History
The Church in Kerala traces its origin to the preaching of St.
Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ. Hence, the
Christians here are called “St. Thomas Christians.”
This Apostolic Church has been in the Catholic Communion. From
the early centuries especially in the fourth century it came
in contact with the Syro - Chaldean Churches and consequently
adopted the Syrian Liturgical traditions in its worship. In
the 16th century it came in contact with the Western Church
through its Fathers. Owing to the policy of the Portuguese Fathers
in Latinising the Liturgy and the indigenous customs of the
Apostolic Indian Church, a section of the community broke away
from the Portuguese ecclesiastical authorities and eventually
got into communion with the Jacobite Patriarch of Antioch. Ever
since the division in the Church, attempts were made to regain
the original Catholic Communion which could be crowned with
success only in the first half of this century.
In 1926 the Episcopal Synod held at Parumala, empowered Metropolitan
Man Ivanios to enter into negotiations with Rome to effect a
reunion with the Catholic Church under the expressed condition
that the ancient and venerable traditions of the Malankara Church
should be retained and kept intact. The Holy Father Pope Pius
XI graciously accepted the conditions and welcomed the reunion.
Accordingly on September 20, 1930, Archbishop Mar Ivanios, Bishop
Mar Theophilus, Fr John oic., Bro Alexander (Fr Seraphion oic)
and Mr. Chacko Kilileth made their profession of Faith and were
duly received into the Catholic Communion by His Excellency
Rt Rev Dr Maia Benziger, Bishop of Quilon, specially deputed
by the Holy See. The following day two Rembans, Rt Rev Joseph
Pulikottil and Rt Rev Philipose Cheppad made their profession
of Faith and were received into the Catholic Church.
In 1932, His Grace Mar Ivanios made his visit to Rome and His
Holiness Pope Pius XI invested him with the Sacred Pallium.
By the Apostolic Constitution, “Christo Pastorum Principi”
(June 11, 1932) the Holy Father Pope Pius XI established the
Syro - Malankara Catholic Hierarchy, comprising the metropolitian
Eparchy of Trivandrum and the Eparchy of Tiruvalla.
On March 11, 1933 Archbishop Mar Ivanios dedicated his provisional
Cathedral at Palayam to the Mother of God and celebrated the
solemn Holy Qurbana in the Cathedral on the following day concelebrated
by Bishop mar Theophilos, the Bishop of Tiruvalla, Rt Rev Maria
Benzigar, the special depute of the Apostolic Delegate.
Archbishop Mar Ivanios having made the Profession of Faith before
the august assembly of the Bishops of the three Rites, priests
and laymen and amidst the acclamations of ‘Oxios’
( a customary hymn for the occasion) was enthroned as the Metropolitan
Archbishop of Trivandrum and the Hierarchical head of the Syro
- Malankara Catholic Church. The pioneer of the reunion movement
in Kerala.
His Grace the Archbishop Mar Ivanios, passed away on July 15,
1953. A few months before his death, on January 29, 1953 he
consecrated Rt Rev Benedict Mar Gregorios as his Auxiliary Bishop
and as the Titular Bishop of Anterdos.
Upon the demise of his Grace Mar Ivanios, His Excellency mar
Gregorios was made the Apostolic Administrator of the Metropolitan
Eparchy of Trivandrum. And on January 27, 1955, His Holiness
Pope Pius XII appointed him the Metropolitan Archbishop of Trivandrum.
Under God’s providence as result of untiring labours of
devoted Priests, Religious and lay people, the Re- Union movement
struck roots and made rapid strides enriching the Malankara
Catholic Church.
The Silver Jubilee of the establishment of the Hierarchy was
celebrated on February 11, 1958 at St. Mary’s church,
Vakayar. In 1959 the new Archbishop received the sacred Pallium
from His Holiness Pope John XXIII. His Grace took part in II
Vatican Council which was opened in 1961.
