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The Church in Kerala traces its origin to the preaching of St. Thomas,
one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Hence, the Christians here
are called “St. Thomas Christians.” This Apostolic Church has been in
the Catholic Communion. From the early centuries especially in the
fourth century it came in contact with the Syro - Chaldean Churches
and consequently adopted the Syrian Liturgical traditions in its
worship. In the 16th century it came in contact with the Western
Church through its Fathers. Owing to the policy of the Portuguese
Fathers in Latinising the Liturgy and the indigenous customs of the
Apostolic Indian Church, a section of the community broke away from
the Portuguese ecclesiastical authorities and eventually got into
communion with the Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch. Ever since the
division in the Church, attempts were made to regain the original
Catholic Communion which could be crowned with success only in the
first half of this century.
In 1926 the Episcopal Synod held at Parumala, empowered Metropolitan
Man Ivanios to enter into negotiations with Rome to effect a reunion
with the Catholic Church under the expressed condition that the
ancient and venerable traditions of the Malankara Church should be
retained and kept intact. The Holy Father Pope Pius XI graciously
accepted the conditions and welcomed the reunion.
Accordingly on September 20, 1930, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, Bishop Mar
Theophilus, Fr John oic., Bro Alexander (Fr Seraphion oic) and Mr.
Chacko Kilileth made their profession of Faith and were duly received
into the Catholic Communion by His Excellency Rt Rev Dr Maia Benziger,
Bishop of Quilon, specially deputed by the Holy See. The following day
two Rembans, Rt Rev Joseph Pulikottil and Rt Rev Philipose Cheppad
made their profession of Faith and were received into the Catholic
Church.
In 1932, His Grace Mar Ivanios made his visit to Rome and His Holiness
Pope Pius XI invested him with the Sacred Pallium. By the Apostolic
Constitution, “Christo Pastorum Principi” (June 11, 1932) the Holy
Father Pope Pius XI established the Syro - Malankara Catholic
Hierarchy, comprising the metropolitian Eparchy of Trivandrum and the
Eparchy of Tiruvalla.
On March 11, 1933 Archbishop Mar Ivanios dedicated his provisional
Cathedral at Palayam to the Mother of God and celebrated the solemn
Holy Qurbana in the Cathedral on the following day concelebrated by
Bishop mar Theophilos, the Bishop of Tiruvalla, Rt Rev Maria Benzigar,
the special depute of the Apostolic Delegate.
Archbishop Mar Ivanios having made the Profession of Faith before the
august assembly of the Bishops of the three Rites, priests and laymen
and amidst the acclamations of ‘Oxios’ ( a customary hymn for the
occasion) was enthroned as the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum
and the Hierarchical head of the Syro - Malankara Catholic Church. The
pioneer of the reunion movement in Kerala.
His Grace the Archbishop Mar Ivanios, passed away on July 15, 1953. A
few months before his death, on January 29, 1953 he consecrated Rt Rev
Benedict Mar Gregorios as his Auxiliary Bishop and as the Titular
Bishop of Anterdos.
Upon the demise of his Grace Mar Ivanios, His Excellency mar Gregorios
was made the Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan Eparchy of
Trivandrum. And on January 27, 1955, His Holiness Pope Pius XII
appointed him the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum.
Under God’s providence as result of untiring labours of devoted
Priests, Religious and lay people, the Re- Union movement struck roots
and made rapid strides enriching the Malankara Catholic Church.
The Silver Jubilee of the establishment of the Hierarchy was
celebrated on February 11, 1958 at St. Mary’s church, Vakayar. In 1959
the new Archbishop received the sacred Pallium from His Holiness Pope
John XXIII. His Grace took part in II Vatican Council which was opened
in 1961.
The newly built permanent Cathedral was consecrated by His Grace
Benedict Mar Gregorios on the 22nd of February 1965.
His Excellency Most Rev. Paulose Mar Philexinos, the Metropolitan of
the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, was received into the Catholic
Church on August 28, 1977. His was appointed Titular Bishop of Chayal.
