Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
Encyclopedia
The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta (പത്തനംതിട്ട രൂപത) constitutes the Malankara Syrian Catholic
Community in the Vicinity of Pathanamthitta
in the India
n State of Kerala
. The Diocese came into existence with the consent of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
, on 25 January 2010. Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom
is the first bishop of this Eparchy. St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church, Pathanamthitta serves as the Cathedral
Church for this Eparchy.
are one of the oldest Saint Thomas Christians
centered in Kerala
, India
. In the 16th century, the Church in the West came in contact with the Indian Church through the Portuguese
merchants and missionaries. But the relationship was fragile and several conflicts evolved among them, which later resulted in the Coonan Cross Oath
. The majority of them restored ecclesial relationship with the Portuguese hierarchy (Malabar-Church
) and the rest formed themselves into an independent ecclesial community and gradually got into an ecclesial relationship with the ancient Christian Church of Antioch
(Malankara-Church). Later, on September 20, 1930 a group headed by Archbishop Mar Ivanios
lead the reunion movement and returned back to the Catholic Church. The Metropolitan
Eparchy of Trivandrum
was inaugurated on May 11, 1933 and His Grace Archbishop Mar Ivanios
was installed as its first Metropolitan
. To cope up with the tremendous growth of the church the Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
was ramified and a new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was formed.
found its first bishop, Aboon Thomas Mar Eusebius
from the Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church
in Mylapra near Pathanamthitta
.
Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...
Community in the Vicinity of Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
in the India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
n State of Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
. The Diocese came into existence with the consent of His Holiness Pope Benedict XVI
Pope Benedict XVI
Benedict XVI is the 265th and current Pope, by virtue of his office of Bishop of Rome, the Sovereign of the Vatican City State and the leader of the Catholic Church as well as the other 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in full communion with the Holy See...
, on 25 January 2010. Most Rev. Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom
Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom
His Excellency Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom is the Metropolitan Bishop of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. He was the third son of Abraham and Achiyamma of the Kalloor family at Kadammanitta, in Pathanamthitta District. He completed his Secondary Education at...
is the first bishop of this Eparchy. St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church, Pathanamthitta serves as the Cathedral
Cathedral
A cathedral is a Christian church that contains the seat of a bishop...
Church for this Eparchy.
History
The Syro-Malankara CatholicsSyro-Malankara Catholic Church
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See...
are one of the oldest Saint Thomas Christians
Saint Thomas Christians
The Saint Thomas Christians are an ancient body of Christians from Kerala, India, who trace their origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. They are also known as "Nasranis" because they are followers of "Jesus of Nazareth". The term "Nasrani" is still used by St...
centered in Kerala
Kerala
or Keralam is an Indian state located on the Malabar coast of south-west India. It was created on 1 November 1956 by the States Reorganisation Act by combining various Malayalam speaking regions....
, India
India
India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...
. In the 16th century, the Church in the West came in contact with the Indian Church through the Portuguese
Portuguese people
The Portuguese are a nation and ethnic group native to the country of Portugal, in the west of the Iberian peninsula of south-west Europe. Their language is Portuguese, and Roman Catholicism is the predominant religion....
merchants and missionaries. But the relationship was fragile and several conflicts evolved among them, which later resulted in the Coonan Cross Oath
Coonan Cross Oath
The Coonan Cross Oath , taken on January 3, 1653, was a public avowal by members of the Saint Thomas Christian community of Kerala, India that they would not submit to Portuguese dominance in ecclesiastical and secular life...
. The majority of them restored ecclesial relationship with the Portuguese hierarchy (Malabar-Church
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India is an East Syrian Rite, Major Archiepiscopal Church in full communion with the Catholic Church. It is one of the 22 sui iuris Eastern Catholic Churches in the Catholic Church. It is the largest of the Saint Thomas Christian denominations with more than 3.6...
) and the rest formed themselves into an independent ecclesial community and gradually got into an ecclesial relationship with the ancient Christian Church of Antioch
Church of Antioch
The Church of Antioch is one of the five major churches that composed the Christian Church before the East-West Schism.-History:...
