Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur

The Syro Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur, in Thrissur District of central Kerala, India, with nearly half a million Syro Malabar Catholics now used to be the largest catholic diocese in India when it included the Irinjalakuda Diocese until 1978 and Palakkad Diocese until 1973. Irinjalakuda Diocese, also located in Thrissur District, has over a quarter million Syro Malabar Catholics now. Palakkad Diocese in central Kerala extends to some regions in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. In 2010, the parts of Tamil Nadu under Palakkad Diocese were separated to another diocese Ramanathapuram.

History

Tradition has it that Apostle Thomas landed in Kodungallur (located in Thrissur District and better known to outsiders as Cranganore and referred as such in all literature pertaining to Malabar as Kerala used to be referred to; Kodungallur was known as Muziris in ancient times) in 52 AD. He established seven and a half churches - Kodungallur, Palayur, Kottakavu, Chayal, Niranam, Kokkamangalam (in Alleppey District)and Kollam (known as Quilon). The half church is possibly in Malayatoor Kurushumudi(Ernakulam District), now an international pilgrim centre.

Syro Malabar Catholics of Thrissur Archdiocese have unbroken Christian traditions going back to 52 AD. Palayur in Chavakkad Taluk of Thrissur District belongs to Thrissur Archdiocese. According to unbroken tradition, it is in Palayur that Apostle Thomas worked a miracle and converted some Nambudiri Brahmins. The name Chavakkad is derived from that incident. When the Nambudiris who did not convert fled the place cursing it, it came to be known as "Shaba-kad" meaning, accursed forest. The name evolved to Chavakkad.

The Synod of Diamper (Udayamperur) of 1599 took place near Cochin in the present Ernakulam District. The Koonan Kurushu Sathyam (Coonan Cross Oath) of 1653 took place in Mattancherry near Fort Cochin, in the present Ernakulam District. Thrissur District has always remained the stronghold of Syro Malabar Catholics who used to be known as St Thomas Christians or Christians of St Thomas. It can be hypothesized that schismatics in Mattancherry, Cochin in 1653 were new Roman Catholic converts because Cochin was the center of Roman Catholic missionaries since their arrival in 1502. St Francis Xavier also worked in Cochin.

St Thomas Christians were under Roman Catholic bishops from 1599 to 1887 even though they were allowed to follow the Syriac Liturgy in their own churches. Hence they had no influence over how history of schism came to be portrayed. In Kerala, St Thomas Christians of the Syro Malabar Catholic Church are an authentic ancient group who always remained separate retaining their own Syriac Liturgy of Addai and Mari, even after it came in communion with Roman Catholic Church in 1599. The schisms of 1653 and 1882 have therefore no liturgical basis but is merely an attempt by new converts to Roman Catholicism to claim antiquity. The prolific literature with revisionist history of Christianity in Kerala is of very recent origin.

Parishes, Population

The total number of parishes is 192. In addition, there are 41 stations in the archdiocese. The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Trichur archdiocese is over 4,60,000. There are 16 Foranes under Thrissur Archdiocese. They are:

Suffragan dioceses

• Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram
• Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda
• Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat

Vicars Apostolic

• Mar Adolph Medlycott (1887 - 1896)
• Mar John Menachery (1896 - 1919)

Bishops

• Mar Francis Vazhapilly (1919 - 1944)
• Mar George Alapatt (1944 - 1970)

Archbishops

• Mar Joseph Kundukulam (1970 - 1997)
• Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy (1997 - 2007)
• Mar Andrews Thazhath (2007 -)

External links

• Archdiocese of Thrissur