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

Bishop(s)

Joseph Pamplany, Archbishop
George Njaralakatt, Archbishop Emeritus
George Valiamattam, Archbishop Emeritus

General Information

Type of Jurisdiction: Archeparchy
Elevated: 18 May 1995
Metropolitan See
Depends on: Dicastery for the Eastern Churches
Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of the Chaldean Tradition
Country: India
Square Kilometers: 4,958 (1,915 Square Miles)
Official Web Site: http://www.archdioceseoftellicherry.org/
Mailing Address: Archbishop's House, P.O. Box 70, Thalassery-670101, Kerala, India
Telephone: (0490)234-2440

Historical Details

Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Latin Name: Tellicherriensis
- Erected: 31 December 1953
- Metropolitan: Archeparchy of Ernakulam (Syro-Malabar)
- Country: India

Past and Present Ordinaries

Sebastian Valloppilly † (16 Oct 1955 Appointed - 18 Feb 1989 Retired)
George Valiamattam (18 Feb 1989 Appointed - 29 Aug 2014 Retired)
George Njaralakatt (29 Aug 2014 Appointed - 15 Jan 2022 Retired)
Joseph Pamplany (15 Jan 2022 Appointed - )

Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
31 December 1953	Erected	Diocese of Calicut	Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
29 April 1955	Territory Added		Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (Civil district of South Kanara, Mysore include Mandya, Hassan, Chikmagalur, Shimoga, along with the province of Coorg, the Nilgiris and part of the Coimbatore civil district)
1 March 1973	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (Nord Wyanad, Sud Wyanad, Shimoga, Chigmagalur, Hassan, Mandya, Mysore, and Nilgiris)	Eparchy of Mananthavady (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
4 December 1975	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (Adakathode, Ambaithode, Chunkakunnu, Kolithattu, Kottiyur, Elappeedika, Edivanna, Monimooly, Nilambur, Palamkara, and Thalanji)	Eparchy of Mananthavady (Syro-Malabar)
28 April 1986	Territory Lost	Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (Calicut and Malappuram)	Diocese of Thamarasserry (Syro-Malabar) (erected)
Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
18 May 1995	Elevated	Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)	Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
24 April 1999	Territory Lost	Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar) (Dhakshina, Kannada, and Coorg)	Diocese of Belthangady (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 Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)

1970 263,635 12,000,000 2.2% 190 52 242 1,089 74 530 151 ap1971

1980 289,042 182 43 225 1,284 56 1,050 209 ap1981

1990 247,234 2,715,000 9.1% 156 30 186 1,329 37 815 195 ap1991

Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)

1999 306,256 3,500,000 8.8% 212 84 296 1,034 174 1,806 232 ap2000

2000 289,562 3,550,000 8.2% 187 77 264 1,096 165 1,291 189 ap2001

2001 295,200 3,600,000 8.2% 202 65 267 1,105 154 1,588 189 ap2002

2002 285,126 3,605,000 7.9% 201 73 274 1,040 197 1,656 201 ap2003

2003 278,804 3,605,000 7.7% 199 69 268 1,040 168 1,392 207 ap2004

2004 279,200 3,650,000 7.6% 210 74 284 983 148 1,415 213 ap2005

2009 307,500 3,758,000 8.2% 251 130 381 807 353 2,032 233 ap2010

2010 307,682 3,810,000 8.1% 276 125 401 767 332 1,936 234 ap2011

2014 302,007 3,550,000 8.5% 280 144 424 712 430 1,752 245 ap2015

2017 283,395 3,620,000 7.8% 283 147 430 659 402 1,872 245 ap2018

2020 289,559 3,829,346 7.6% 291 171 462 626 440 1,973 254 ap2021

2022 274,350 3,813,747 7.2% 320 175 495 554 425 1,968 254 ap2023

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
1970	263,635	12,000,000	2.2%	190	52	242	1,089	74	530	151	ap1971
1980	289,042			182	43	225	1,284	56	1,050	209	ap1981
1990	247,234	2,715,000	9.1%	156	30	186	1,329	37	815	195	ap1991
Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
1999	306,256	3,500,000	8.8%	212	84	296	1,034	174	1,806	232	ap2000
2000	289,562	3,550,000	8.2%	187	77	264	1,096	165	1,291	189	ap2001
2001	295,200	3,600,000	8.2%	202	65	267	1,105	154	1,588	189	ap2002
2002	285,126	3,605,000	7.9%	201	73	274	1,040	197	1,656	201	ap2003
2003	278,804	3,605,000	7.7%	199	69	268	1,040	168	1,392	207	ap2004
2004	279,200	3,650,000	7.6%	210	74	284	983	148	1,415	213	ap2005
2009	307,500	3,758,000	8.2%	251	130	381	807	353	2,032	233	ap2010
2010	307,682	3,810,000	8.1%	276	125	401	767	332	1,936	234	ap2011
2014	302,007	3,550,000	8.5%	280	144	424	712	430	1,752	245	ap2015
2017	283,395	3,620,000	7.8%	283	147	430	659	402	1,872	245	ap2018
2020	289,559	3,829,346	7.6%	291	171	462	626	440	1,973	254	ap2021
2022	274,350	3,813,747	7.2%	320	175	495	554	425	1,968	254	ap2023

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

Affiliated Bishops, Living

Augustine Madathikunnel
Lawrence Mukkuzhy (Priest: 27 Dec 1978 to 24 Apr 1999)
George Njaralakatt (Priest: 20 Dec 1971 to 1 Mar 1973; Archbishop: 29 Aug 2014 to 15 Jan 2022)
Joseph Pamplany (Priest: 30 Dec 1997; Auxiliary Bishop: 1 Sep 2017; Archbishop: 15 Jan 2022 - )
John Panamthottathil, C.M.I.
Alex Tharamangalam (Priest: 1 Jan 1983 to 25 Aug 2022)
Jacob Thoomkuzhy (Priest: 22 Dec 1956 to 1 Mar 1973)
George Valiamattam (Priest: 30 Nov 1963; Bishop: 18 Feb 1989; Archbishop: 18 May 1995 to 29 Aug 2014)

Affiliated Bishops, Deceased

Sebastian Valloppilly † (Bishop: 16 Oct 1955 to 18 Feb 1989)

Source(s)

Eparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 46, Page 385, to Page 387
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 47, Page 786, and Page 787
Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)
- Acta Apostolicae Sedis, Volume 87, Page 985, and Page 986

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Archeparchy of Tellicherry (Syro-Malabar)

Tellicherriensis