Diocese of Cochin, India

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Roman (Latin)

Type: Diocese Diocese

Name: Cochin / Coccinen(sis) (Latin)

Ecclesiastical Province: Verapoly

Depends on: Dicastery for Evangelisation

Websites:

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Holy Cross

Liturgical Calendar (National) 📅

History

1558.02.04: Established as Diocese of Cochin / Coccinen(sis) (Latin) (from Diocese of Goa and became suffragan of Goa)
1606: Lost territory to establish Mission sui juris of Madura
1606.01.09: Lost territory to establish Diocese of São Tomé de Meliapor
1610.12.22: Lost territory to Archdiocese of Cranganor
1659.12.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Malabar
1834.12.03: Lost territory to establish Apostolic Vicariate of Ceylon
1838.04.24: Suppressed (to Apostolic Vicariate of Verapoly)
1886.09.01: Restored as Diocese of Cochin / Coccinen(sis) (Latin) (from Apostolic Vicariate of Verapoly and became suffragan of Goa)
1952.06.19: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Alleppey
1953.09.19: Became suffragan of Verapoly
1955.05.20: Lost territory to Diocese of Trivandrum

Present Prelates

Bishop:	vacant
Apostolic Administrator (2024.10.12 – ...):	Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil (63) Bishop of Alleppey (India)

Ordinaries

Bishops of Cochin (Roman Rite)

Bishop James Raphael Anaparambil (63)
(Apostolic Administrator 2024.10.12 – ...)

Bishop Joseph Kariyil (76)
(2009.05.08 – 2024.03.02)

Bishop emeritus of Cochin (India)

The Lord is my shepherd

Born:	1949.01.11 (Arthunkal, India)
Ordained Priest:	1973.12.19
Consecrated Bishop:	2005.05.03

Priest of Cochin (India) (1973.12.19 – 2005.03.12)

Bishop of Punalur (India) (2005.03.12 – 2009.05.08)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (2009.05.08 – 2024.03.02)

Archbishop Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D.
(Apostolic Administrator sede plena 2008.10.23 – 2009.05.08)

Bishop John Thattumkal, S.S.C. (74)
(2000.05.10 – 2009.05.08)

Bishop emeritus of Cochin (India)

Honouring the people of God

Born:	1950.06.23 (Arthunkal, India)
Ordained Priest:	1974.08.03
Consecrated Bishop:	2000.06.25

Bishop of Cochin (India) (2000.05.10 – 2009.05.08)

Bishop Joseph Kureethara
(1975.08.29 – 1999.01.06)

Born:	1929.07.02 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1958.03.18
Consecrated Bishop:	1975.12.21
Died:	1999.01.06 († 69)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1975.08.29 – 1999.01.06)

Bishop Alexander Edezath
(1952.06.19 – 1975.08.29)

Born:	1904.10.26 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1935.12.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1952.12.07
Died:	1979.08.21 († 74)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1952.06.19 – 1975.08.29)

Bishop José Vieira Alvernaz (later Patriarch)
(1941.08.13 – 1950.12.23)

Born:	1898.02.05 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1920.06.20
Consecrated Bishop:	1941.12.01
Died:	1986.03.13 († 88)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1941.08.13 – 1950.12.23)

Titular Archbishop of Anasartha (1950.12.23 – 1953.09.16)

Coadjutor Archbishop of Goa and Daman (India) (1950.12.23 – 1953.09.16)

Patriarch of East Indies (1953.09.16 – 1975.02.22)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman (India) (1953.09.16 – 1975.02.22)

Bishop Abílio Augusto Vaz das Neves
(1933.12.04 – 1938.12.08)

Born:	1894.06.08 (India)
Ordained Priest:	1919.12.07
Consecrated Bishop:	1934.01.28
Died:	1980.03.07 († 85)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1933.12.04 – 1938.12.08)

Bishop of Bragança e Miranda (Portugal) (1938.12.08 – 1965.02.20)

Titular Bishop of Silli (1965.02.20 – 1971.01.27)

Bishop José Bento Martins Ribeiro
(1909.02.28 – 1931.05.21)

Born:	1859.08.29 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1890.08.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1909.08.15
Died:	1931.05.21 († 71)

Founder of Society of the Missionaries of Saint Francis Xavier (Pilar Fathers) (1887.09.26)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1909.02.28 – 1931.05.21)

Bishop Matheus de Oliveira Xavier (later Patriarch)
(1897.10.11 – 1909.02.20)

Born:	1858.10.14 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1881.06.11
Died:	1929.05.19 († 70)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1897.10.11 – 1909.02.20)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1909.02.20 – 1928.05.01)

Patriarch of East Indies (1909.02.20 – 1929.05.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa and Daman (India) (1928.05.01 – 1929.05.19)

Bishop João Gomes Ferreira
(1887.03.14 – 1897.05.04)

Born:	1851.06.09
Ordained Priest:	1874.07.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1887.08.21
Died:	1897.05.04 († 45)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1887.03.14 – 1897.05.04)

Bishop Tomas Manoel de Noronha e Britto, O.P.
(1819.12.17 – 1828.06.23)

Born:	1770.02.02 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1794.03.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1821.03.04
Died:	1847.07.09 († 77)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1819.12.17 – 1828.06.23)

Bishop of Olinda (Brazil) (1828.06.23 – 1829.03.06)

Bishop José de Soledad Marques da Silva, O.C.D.
(1783.07.18 – 1818?)

