Syro-Malabar Church Timeline

Author: Jobi Varghese   Date: September 10, 2005

Twenty centuries ago, Apostle Thomas handed over to us a wonderful gift - the gift of Christian faith. Century after century and generation after generation, this gift is being preserved and lived.

Christianity in India has gone through different phases. The Syro-Malabar Church has been growing phenomenally for more than a century.

The landmarks in the Syro-Malabar Church are chronicled below.

First, there is a mention of the pre-Syro-Malabar Church period. Next comes an account of the events of the Syro-Malabar Church.

• AD 52: Arrival of St Thomas the Apostle at Kodungallur on the Malabar Coast
• AD 72: Martyrdom of St Thomas at Mylapore near Madras
• AD 345: Persian trader Thomas of Cana arrives in India and settles in the southern part of Kodungallur, today's Kottayam.
• 1498: Vasco da Gama, Portuguese sea captain and explorer, lands in Calicut (Kozhikkode).
• 1599: Synod of Diamper (Synod of Udayamperoor or Udayamperoor Soonahados)
• 1600: St Thomas Christians brought under the Latin bishops (Latin jurisdiction)
• 1653: Coonan Cross Oath - revolt of St Thomas Christians against the Latin rule; division in the Indian Church.
• 1831: Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara founds the Congregation of Mother Immaculate (CMI).
• 1887: Pope Leo XIII on May 20, 1887 establishes two Vicariates Apostolic namely Kottayam (named Kottayam but comprising the areas of today's Changanasserry diocese AND today's Kottayam diocese) and Trichur, exclusively for St Thomas Christians, soon to be known as Syro-Malabarese or Syro-Malabar Catholics, and appoints Dr Charles Lavigne (Kottayam) and Dr Adolph Medlycott (Trichur) as Vicars Apostolic.

  This is the beginning of the Syro-Malabar Church.

• Thus, Trichur diocese - 1887, Kottayam diocese - 1887
• 1896: The Vatican appoints native (indigenous) bishops for St Thomas Christians; Pope Leo XIII establishes the new Vicariate Apostolic of Ernakulam, and reorganizes the whole territory of St Thomas Christians, leading to three Vicariates Apostolic namely Trichur, Kottayam, and Ernakulam.
• Thus, Ernakulam diocese - 1896
• 1911: Pope Pius X erects a separate Vicariate Apostolic (diocese) of Kottayam (by renaming already existing Kottayam, which then encompassed the areas of today's Changanassery and today's Kottayam, to Changanassery) within the Syro-Malabar Church for the Knanaya community, and transfers Mar Mathew Makil, the then Vicar Apostolic (bishop) of Changanassery (until then Kottayam, just renamed to Changanasserry, today's Changanasserry) to this newly-established Kottayam diocese.
  Mar Thomas Kurialasserry appointed the Vicar Apostolic of Changanasserry.
• Thus, Changanassery diocese - 1911
• 1923: Syro-Malabar hierarchy founded (December 21, 1923).
  Ernakulam made Archdiocese.
• 1950: Diocese of Pala (Palai) established, bifurcating the diocese of Changanassery.
• 1953: Diocese of Thalasserry (Tellicherry) established.
• 1956: Pope Pius XII raises Changanassery to Archdiocese.
• 1957: Diocese of Kothamangalam formed.
• 1962: Diocese of Chanda in Maharashtra (the first CMI diocese) established to cater to the needs of tens of thousands of Syro-Malabar laity living outside Kerala. (Full diocesan status in 1977)
• 1969: Mar Joseph Parekkattil made cardinal.
• 1970: Mar Antony Padiyara appointed Archbishop of Changanassery.
• 1973: Diocese of Mananthavady formed, bifurcating the diocese of Thalasserry.
• 1974: Diocese of Palakkad formed, bifurcating the diocese of Trichur.
• 1977: Diocese of Bijnor in Uttar Pradesh established.
• 1977: Diocese of Jagdalpur in Madhya Pradesh formed.
• 1977: Diocese of Kanjirappally established.
• 1977: Diocese of Rajkot in Gujarat formed.
• 1977: Diocese of Satna in Madhya Pradesh established.
• 1977: Diocese of Ujjain in Madhya Pradesh formed.
• 1977: Diocese of Sagar in Madhya Pradesh established.
• 1978: Diocese of Irinjalakkuda established, bifurcating the diocese of Trichur.
• 1984: Diocese of Gorakhpur in Uttar Pradesh formed.
• 1977: Diocese of Thamarasserry established, bifurcating Thalasserry.
• 1985: Mar Antony Padiyara transferred as Archbishop of Ernakulam.
• 1985: Mar Joseph Powathil appointed Archbishop of Changanassery.
• 1986: Pope John Paul II visits Kerala.
• 1986: Pope John Paul II beatifies Fr Kuriakose Elias Chavara and Sr Alphonsa.
• 1988: Diocese of Kalyan established.
• 1988: Mar Antony Padiyara made cardinal.
• 1992: Pope John Paul II elevates the Syro- Malabar Church to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church. (Cardinal) Mar Antony Padiyara, Archbishop of Ernakulam, appointed as the first Major Archbishop (December 16, 1992).
• 1993: The Vatican gives the Syro-Malabar Church sui juris status or self-governing status, except in making episcopal appointments (except in appointing bishops without the approval of the Vatican).
• 1995: Diocese of Trichur made Archdiocese.
• 1995: Diocese of Thalasserry made Archdiocese.
• 1996: Diocese of Thuckalay in Tamilnadu formed, bifurcating the diocese of Changanassery.
• 1996: Cardinal Antony Padiyara resigns as Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly on health reasons. Pope John Paul II appoints Varkey Vithayathil as Administrator.
• 1998: Pope John Paul II appoints Varkey Vithayathil as the Major Archbishop (December, 1998).
• 1999: Diocese of Adilabad in Andhra Pradesh established, bifurcating the diocese of Chanda.
• 1999: Diocese of Belthangady in Karnataka established.
• 2000: Cardinal Antony Padiyara passes away (March 23, 2000).
• 2001: St Thomas Diocese of Chicago established.
• 2001: Mar Varkey Vithayathil made Cardinal.
• 2002: Diocese of Idukki formed, bifurcating the diocese of Kothamangalam.
• 2004: The Vatican grants the Syro-Malabar Church autonomy in naming bishops. The synod of the Syro-Malabar Church is granted full powers in deciding on liturgy and appointing bishops, with the episcopal appointments (bishops) just needing the Vatican's ratification.

Church History

	Syro-Malabar Church
	Syro-Malabar Church: History
	Knanaya Catholic
	Syro-Malabar Church: Timeline
	Syro-Malabar Church: Quick Facts

Indian Christianity

St Thomas Christians

Catholic Church

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