1.pdf|access-date=2 November 2024 |work=mosc.in|language=en-IN}}</ref>
| 11th 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;" | 1954
| style="text-align: center;" | 1965
| Paret Mathews Mar Ivanios
| Assistant metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1975
| style="text-align: center;" | Unknown
| Joseph Mar Pacomios
| Assistant metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: white;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 1978
| style="text-align: center;" | 12-Oct-1980
| [[St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Kottayam| Yuhanon Mar Athanasios OIC]][https://varikkattukudumbam.com/branches/]
| Assistant metropolitan

|- valign="top" style="background-color: #F7F0F2;"
| style="text-align: center;" | 2013
| style="text-align: center;" | 03-Nov-2022
| Yuhanon Mar Diascoros
| Assistant metropolitan
|}

==Parishes==
{{div col}}
* Amayannoor Kazhunnuvalam Methranchery St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Amayannoor Karattukunnel St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Areeparambu St.George Orthodox Church
* Anicadu Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Changnasherry St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Chingavanam St.Johns mission Orthodox Church
* Chenamkary St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Cheeranchira St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Ettumanoor St.George Orthodox Church
* Kangazha St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Kangazha Chettedom St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Kannukuzhy St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Kallunkathra Manalel St.George Orthodox Church
* Kanam St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Kanam St.George Orthodox Church
* Kurichy St.Marys and St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Kurichy St.peters and St.pauls Orthodox Church
* Kanam Vetuvelil St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Kumarakom St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Kuppapuram St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Kooroppada St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Koottickal St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Kumaramkode Mar Gregorios
* Kolladu St.Pauls Orthodox Church
* Kothala Sehion Orthodox Church
* Meenadom North St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Meenadom Vadakke St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Meenadom Kizhakke St.George Orthodox Church
* Meenadom St.George Orthodox Church
* Meenadom St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Mundathanam St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Mundakayam St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Moolavattom St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Njaliyakuzhy Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Nalumnakkal Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
* Neelimangalam Mar Gregorios Catholicate center (Neelimangalam St.Marys Orthodox Church)
* Nedumavu St.pauls Orthodox Church
* Olassa St.Johns Orthodox Church
* Pariyaram Mar Aprem Orthodox Church
* Pariyaram St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Pariyaram St.Peters Orthodox Church
* Pallom karamoodu St.Marys Sehion Orthodox Church
* Pallom St.pauls Orthodox Church
* Pampady St.Johns Orthodox Cheriyapali
* Pampady St.Johns Orthodox Cathedral
* Pathamuttom Sleeba Orthodox Church
* Pangada St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Parathode St George Catholicate center (St.George Gracy Memorial Orthodox Church)
* Parampuzha St.George Orthodox Church
* Pachira Thabore St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Pala St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Puthupally St.George Orthodox Valiyapali
* Puthupally Nilackal Orthodox Church
* Pongamthanam St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Ponkunnam St.Marys Orthodox Church
* South Pampady St.Thomas Orthodox Valiyapali
* Thiruvarppu Marthasmuni Orthodox Church
* Thrikkothamangalam St.James Orthodox Church
* Thengana St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Thottakadu St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Vadekanmanoor St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Vakathanam St.Johns Orthodox Valiyapali
* Vakathanam Jerusalem St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Vakathanam St.peters and St.pauls Mission Orthodox Church
* Vakathanam Puthenchantha St.Marys Orthodox Church
* Vakathanam Vettikunel St.George Orthodox Church
* Vakathanam Puthenchantha St.George Orthodox Church
* Vazhoor St.peters Orthodox Church
* Vellukutta St.Thomas Orthodox Church
* Velloor St.Thomas Orthodox Church, [[Pampady]]
* Vettikkunnel St.George Orthodox Church, [[Kottayam]]
{{div col end}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
*[http://malankaraorthodoxchurch.in/ Website of Malankara Orthodox Church]
*[https://www.mosckottayam.com/ Website of Kottayam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]

{{Dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church}}

{{coord missing|India}}

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

Kottayam Orthodox Diocese - Revision history

Ankushraj at 16:20, 17 March 2026