Metropolitan Archdiocese of Changanacherry, India (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Syro-Malabar

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese

Name: Changanacherry / Changanassery / Changanacherren(sis) (Latin)

Suffragan Sees: Kanjirapally, Palai, Thuckalay

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Website:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Joseph

History

1896.07.28: Established as Apostolic Vicariate of Changanacherry / Changanassery / Changanacherren(sis) (Latin) (from the suppressed Apostolic Vicariate of Kottayam)
1911.08.29: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Kottayam
1923.12.21: Promoted as Diocese of Changanacherry / Changanassery / Changanacherren(sis) (Latin) (became suffragan of Ernakulam)
1950.07.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Palai
1955.04.29: Gained territory from Diocese of Kottar, Diocese of Quilon and Diocese of Trivandrum
1959.01.10: Promoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Changanacherry / Changanassery / Changanacherren(sis) (Latin) (with suffragan see Palai)
1977.02.26: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Kanjirapally and gained suffragan see Kanjirapally
1996.11.11: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Thuckalay and gained suffragan see Thuckalay
2017.10.09: Lost territory to Diocese of Thuckalay

Present Prelates

Metropolitan Archbishop (2024.08.30 – ...):

Archbishop Thomas Tharayil (Tomy) (52)

Ordinaries

Metropolitan Archbishops of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Archbishop Thomas Tharayil (Tomy) (52)
(2024.08.30 – ...)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India)

Your grace is sufficient for me

Born:	1972.02.02 (Changanacherry, India)
Ordained Priest:	2000.01.01
Consecrated Bishop:	2017.04.23

Priest of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2000.01.01 – 2017.01.14)

Titular Bishop of Agrippias (2017.01.14 – 2024.08.30)

Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2017.01.14 – 2024.08.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2024.08.30 – ...)

Archbishop Joseph Perumthotttam (76)
(2007.01.22 – 2024.08.30)

Metropolitan Archbishop emeritus of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India)

In spirit and truth

Born:	1948.07.05 (Punnathura, India)
Ordained Priest:	1974.12.18
Consecrated Bishop:	2002.05.20

Priest of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1974.12.18 – 2002.04.24)

Titular Bishop of Thucca in Numidia (2002.04.24 – 2007.01.22)

Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2002.04.24 – 2007.01.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (2007.01.22 – 2024.08.30)

Archbishop Joseph Powathil
(1985.11.05 – 2007.01.22)

Born:	1930.08.14 (Kurumbanadam, India)
Ordained Priest:	1962.10.03
Consecrated Bishop:	1972.02.13
Died:	2023.03.18 (Chetipuza, India † 92)

Priest of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1962.10.03 – 1972.01.07)

Titular Bishop of Cesarea Philippi (1972.01.07 – 1977.02.26)

Auxiliary Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1972.01.07 – 1977.02.26)

Bishop of Kanjirapally of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1977.02.26 – 1985.11.05)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1985.11.05 – 2007.01.22)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (1994 – 1998)

Archbishop Antony Padiyara (later Cardinal)
(1970.06.14 – 1985.04.23)

Servire et lætitia

Born:	1921.02.11 (Manimala, India)
Ordained Priest:	1945.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1955.10.16
Created Cardinal:	1988.06.28
Died:	2000.03.23 (Kochin, India † 79)

Priest of Coimbatore (India) (1945.12.19 – 1955.07.03)

Bishop of Ootacamund (India) (1955.07.03 – 1970.06.14)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1970.06.14 – 1985.04.23)

Apostolic Visitator in India outside the proper territory of the Syro-Malabars (1978.09.08 – 1985.04.23)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Ernakulam of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1985.04.23 – 1992.12.16)

President of Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church (1985.04.23 – 1992.12.16)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Maria «Regina Pacis» a Monte Verde (1988.06.28 – 2000.03.23)

Major Archbishop of Ernakulam–Angamaly of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1992.12.16 – 1996.11.11)

President of Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church (1995 – 1996.11.11)

Archbishop Matthew Kavukattu
(1959.01.10 – 1969.10.09)

Caritate servire

Born:	1904.07.17 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1935.12.21
Consecrated Bishop:	1950.11.09
Died:	1969.10.09 († 65)

Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1950.07.25 – 1959.01.10)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1959.01.10 – 1969.10.09)

Bishops of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Bishop Matthew Kavukattu (later Archbishop)
(1950.07.25 – 1959.01.10)

(see above)

Bishop James Kalacherry (Kalassery)
(1927.10.24 – 1949.10.27)

Born:	1892.04.20 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1919.04.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1927.12.27
Died:	1949.10.27 († 57)

Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1927.10.24 – 1949.10.27)

Bishop Thomas Kurialachery
(1923.12.21 – 1925.06.02)

Born:	1873.01.14 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1899.05.27
Consecrated Bishop:	1911.12.03
Died:	1925.06.02 († 52)

Founder of Sisters of the Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (Adoration Congregation) (1908.12.08)

Titular Bishop of Pella (1911.08.30 – 1923.12.21)

Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1911.08.30 – 1923.12.21)

Bishop of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1923.12.21 – 1925.06.02)

Vicars Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar Rite)

Bishop Thomas Kurialachery
(1911.08.30 – 1923.12.21)

(see above)

Bishop Matthew Makil
(1896.10.25 – 1911.08.29)

Born:	1851.03.27 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1874.05.30
Consecrated Bishop:	1896.06.11
Died:	1914.01.26 († 62)

Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1896.10.25 – 1911.08.29)

Titular Bishop of Tralles (1896.10.25 – 1914.01.26)

Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam of the Syro-Malabars (India) (1911.08.29 – 1914.01.26)

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Thomas Tharayil (Tomy) (52) (later Archbishop) (2017.01.14 – 2024.08.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Perumthotttam (76) (later Archbishop) (2002.04.24 – 2007.01.22)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Powathil (later Archbishop) (1972.01.07 – 1977.02.26)

Syro-Malabar Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Changanacherry

India

Celebrations

History

Present Prelates

Ordinaries

Former Prelates

Special Churches

Statistics (2022.12.31)