Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar Archeparchy) [Catholic-Hierarchy]

Bishop(s)

Thomas (Tomy) Joseph Tharayil, Archbishop
Joseph Perumthottam, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archeparchy
Elevated: 29 July 1956
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of the Chaldean Tradition
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 8,450 (3,263 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archdiocesechanganacherry.org/
Mailing Address: Metropolitan Curia, P.B. 20, Changanassery-686101, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0481)2420.040
Fax: 2427.372

Historical Details

Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar)
- Latin Name: Kottayamensis
- Erected: 20 May 1887
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Latin Name: Changanacherrensis
- Name Changed: 28 July 1896
- Vicariate
- Country: India
Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Latin Name: Changanacherrensis
- Elevated: 21 December 1923
- Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly (Syro-Malabar)
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Charles Lavigne, S.J. † (13 Sep 1887 Appointed - 11 Jun 1896 Resigned)
Matthew Makil † (11 Aug 1896 Appointed - 30 Aug 1911 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar))
Thomas Kurialachery † (30 Aug 1911 Appointed - 2 Jun 1925 Died)
James Kalacherry (Kalassery) † (29 Oct 1927 Appointed - 27 Oct 1949 Died)
Matthew Kavukattu † (25 Jul 1950 Appointed - 9 Oct 1969 Died)
Antony Padiyara † (14 Jun 1970 Appointed - 23 Apr 1985 Appointed, Archbishop of Ernakulam (Syro-Malabar))
Joseph Powathil † (5 Nov 1985 Appointed - 22 Jan 2007 Retired)
Joseph Perumthottam (22 Jan 2007 Appointed - 30 Aug 2024 Retired)
Thomas (Tomy) Joseph Tharayil (30 Aug 2024 Confirmed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar)
20 May 1887	Erected	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar) (erected) Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
28 July 1896	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar) Vicariate Apostolic of Trichur (Syro-Malabar)	Vicariate Apostolic of Ernakulam (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
28 July 1896	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar)	Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
29 August 1911	Territory Lost	Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)	Vicariate Apostolic of Kottayam (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
21 December 1923	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)	Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
25 July 1950	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar) (Palai, Muttuchira, Kuravilangatt, Anacallu, and Uamapuram)	Diocese of Palai (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
29 April 1955	Territory Added		Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar) (Quilon (except some of "taluk" Shenkotta, Pathanamthitta, Tiruvalla, and Ampalapuzha), Chirayinkit, Nedumangad, Trivandrum , Neyyatinkara, Thovala, Agasteeswaram, Kalkulam, and Vilavankode)
Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
29 July 1956	Elevated	Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)	Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
26 February 1977	Territory Lost	Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar) (Kanjirapally, Erumely, Mundakayam, Anakara, Kattapana, and Upputhara)	Diocese of Kanjirapally (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
11 November 1996	Territory Lost	Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar) (Kanyakumari and Shenkottai)	Diocese of Thuckalay (Syro-Malabar) (erected)

Year Catholics Total Population Percent Catholic Diocesan Priests Religious Priests Total Priests Catholics Per Priest Permanent Deacons Male Religious Female Religious Parishes Source

Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)

1950 415,925 2,000,000 20.8% 370 124 494 841 140 789 200 ap1951

1959 314,691 4,561,961 6.9% 200 95 295 1,066 128 812 147 ap1960

Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)