Born:	1745.08.02
Ordained Priest:	1769.09.23
Consecrated Bishop:	1784.11.21

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1783.07.18 – 1818?)

Bishop Manoel de Santa Catarina Soares, O.C.D. (later Archbishop)
(1778.07.20 – 1783.07.18)

Born:	1726.02.26 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1751.03.19
Consecrated Bishop:	1778.09.13
Died:	1812.02.10 († 85)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1778.07.20 – 1783.07.18)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1783.07.18 – 1812.02.10)

Bishop Clemente José Colocao Leita, S.J.
(1745.03.08 – 1771.01.31)

Born:	1704.12.17
Consecrated Bishop:	1746.12.11
Died:	1771.01.31 († 66)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1745.03.08 – 1771.01.31)

Bishop Francisco de Vasconsellos, S.J.
(1721.02.12 – 1743.03.30)

Born:	1673.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1722.04.26
Died:	1743.03.30 († 69)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1721.02.12 – 1743.03.30)

Fr. Francesco Pedro dos Mártires
(? – 1715 not possessed)

Died:

1715

Bishop of Cochin (India) (? – 1715 not possessed)

Bishop Pedro Pachecco, O.P.
(1694.01.04 – 1714.09)

Born:	1636.04 (Portugal)
Ordained Priest:	1662
Died:	1714.09 († 78)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1694.01.04 – 1714.09)

Bishop Pedro da Silva, O.E.S.A.
(1689.01.08 – 1691.03.15)

Born:	1647 (Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1689.03.20
Died:	1691.03.15 († 43)

Bishop of Cochin (India) ([1687] 1689.01.08 – 1691.03.15)

Bishop Antonio da Santo Dionysio, O.E.S.A.
(1676 – 1685)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1676 – 1685)

Fr. Fabio dos Reis Fernandes, O. Carm. (later Bishop)
(1672 – 1672.05.16▼)

Consecrated Bishop:	1672.09.11
Died:	1674.02.08

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1672 – 1672.05.16▼)

Bishop of Santiago de Cabo Verde (Cabo Verde) (1672.05.16 – 1674.02.08)

Bishop Fernando da Santa Maria
(1672 – 1672)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1672 – 1672)

Bishop Francesco Baretto, S.J.
(? – 1663.10.26▼)

Died:

1663.10.26

Bishop of Cochin (India) (? – 1663.10.26▼)

Bishop João Coelho
(1650.10.18 – 1650▼)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1650.10.18 – 1650▼)

Bishop Antonio da Serpa
(1647 – 1647)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1647 – 1647)

Bishop Miguel da Cruz Rangal, O.P.
(1631 – 1646.09.14)

Died:

1646.09.14

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1631 – 1646.09.14)

Bishop Luiz de Britto a Menezes, O.E.S.A.
(1627.05.27 – 1629.07.29)

Born:	1570
Consecrated Bishop:	1617.01.01
Died:	1629.07.29 († 58)

Bishop of São Tomé de Meliapor (India) (1615.05.18 – 1627.05.27)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1627.05.27 – 1629.07.29)

Bishop Sebastião de São Pedro, O.E.S.A. (later Archbishop)
(1615 – 1625)

Born:	(Portugal)
Died:	1629.11.07

Bishop of São Tomé de Meliapor (India) (1606.01.09 – 1615)

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1615 – 1625)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1625 – 1629.11.07)

Bishop Andrés de Santa Maria, O.F.M.
(1588 – 1615)

Consecrated Bishop:	1588.12.18
Died:	1618.11.10

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1588 – 1615)

Bishop Mateus de Medina, O.E.S.A. (later Archbishop)
(1577.01.29 – 1588.02.19)

Born:	(Portugal)
Died:	1593.07.29

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1577.01.29 – 1588.02.19)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1588.02.19 – 1592)

Bishop Henrique de Távora e Brito, O.P. (later Archbishop)
(1567.01.13 – 1577.01.29)

Born:	(Portugal)
Died:	1581.05.17

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1567.01.13 – 1577.01.29)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1577.01.29 – 1581.05.17)

Bishop Jorge Temudo, O.P. (later Archbishop)
(1558.02.04 – 1567.01.13)

Born:	(Portugal)
Consecrated Bishop:	1560.04.15
Died:	1571.04.29

Bishop of Cochin (India) (1558.02.04 – 1567.01.13)

Metropolitan Archbishop of Goa (India) (1567.01.13 – 1571.04.29)

Special Churches

Cathedral, Minor Basilica: Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica, Kochi, Kerala

Churches by City (55)

Verapoly (↗), Vijayapuram (↘), Alleppey (↓)

Statistics (2022.12.31)

Area: 236 km²

Population: 178,880 Catholics (27.2% of 656,740 total)

Pastoral Centres: 50 parishes, 13 missions

Personnel: 233 priests (117 diocesan, 116 religious), 674 religious (220 brothers, 454 sisters), 39 seminarians