Ecclesiastical Details

Diocese of Cochin
Heirarchy of the Diocese
Rite:
 Latin
Population:
 6537598
 
Status:
 Diocese
Catholics:
181026
 
Founded:
 4 February 1558
Diocesan Priests:
 127
  Total area:
15400 sq. kms
Religious Priests:
 52
 
Province:
Verapoly
Religious Sisters:
 571
 
Region:
Kerala
Seminarians:
 40
  Patron:
Holy Cross
  Languages: Malayalam English
  Civil States: Kerala: The territory of the Diocese of Cochin is situated between the Arabian Sea in the west the Archdiocese of Verapoly in the north and in the east and the Diocese of Alleppey in the south
Contact Diocese Office :
 Bishop's House Fort Cochin Cochin - 682 001. KERALA.
Telephone 1:
 0484-22 15 400 22 15 401 / 22 15 404
Fax:
22 15 404
 
E-Mail Office:
 cochinbishop@eth.net
Website:
 
Most Rev. Joseph Kariyil, Bishops of Cochin
Name:
 Most Rev. Joseph Kariyil
Designation:
 Bishops   Canonical Possession: 2009-
Telephone (P):
E-mail (P):
 
Other Present & Retired Ordinaries of the Diocese of Cochin
 
Pilgrim Centres in theDiocese of Cochin
 
Ecclesiastical Institutions
  
Social / Charitable Institutions / Care Centres
Educational Institutions
Parishes:
74
  
Hospitals:
8
    
Degree Colleges:
4
Major Seminaries:
 
Orphanages:
11
    
Technical Training Centres:
2
Minor Seminaries:
11
  
Special Schools:
1
    
High Schools:
18
Monastries:
17
  
Crèches:
4
    
Lower Primary Schools:
15
Convents:
60
  
Counselling Centres:
4
    
Presses & Media Centres:
Formation Houses:
1
  
Social Centres:
4
    
Professional Colleges:
Retreat Centres:
1
  
Dispensaries / Clinics:
10
    
Parallel Colleges:
4
 
Physically Challenged:
   
Higher Secondary :
8
       
Boarding Houses:
8
    
Upper Primary Schools:
2
       
HIV / AIDS Centres:
   
Nurseries/Pre-Primary :
20
       
De-addiction Centres:
       
          Aged & Destitute: 11        
     
       
History of the Diocese of Cochin
  
In 1500 the Portuguese Fathers (Franciscan Friars) reached Cochin and established the first Portuguese Mission in Cochin in India. They were followed by the Jesuits (1542) Dominicans (1553) Augustinians (1579) Carmelites (1778) and from 1886 by non religious Portuguese Bishops till 1950. At the arrival of the Portuguese the Christians in Cochin area joined the Roman Latin Rite.

St. Francis Xavier visited Cochin on several occasions and offered Holy Mass in the St. Francis Church where the famous navigator Vasco da Gama was laid to rest on Christmas day of 1524. A monastery of the Franciscans "Santo Antonio" was established in Cochin in 1518 and two others of the Jesuits in 1550 and 1561. In 1553 the Dominicans founded their College and Monastery in Cochin. The "St. Iago Mission" of Palluruthy was started in 1560 and in 1557 the first printing press in India was established in Cochin.

Because of its singular prominence Pope Leo X made special mention of Cochin in his Decree erecting the Diocese of Funchal in 1514. In 1534 when the Diocese of Goa was established Cochin became part of the new diocese.

The Diocese of Cochin was erected on February 4 1557 by Pope Paul IV in his Decree "Pro Excellenti Praeeminentia". At that time Cochin was the second diocese in India and it exercised jurisdiction over the whole of south east of India Burma and Ceylon The first Bishop of Cochin was a Dominican Friar Dom George Temudo (1557-1567). By the Decree "Pastoralis Officii" of Pope Gregory XIII (13-12-1572) the bishops of Cochin were required to take possession of the Patriarchal See of Goa whenever it became vacant.

In 1663 the Dutch conquered Cochin and destroyed all the Catholic churches and Institutions in Cochin except the Cathedral and the church of St. Francis Assisi. During the British conquest of Cochin the Cathedral was destroyed. From 1838 until 1886 the Diocese of Cochin was governed by the Vicar Apostolic of Verapoly. After the reorganization in 1886 five Portuguese bishops ruled the diocese.

In 1950 the Portuguese Padroado was suppressed and the diocese was handed over to the native clergy. Dr. Alexander Edezhath (1951- retired in 1975) was the first Indian Bishop. The present Bp John Thattumkal took charge of the diocese on June 25 2000.

The territory of the Diocese of Cochin is situated between the Arabian Sea in the west the Archdiocese of Verapoly in the north and in the east and the Diocese of Alleppey in the south. As per the Executorial Decree issued soon after the Decree of the erection of the dioceses of Cochin and Alleppey provision is made that the Diocese of Alleppey may have personal jurisdiction of the so called 'Five Hundred Community' who reside within the territory of the Diocese of Cochin and in the same way the Diocese of Cochin may have jurisdiction over the so called "Seven Hundred Community" in the territory of the Diocese of Alleppey.
 
Prelates of the Diocese of Cochin
Bishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriodBishops NamePrelate's StatusPeriod
Bishop 2000-2008 Bishop 1975-1999
Bishop 1952-1999 Aux.Bishop 1942-1951
Bishop 1934 - 1939 Bishop 1909 - 1931
Bishop 1887 - 1879 Bishop 1832 - 1832
Bishop 1819 - 1819 Bishop 1785 - 1818
Bishop 1778 - 1785 Bishop 1777 - 1777
Bishop 1745 - 1746 Bishop 1745 - 1745
Bishop 1720 - 1742 Bishop 1717 - 1717
Bishop 1694 - 1713 Bishop 1692 - 1692
Bishop 1688 - 1691 Bishop 1676 - 1685
Bishop 1672 - 1672 Bishop 1668 - 1668
Bishop 1650 - 1650 Bishop 1647 - 1647
Bishop 1633 - 1646 Bishop 1630 - 1633
Bishop 1628 - 1629 Bishop 1615 - 1624
Bishop 1588 - 1610 Bishop 1579 - 1588
Bishop 1578 - 1579 Bishop 1567 - 1578
Bishop 1557 - 1567