His Excellency Rt Rev Lawrence Mar Ephraem, who was nominated
Auxiliary to the Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Barkuso on November
6, 1980 was consecrated Bishop on December 27, 1980 at Kottayam during
the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Reunion movement.
The Golden Jubilee of the Reunion Movement of the Syro - Malankara
Catholic Church was celebrated at Kottayam on December 26, 27, and 28,
1980. His Eminence Wladyslaw Cardinal Rubin, the Perfect of the Sacred
Congregation for the Oriental Churches was the Papal Delegates for the
Jubilee. Other eminent participants included His Beatitude Maximos V
Hakim, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East of Alexandria and
Jerusalem. His Excellency Most Rev Luciano Storero, the Apostolic Pro
Nuncio to India, and Mother Teresa.
A significant development in the recent past has been the
establishment of parishes for members of the Syro - Malankara Catholic
Church in different parts of India and in the United States of
America.
Pope John Paul II blessed us with his Historic visit to St. Mary’s
Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum, on February 8, 1986. The Holy Father in
his Major speech in
Trivandrum, praised the founder of the reunion movement and expressed
his high
appreciation of the work and witness of the Syro - Malankara Church.
After 41 years of devoted service Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios
passed away on October 10, 1994. His Excellency Most Rev Cyril Mar
Baselios, the Bishop of Bathery became the Apostolic Administrator of
the Malankara Catholic Church. His Excellency Rt Rev Lawrence Mar
Ephraem, Proto-Syncellus, was elected the Administrator of the
Archdiocese of Trivandrum on the same day.
His Grace Most Rev Cyril Mar Baselios was appointed Metropolitan
Archbishop of
Trivandrum on November 29, 1995. The enthronement of His Grace took
place on December 14, 1995. As the Metropolitan Archbishop received
sacred Pallium from the Holy Father Pope John Paul II on January 9,
1996 in Vatican.
His Eminence Achille Cardinal Silvestrini, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Oriental Churches visited the Archdiocese on 12th and 13th of
February 1996.
His Eminence Josef Cardinal Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation for the
Evangelization of the Peoples visited the Archdiocese on 2nd November
1996.
Considering the linguistic, social and cultural heritage of the people
of the region of Kanyakumari and the vast area of the Archdiocese of
Trivandrum. His Holiness Pope John Paul II, at the request His Grace
Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, by an Apostolic Bull dated December 16,
1996 created the Diocese of Marthandom having its headquarters at
Marthandom.
Major Archbishop Cyril Baselios passed away on Jan. 20, 2007.
Catholicos Bava
Baselios Cleemis was elected on Feb. 10, 2007 and installed Major
Archbishop of Trivandrum on March 03, 2007
Address:
Major
Archbishop's House,
Pattom, Trivandrum,
Kerala - 695 004, Kerala, India.
Tel: +91 471 - 2541642 ,
Fax: +91 471 - 2541635
E-mail: archbp03@md3.vsnl.net.in
Websit:
http://www.malankaracatholicchurch.net/
Area: 8,684 sq. kms
Total population: 10 million
Catholics: 2,10,000
Languages spoken: Malayalam
Revenue districts: Trivandrum, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alapuzha.
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 224
Religious Priests: 34
Religious Brothers: 28
Religious Women: 785
No. of Parishes: 513
Houses of Women Religious: 97
Houses of Men Religious: 15
Formation Houses
Major Seminary: 01
Minor Seminary: 01
No. of Educational Institutions
P. G. Depts. / Colleges: 02
Students: 40,000
B. Ed. Colleges: 01
Students: 200
Colleges: 01
Students: 1,000
Technical Institutions: 04
Students: 2,000
Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 03
Students: 1,400
High Schools (10th std.): 24
Students: 5,000
Primary Schools: 124
Students: 37,200
Hospitals: 11
Beds: 450
Dispensaries: 06
Beneficiaries (Annual): 40,000
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