Diocese of Kanjirappally
Author: Jobi Varghese First featured: May 8, 2006 Last updated: May 8, 2006
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Kanjirappally is one of the five taluks of Kottayam district, and is situated about 40 KM distant from Kottayam town. Kanjirappally, a low-hill region on the Western Ghats, is famous for its abundant and omnipresent rubber plantations. The area has large concentration of Syrian Christians, who have come to be colloquially called 'achayans'.
Syrian Christians of Kanjirappally are considered aristocrats of the Church, who evince rich cultural heritage, and possess high social and educational standing.
Kanjirappally is nicknamed 'the Queen of Malanad', and rightly so, thanks to the numerous hills, large mountainous zones, rocky terrains, scenic locations, and verdant cultivation in and around the place, with the meandering Western Ghats lined on its eastern side.
The Kanjirappally diocese encompasses part of Kottayam district, part of Idukki district, and Pathanamthitta district. Several tourist spots such as Kuttikkanam, Ramakkalmedu, Erumely, Sabarimala, and Pampa are located inside the territory of the diocese.
The Kanjirappally diocese likely represents more agrarian families and farming areas than any other diocese.
The diocese of Kanjirappally (Kanjirapally) was established on February 26, 1977, bifurcating the Archdiocese of Changanassery. Mar Joseph Powathil was appointed as the first bishop of the diocese in February 1977. On his becoming the Archbishop of Changanassery Archdiocese, Mar Joseph Powathil retried as bishop in January 1986, following which Rev. Fr Mathew Vattakkuzhy was appointed as Administrator of the diocese. In December 1986, Mar Matthew Vattakkuzhy was appointed as the second bishop of Kanjirapally diocese.
Mar Matthew Vattakkuzhy resigned as bishop in January 2001. Shortly afterwards, Mar Mathew Arackal was appointed as the third bishop of the diocese of Kanjirappally, and installed as bishop in February 2001.
Foranes, Parishes, Population
There are ten foranes under the Kanjirappally diocese. The total number of parishes under all these ten foranes is 136.
The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in the diocese is close to 2,00,000.
Pastoral Centre & Cathedral Church
The administrative offices of the diocese are housed in the Pastoral Centre, which is the official administrative building of the diocese. The pastoral centre is located at Kurishingal Junction in Kanjirappally.
The diocesan house is situated about one kilometre away, and is only for residential purpose.
St Dominic's Cathedral, the diocesan Cathedral, is located just about 300 metres off the pastoral centre.
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Address:
Pastoral Centre
P.B. No. 22, Kanjirappally
Kottayam Dt, Kerala - 686 507, India
Tel: (04828) 202665, 202906, 203063,
203699
Fax: (04828) 205200, 204491
E-mail: bishop@kanjirapallydiocese.com,
dofkin@vsnl.com
Web: www.kanjirapallydiocese.com
Photographs: Jobi Varghese © SyroMalabar.com
Kanjirappally Diocese
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