Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trivandrum, India 🇮🇳 (Syro-Malankara Rite)

Continent: South and East Asia

Rite: Syro-Malankara (Antiochian)

Type: Metropolitan Archdiocese Metr. Archdiocese , Proper archeparchy of the Syro-Malankara Major Archbishop

Name: Trivandrum / Thiruvananthapuram / Trivandren(sis) Syrorum Malankarensium (Latin)

Governed by: Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum

Suffragan Sees: Marthandam, Mavelikkara, Parassala, Pathanamthitta, Saint Ephrem of Khadki

Neighbouring Dioceses: Mavelikkara (↖), Pathanamthitta (↑), Marthandam (→), Parassala (↘)

Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches

Celebrations

Patron Saint: Saint Peter

History

1932.06.11: Established as Metropolitanate sui juris of Trivandrum / Thiruvananthapuram / Trivandren(sis) Syrorum Malankarensium (Latin) (with suffragan see Tiruvalla)
1978.10.28: Gained suffragan see Bathery
1996.12.16: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Marthandam and gained suffragan see Marthandam
2002.12.19: Gained suffragan see Moovatupuzha
2005.02.10: Demoted as Metropolitan Archdiocese of Trivandrum / Thiruvananthapuram / Trivandren(sis) Syrorum Malankarensium (Latin) (lost territory to establish Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum)
2006.05.15: Lost suffragan sees Bathery, Moovatupuzha and Tiruvalla
2007.01.02: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Mavelikkara and gained suffragan see Mavelikkara
2010.01.25: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Pathanamthitta and gained suffragan see Pathanamthitta
2017.08.05: Lost territory to establish Diocese of Parassala and gained suffragan see Parassala
2020.09.21: Gained suffragan see Saint Ephrem of Khadki

Papal Visits

Pope John Paul II (1986.02)

Present Prelates

Major Archbishop ([2007.02.08] 2007.02.10 – ...):

Cardinal Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal (66)

Cardinal-Priest of S. Gregorio VII

President of Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church

Auxiliary Bishop (2025.09.19 – ...):

Bishop John Kuttiyil (43)

Titular Bishop of Canatha

Ordinaries

Metropolitans of Trivandrum (Syro-Malankara Rite)

Archbishop Cyril Baselios Malancharuvil, O.I.C. (later Major Archbishop)
(1995.11.06 – 2005.02.10)

Born:	1935.08.16 (Pandalam, India)
Ordained Priest:	1960.10.04
Consecrated Bishop:	1978.12.28
Died:	2007.01.18 (Trivandrum, India † 71)

Superior General of Order of the Imitation of Christ (1974 – 1978.10.28)

Bishop of Bathery of the Syro-Malankara (India) (1978.10.28 – 1995.11.06)

President of Synod of the Syro-Malankara Church (1995 – 2007.01.18)

Metropolitan of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara (India) (1995.11.06 – 2005.02.10)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (2000 – 2004)

Major Archbishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara (India) (2005.02.10 – 2007.01.18)

Archbishop Benedict Varghese Gregorios Thangalathil, O.I.C.
(1955.01.27 – 1994.10.10)

Born:	1916.02.01 (Kallooppara, India)
Ordained Priest:	1944.08.24
Consecrated Bishop:	1953.01.29
Died:	1994.10.10 (Trivandrum, India † 78)

Titular Bishop of Antarados (1952.10.25 – 1955.01.27)

Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara (India) (1952.10.25 – 1955.01.27)

Metropolitan of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara (India) (1955.01.27 – 1994.10.10)

President of Catholic Bishops’ Conference of India (1988 – 1989)

Venerable Archbishop Geevarghese Ivanios Giorgio Tommaso Panickerveetil, O.I.C.
(1932.06.11 – 1953.07.15)

That all may be one

Born:	1882.09.21 (Mavelikkara, India)
Ordained Priest:	1908.08.15
Consecrated Bishop:	1925.05.01
Died:	1953.07.15 (Thiruvananthapuram, India † 70)

Founder of Order of the Imitation of Christ (1919)

Superior General of Order of the Imitation of Christ (1919 – 1932.02.13)

Titular Archbishop of Phasis (1932.02.13 – 1932.06.11)

Metropolitan of Trivandrum of the Syro-Malankara (India) (1932.06.11 – 1953.07.15)

Archbishop and religious of Order of the Imitation of Christ.

Former Prelates

Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Geevarghese Mathew Manakarakavil (70) (2022.05.07 – 2025.05.30)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Samuel Irenios Kattukallil (73) (2010.01.25 – 2018.04.10)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joseph Thomas Konnath (73) (2005.01.05 – 2010.01.25)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Baselios Cleemis Thottunkal (66) (later Cardinal) (2001.06.18 – 2003.09.11)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Joshuah Ignathios Kizhakkeveettil (75) (1998.04.15 – 2007.01.02)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Lawrence Ephraem Thottam (1980.11.06 – 1996.12.16)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Paulos Philoxinos Ayyamkulangara (1977.10.11 – 1998.11.03)
Auxiliary Bishop: Bishop Benedict Varghese Gregorios Thangalathil, O.I.C. (later Archbishop) (1952.10.25 – 1955.01.27)

Syro-Malankara Metropolitan Archdiocese of

Trivandrum

India