Ecclesiastical Details

Archdiocese of Changanasserry
Heirarchy of the Diocese
Rite:
Syro-Malabar
Population:
9190000
 
Status:
Archdiocese
Catholics:
?380000
 
Founded:
29-Jul-56
Diocesan Priests:
426
  Total area:
31019 Sq km
Religious Priests:
31
 
Province:
Changanasserry
Religious Sisters:
1052
 
Region:
Kerala
Seminarians:
97
  Patron:
St. Joseph
  Languages: Malayalam?
  Civil States: Kerala: Kottayam Alappuzha
Contact Archdiocese Office :
Archbishop's House Changanasserry 686 101.Kottayam KERALA.
Telephone 1:
0481-24 20 614 24 20 040 / 24 22 540
Fax:
24 22 540
 
E-Mail Office:
bpjperumthottam@yahoo.co.in
Website:
 
Most Rev. Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop of Changanasserry
Name:
Most Rev. Joseph Perumthottam
Designation:
Archbishop   Canonical Possession: 2007
Telephone (P):
E-mail (P):
 
Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Archdiocese of Changanasserry
 
Bishops NameDesignationPeriod
Aux.Bishop 2017-
Pilgrim Centres in theArchdiocese of Changanasserry
 
Ecclesiastical Institutions
 
Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres
Educational Institutions
Parishes:
278
 
Hospitals:
2
   
Degree Colleges:
1
Major Seminaries:
 
Orphanages:
2
   
Technical Training Centres:
Minor Seminaries:
2
 
Special Schools:
   
High Schools:
24
Monastries:
62
 
Crèches:
   
Lower Primary Schools:
Convents:
322
 
Counselling Centres:
   
Presses & Media Centres:
11
Formation Houses:
 
Social Centres:
   
Professional Colleges:
Retreat Centres:
2
 
Dispensaries / Clinics:
4
   
Parallel Colleges:
 
Physically Challenged:
   
Higher Secondary :
18
       
Boarding Houses:
   
Upper Primary Schools:
92
       
HIV / AIDS Centres:
   
Nurseries/Pre-Primary :
156
       
De-addiction Centres:
       
          Aged & Destitute:        
     
       
History of the Archdiocese of Changanasserry
 
The Apostolic Church of St. Thomas Christians has its origin from St. Thomas the Apostle who arrived on the Kerala coast in A.D. 52. The Metropolitan of "The See of St. Thomas" was "Metropolitan and Gate of all India". In the course of history this Church entered into hierarchical relationship with the East Syrian Church and became an autonomous Metropolitan See under the East Syrian Patriarch in communion with the Apostolic See of Rome. The " Archdeacon of all India" did the administration.

The Portuguese Fathers who arrived in the 15th century could not tolerate the liturgical traditions and the mode of governance of this church. They latinized the ancient liturgical texts. A section of the community broke away from the Western supremacy in 1653. They constitute the present Malankara Orthodox Churches. We are the descendants of those who stayed back maintaining loyalty to the Apostolic See of Rome.

The Archdiocese of Changanacherry is one of the first two Vicariates and the second Metropolitan Archdiocese of the Syro - Malabar Church after the establishment of the Syro - Malabar hierarchy which was the prelude to the restoration of the identity of our Church in 1992 as Sui Juris Church thanks to the untiring efforts of our forefathers.

Pope Leo XIII of happy memory by his Bull "Quod Jam Pridem" dated May 20 1887 established two Vicariates Apostolic viz Kottayam and Thrissur exclusively for the Syro - Malabarians and Dr Charles Lavigne and Dr Adolph Medlycott respectively were appointed Vicars Apostolic.

The same Pope reorganized the existing Vicariates by the Bull "Quae Rei Sacrae" dated July 28 1896 establishing a new vicariate Ernakulam with territories carved out from the two existing Vicariates (Pallippuram Edappaly and Arakuzha divisions from Kottayam Vicariate).

The Vicariate of Kottayam was renamed Changanacherry since this town had been the centre of Catholic activity for e.g. the convocation of the Changanacherry Synod in 1888 and hence its headquarters had been shifted to Changanacherry.

Indigenous bishops were appointed Vicars Apostolic to the new Sees. They were Mar Mathew Makil for Changanacherry Mar Louis Pazheparambil (from Changanacherry Vicariate) for Ernakulam and Mar John Menacherry for Thrissur.

A new Vicariate of Kottayam was constituted in 1911 exclusively for the Suddists and Mar Mathew Makil was tansferred to Kottayam as the Vicar. Apostolic of Suddists and Mar Thomas Kurialacherry was appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Changanacherry.

With the establishment of the Syro - Malabar Hierarchy on December 21 1923 by the Bull "Romani Pontifices" of Pope Pius XI the Diocese of Thrissur Changanacherry and kottayam became Suffragans of the Archdiocese of Ernakulam thereby constituting the first Syro - Malabar Province.

On July 25 1950 the Diocese of Changanacherry was bifurcated by the Bull "Quo Ecclesiarum" of Pope Pius XII and the new Diocese of Palai was created.

The Holy See being very much pleased with the wonderful progress achieved by the Syro - Malabarians extended the hitherto held boundaries of Changanacherry to the areas south of river Pumba upto (including) Kanyakumari by the Bull "Multorum Fidelium" of Pope Pius XII dated April 291955.

Changanacherry was raised to the status of an Archdiocese on July 26 1956 by Pope Pius XII constituting the second province in the Syro - Malabar Church and Kottayam and Pala became its suffragans. The Apostolic Constitution 'Regnum Coelorum' of November 26 1959 of Pope John XXIII gave effect to this decision.

The Archdiocese was again divided on February 26 1977 by the Bull "Nos Beati Petri" of Pope Paul VI and the new Diocese of Kanjirapally was set up comprising parts of the civil districts of Kottayam Idukki and Kollam.

The Archdiocese was divided a fifth time when its Kanyakumari Mission was elevated to the status of a new diocese by the Bull "Apud Indorum Gentes" of John Paul II dated December 18 1996. The formal inauguration of the new diocese of Thuckalay and the Episcopal Ordination of Mar George Alenchery as its first Bishop took place on February 2 1997.

In 1975 the Church work of five civil districts of the Archdiocese of Agra in the State of Uttar Pradesh was taken up completely by the Archdiocese of Changanacherry.
 
Prelates of the Archdiocese of Changanasserry
Bishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriodBishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriod
Archbishop 1985-2007 Aux.Bishop 1970-1985
Aux.Bishop 1950-1969 Bishop 1927-1949
Bishop 1911-1925 Bishop 1896-1911
Bishop 1887-1896