(Malankara-Church). Later, on September 20, 1930 a group headed by Archbishop Mar Ivanios
Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
Geevarghese Giovanni Giorgio Tommaso Panickerveetil aka Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Mor Ivanios, Servant of God, OIC , born as Geevarghese Panickeruveetil, was a Christian bishop and the founder of the Bethany Ashram order of monks.- Childhood :Geevarghese Panicker was born in Mavelikkara, India,...
lead the reunion movement and returned back to the Catholic Church. The Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
Eparchy of Trivandrum
Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Archeparchy of Trivandrum is an archeparchy of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Trivandrum, in Kerala, India. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum and Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, currently presides. The seat of the...
was inaugurated on May 11, 1933 and His Grace Archbishop Mar Ivanios
Geevarghese Mar Ivanios
Geevarghese Giovanni Giorgio Tommaso Panickerveetil aka Archbishop Aboon Geevarghese Mor Ivanios, Servant of God, OIC , born as Geevarghese Panickeruveetil, was a Christian bishop and the founder of the Bethany Ashram order of monks.- Childhood :Geevarghese Panicker was born in Mavelikkara, India,...
was installed as its first Metropolitan
Metropolitan bishop
In Christian churches with episcopal polity, the rank of metropolitan bishop, or simply metropolitan, pertains to the diocesan bishop or archbishop of a metropolis; that is, the chief city of a historical Roman province, ecclesiastical province, or regional capital.Before the establishment of...
. To cope up with the tremendous growth of the church the Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Archeparchy of Trivandrum is an archeparchy of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in Trivandrum, in Kerala, India. Moran Mor Baselios Cleemis, Major Archbishop of Trivandrum and Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, currently presides. The seat of the...
was ramified and a new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was formed.
Statistics
As of 2010, there are 100 parishes in the Diocese and as many as 89 Priests are serving in the Diocese. The Diocesan area is basically hilly in nature including a considerable number of tribal colonies. The Exarcate of the United StatesSyro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States
The Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States is an apostolic exarchate for Syro-Malankara Catholics in the United States of America....
found its first bishop, Aboon Thomas Mar Eusebius
Thomas Naickamparampil
Aboon Thomas Mar Eusebius is the first and current bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States since his appointment by Pope Benedict XVI on 14 July 2010.-Early life and education:...
from the Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church
Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church, Mylapra
Sacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic Church or referred as S H Church is located in the beautiful village of Mylapra, near Pathanamthitta on the road side of the Main Eastern Highway in the Indian state of Kerala. It has an outstanding tradition as the home church to one of the oldest Malankara...
in Mylapra near Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta
Pathanamthitta is a large town and a municipality situated in the central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, south India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The city has a population of 38,000...
.
The Curia Members
| Designation | Name |
|---|---|
| Proto Syncellus (Chief Vicar General) | Rt. Rev. Msgr. Jose Chamakalayil |
| Syncellus (Vicar General) | Rev. Msgr. Chacko Thadathil |
| Chancellor | Very Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Chediyath |
| Economus (Procurator) | Very Rev. Fr. Varghese Kaithon |
| Secretary | Rev. Fr. George Varghese Puthuparambil |
The Heads of Various Apostolic Services
| Designation | Name |
|---|---|
| Rector, Minor Seminary | Very Rev.Fr. Sebastian Ambasseril |
| Director, Catechism | Very Rev.Fr. Varghese Samuel Kizhakkevila |
| Director, Human Resources | Very Rev.Fr. Johnson Parackal |
| Director, MCYM | Very Rev.Fr. Varghese Vilayil |
| Director, Family Apostolate | Very Rev.Fr. Joseph Erattapulickal |
| Director, Bible Apostolate | Very Rev.Fr. Zacharias Nediyakalayil |
| Correspondent, Aided Schools | Very Rev.Fr. Joseph Kurumpileth |
| Correspondent, Unaided Schools | Very Rev.Fr. George Puthenvila |
| Director, Constructions | Very Rev.Fr. Abraham Vavolimepurth |
| Director, Pious Association | Very Rev.Fr. James Elanjickal |
| Director, Social Apostolate | Very Rev.Fr. Christy Thevallil |
| Spiritual Advisor, MCA | Very Rev.Fr. Varghese Kuthineth |
| Spiritual Adviser, St.Vincent de Paul Society | Very Rev.Fr. Mathew Puthuparambil |
| Director, Media & Publication (PRO) | Very Rev.Fr. Daniel Narakathinal (Benny) |