1970 370,819 9,376,000 4.0% 319 134 453 818 182 1,976 157 ap1971

1980 300,243 261 93 354 848 110 1,682 185 ap1981

1990 350,000 1,715,000 20.4% 580 405 985 355 487 2,074 197 ap1991

1999 350,000 12,600,000 2.8% 288 376 664 527 444 2,690 240 ap2000

2000 380,000 13,000,000 2.9% 300 270 570 666 329 2,872 271 ap2001

2001 380,000 13,000,000 2.9% 302 282 584 650 349 3,000 277 ap2002

2002 380,000 13,000,000 2.9% 307 282 589 645 343 2,901 268 ap2003

2003 380,000 9,300,000 4.1% 321 253 574 662 292 2,787 271 ap2004

2004 382,000 9,300,000 4.1% 332 253 585 652 292 2,810 271 ap2005

2006 390,000 9,394,000 4.2% 300 337 637 612 461 2,720 266 ap2007

2009 385,000 9,430,000 4.1% 320 330 650 592 575 2,700 276 ap2010

2013 380,505 9,297,000 4.1% 338 345 683 557 597 2,655 278 ap2014

2016 398,400 9,516,200 4.2% 352 397 749 531 650 3,293 241 ap2017

2019 405,460 10,038,680 4.0% 394 417 811 499 699 2,374 248 ap2020

2021 402,200 10,249,885 3.9% 390 60 450 893 332 2,374 248 ap2022

2023 402,275 10,455,520 3.8% 398 62 460 874 202 2,374 248 ap2024

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
1950	415,925	2,000,000	20.8%	370	124	494	841	140	789	200	ap1951
1959	314,691	4,561,961	6.9%	200	95	295	1,066	128	812	147	ap1960
Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
1970	370,819	9,376,000	4.0%	319	134	453	818	182	1,976	157	ap1971
1980	300,243			261	93	354	848	110	1,682	185	ap1981
1990	350,000	1,715,000	20.4%	580	405	985	355	487	2,074	197	ap1991
1999	350,000	12,600,000	2.8%	288	376	664	527	444	2,690	240	ap2000
2000	380,000	13,000,000	2.9%	300	270	570	666	329	2,872	271	ap2001
2001	380,000	13,000,000	2.9%	302	282	584	650	349	3,000	277	ap2002
2002	380,000	13,000,000	2.9%	307	282	589	645	343	2,901	268	ap2003
2003	380,000	9,300,000	4.1%	321	253	574	662	292	2,787	271	ap2004
2004	382,000	9,300,000	4.1%	332	253	585	652	292	2,810	271	ap2005
2006	390,000	9,394,000	4.2%	300	337	637	612	461	2,720	266	ap2007
2009	385,000	9,430,000	4.1%	320	330	650	592	575	2,700	276	ap2010
2013	380,505	9,297,000	4.1%	338	345	683	557	597	2,655	278	ap2014
2016	398,400	9,516,200	4.2%	352	397	749	531	650	3,293	241	ap2017
2019	405,460	10,038,680	4.0%	394	417	811	499	699	2,374	248	ap2020
2021	402,200	10,249,885	3.9%	390	60	450	893	332	2,374	248	ap2022
2023	402,275	10,455,520	3.8%	398	62	460	874	202	2,374	248	ap2024

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Abraham Alangimattathil, S.D.B. †
James Kalacherry (Kalassery) † (Bishop: 29 Oct 1927 to 27 Oct 1949)
Matthew Kavukattu † (Bishop: 25 Jul 1950; Archbishop: 29 Jul 1956 to 9 Oct 1969)
Mathai Kochuparampil, S.D.B. †
Thomas Kurialachery † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Aug 1911; Bishop: 21 Dec 1923 to 2 Jun 1925)
Charles Lavigne, S.J. † (Vicar Apostolic: 13 Sep 1887 to 11 Jun 1896)
Matthew Makil † (Vicar Apostolic: 11 Aug 1896 to 30 Aug 1911)
George Mamalassery †
Antony Padiyara † (Archbishop: 14 Jun 1970 to 23 Apr 1985)
Joseph Powathil † (Priest: 3 Oct 1962; Auxiliary Bishop: 7 Jan 1972 to 26 Feb 1977; Archbishop: 5 Nov 1985 to 22 Jan 2007)
Sebastian Valloppilly † (Priest: 24 Aug 1945 to 16 Oct 1955)

Source(s)

Eparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 16, Page 257, to Page 262
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 784, and Page 785
Archeparchy of Changanacherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 51, Page 580, and Page 581

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