Arch-Diocese of Trichur
Author: Jobi Varghese First featured: May 15, 2006 Last updated: May 15, 2006
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Trichur, Kerala's cultural capital, thoroughly complements its privileged nickname, with its rich history and cultural heritage, and being home to several historic palaces and archeological resources, and also having inherited numerous art forms and customs. Trichur is also a haven of temples and churches, with numerous temples and churches situated all over the district.
Trichur, also called Thrissur, is the headquarters of Trichur district in central Kerala, and opens the way to the northern part of Kerala. Trichur district is blessed with several cultural and archeological centres, art forms, scenic locations, rivers and rivulets, and borders the Arabian Sea on its western side. People of Trichur are renowned for their pleasant 'Trichur accent'.
Trichur is perhaps best known for 'Thrissur Pooram', a great annual temple festival that involves fireworks, drum concerts, and processions of caparisoned elephants, which attracts large masses of crowd and draws in the attention of local and worldwide media.
Trichur's cultural heritage is manifest in its being home to four prestigious institutions of art, literature, and culture namely the Kerala Kalamandalam at Cheruthuruthy, Kerala Sahithya Academy, Kerala Lalithakala Academy, and the Kerala Sangeetha Nataka Academy, the latter three situated in Trichur town.
Besides, the Archeological & Art museum in Trichur has a rich collection of wood carvings, sculptures, and ancient ornaments. The Trichur zoo, with its many animals and birds, is also a prime attraction to visitors.
North Kerala's scenic natural beauty begins in Trichur district, with innumerable hamlets, rivulets, sylvan pastures, and evergreen forests setting the tone.
There are large mountain ranges, dense forests, and wide farming areas in Trichur district. Trichur district also has several strikingly attractive tourist spots such as the Athirapally waterfall, Vazhachal waterfall, Peechi dam, Anakkayam waterfall, Punathurkotta elephant sanctuary, etc.
The St Thomas Church at Palayoor (Palayur) built by St Thomas the Apostle, is the main Christian pilgrimage centre in Trichur district. This Church is named the St Thomas Archdiocesan Shrine.
Other Christian pilgrimage centres in the district include the Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, the Church of Our Lady of Dolours (also called the puthan palli) which is the largest church in South Asia, and the St Joseph's Shrine at Pavaratty. Kodunagallur, where St Thomas landed in AD 52, is also located in Trichur district although it is in the eparchial territory of Irinjalakuda diocese.
Trichur Archdiocese
On May 20, 1887, Pope Leo XIII established two Vicariates Apostolic namely Kottayam and Trichur exclusively for St Thomas Christians, thus separating the Syrian Catholics of Malabar from the Latin jurisdiction, and paving the way for the beginning of the Syro-Malabar Church. Dr Adolph Medlycott was appointed as the first Vicar Apostolic of Trichur.
In 1896, the two Syrian Vicariates were trifurcated leading to the formation of the third Vicariate Apostolic of Ernakulam. Mar John Menacherry was appointed as the Vicar Apostolic of Trichur, the first native Vicar Apostolic for Syrian Catholics. In 1921, Mar Francis Vazhapilly was appointed as the Vicar Apostolic.
Mar George Alapatt became the bishop of Trichur diocese in 1944. Following his retirement as bishop, Mar Joseph Kundukulam was appointed as the bishop in 1970.
The diocese of Trichur was bifurcated in 1974 to form the diocese of Palghat, and again in 1978 to form the diocese of Irinjalakkuda.
On May 18, 1995, Pope John Paul II raised the diocese of Trichur to the Metropolitan status or an Archdiocese. Mar Joseph Kundukulam was named the first Archbishop of Trichur Archdiocese.
Mar Kundukulam retired as archbishop in 1997, and Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy was appointed as the new Archbishop of Trichur Archdiocese.
On May 1, 2004, Mar Andrews Thazhath was appointed as the first Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese of Trichur.
Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy retired as Archbishop in January 2007, following which Mar Andrews Thazhath was appointed as the new Archbishop and was installed as Archbishop on March 18, 2007.
Foranes, Parishes, Population
There are 16 foranes in the archdiocese of Trichur. The total number of parishes under all these 16 foranes is 192. In addition, there are 41 stations in the archdiocese.
The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Trichur archdiocese is over 4,60,000.
Archdiocesan House & Cathedral Church
The Archbishop's House of Trichur Archdiocese is situated less than 1 KM distant from Trichur town, and is near Jubilee Mission Medical College.
The archdiocesan Cathedral is the magnificent Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral, located in Trichur town.
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Address:
The Archeparchial Curia
Catholic Archbishop's House
P.B. No. 706, Trichur,
Kerala - 680 005, India
Tel: (0487) 2333325, 2338203, 2333542
Fax: (0487) 2338204
E-mail: carbit@sancharnet.in
Photographs: Jobi Varghese
© SyroMalabar.com
Trichur Archdiocese
Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral
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