Syro-Malabar Church: Quick Facts
Author: Jobi Varghese Date: September 10, 2005Oriental and in Total Communion with the Church of Rome
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The Syro-Malabar Church is an Oriental (Eastern Rite) Catholic Church, one of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches worldwide.
An Oriental Church follows its own traditions and worship style different from the Latin Church.
The Syro-Malabar Church, like all Oriental Churches, is in total Communion with the Church of Rome, and is an integral part of the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church.
One of India's Two Oriental Churches
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Of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches worldwide, India has two: The Syro-Malabar Church and the Syro-Malankara Church
The 21 Oriental Churches and the Latin Church together form the One, Holy, Catholic, and Apostolic Church, a Communion of 22 individual Churches or sui juris.
Meaning of the Name "Syro-Malabar"
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The term Syro-Malabar was first used by the Vatican. The term refers to the East Syrian or Chaldean tradition the Syro-Malabar Church follows and to the Malabar Coast where Apostle Thomas landed in AD 52.
Most Vibrant Church, Second Largest Oriental Church
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An epitome of staunch faith and deep-rooted spirituality, the Syro-Malabar Church is regarded as the world's most vibrant Catholic Church.
It is also the second largest of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches worldwide, being second only to the Eastern rite Ukrainian Church.
Major Archiepiscopal Church
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In 1992, Pope John Paul II raised the Syro-Malabar Church to the level of a Major Archiepiscopal Church. The Church has 26 dioceses, of which five are Archdioceses.
Major Archbishop Cardinal Mar Varkey Vithayathil is the head of the Syro-Malabar Church.
One of the three Major Archiepiscopal Churches
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Only three of the 21 Oriental Catholic Churches are Major Archiepiscopal Churches.
The Syro-Malabar Church is one of these three Churches, the other two being the Ukrainian Church and the Syro-Malankara Church.
Knanaya Catholics
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The Archdiocese of Kottayam is part of the Syro-Malabar Church. The members of Kottayam Archdiocese are known as Knanaya Catholics. The population of Knanaya Catholics is about 1,25,000.
Mar Kuriakose Kunnasserry is the Archbishop of Kottayam Archdiocese. Mar Mathew Moolakkatt is the auxiliary bishop.
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Church History |
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Syro-Malabar Church |
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Syro-Malabar Church: History |
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Knanaya Catholic |
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Syro-Malabar Church: Timeline |
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Syro-Malabar Church: Quick Facts |
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Indian Christianity |
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St Thomas Christians |
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Catholic Church |
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