The newly built permanent Cathedral was consecrated by His Grace
Benedict Mar Gregorios on the 22nd of February 1965.
His Excellency Most Rev. Paulose Mar Philexinos, the Metropolitan
of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, was received into
the Catholic Church on August 28, 1977. His was appointed Titular
Bishop of Chayal.
His Excellency Rt Rev Lawrence Mar Ephraem, who was nominated
Auxiliary to the Archbishop and Titular Bishop of Barkuso on
November 6, 1980 was consecrated Bishop on December 27, 1980
at Kottayam during the Golden Jubilee celebrations of the Reunion
movement.
The Golden Jubilee of the Reunion Movement of the Syro - Malankara
Catholic Church was celebrated at Kottayam on December 26, 27,
and 28, 1980. His Eminence Wladyslaw Cardinal Rubin, the Perfect
of the Sacred Congregation for the Oriental Churches was the
Papal Delegates for the Jubilee. Other eminent participants
included His Beatitude Maximos V Hakim, the Patriarch of Antioch
and all the East of Alexandria and Jerusalem. His Excellency
Most Rev Luciano Storero, the Apostolic Pro Nuncio to India,
and Mother Teresa.
A significant development in the recent past has been the establishment
of parishes for members of the Syro - Malankara Catholic Church
in different parts of India and in the United States of America.
Pope John Paul II blessed us with his Historic visit to St.
Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum, on February 8, 1986.
The Holy Father in his Major speech in
Trivandrum, praised the founder of the reunion movement and
expressed his high
appreciation of the work and witness of the Syro - Malankara
Church.
After 41 years of devoted service Archbishop Benedict Mar Gregorios
passed away on October 10, 1994. His Excellency Most Rev Cyril
Mar Baselios, the Bishop of Bathery became the Apostolic Administrator
of the Malankara Catholic Church. His Excellency Rt Rev Lawrence
Mar Ephraem, Proto-Syncellus, was elected the Administrator
of the Archdiocese of Trivandrum on the same day.
His Grace Most Rev Cyril Mar Baselios was appointed Metropolitan
Archbishop of
Trivandrum on November 29, 1995. The enthronement of His Grace
took place on December 14, 1995. As the Metropolitan Archbishop
received sacred Pallium from the Holy Father Pope John Paul
II on January 9, 1996 in Vatican.
His Eminence Achille Cardinal Silvestrini, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Oriental Churches visited the Archdiocese on 12th and
13th of February 1996.
His Eminence Josef Cardinal Tomko, Prefect of the Congregation
for the Evangelization of the Peoples visited the Archdiocese
on 2nd November 1996.
Considering the linguistic, social and cultural heritage of
the people of the region of Kanyakumari and the vast area of
the Archdiocese of Trivandrum. His Holiness Pope John Paul II,
at the request His Grace Most Rev. Cyril Mar Baselios, by an
Apostolic Bull dated December 16, 1996 created the Diocese of
Marthandom having its headquarters at Marthandom.
Major Archbishop
Cyril Mar Baselios passed away on Jan. 20, 2007.
Catholicos
Bawa Baselios Mar Cleemas was elected on Feb. 10, 2007 and installed
Major Archbishop of Trivandrum on March 03, 2007.
Major
Archbishop BASELIOS CLEEMIS Catholicos
Major Archbishop of Trivandrum
Born: Jun. 15, 1959
Priestly Ordn: Jun. 11, 1986
Episcopal Ordn: Aug. 15, 2001
Installed Major Archbishop: Mar. 05, 2007
Address:
Major Archbishop of Trivandrum
Archbishop's House
Pattom, Trivandrum,
Kerala - 695 004.
Tel: (0471) 25 41 642 , 25 41 643, 25 40 446
Fax: (0471) 25 41 635
E-mail: mabt@dataone.in
Websit: www.malankaracatholicchurch.net
Area: 8,684 sq. kms
Total population: 10 million
Catholics: 2,10,000
Languages spoken: Malayalam
Revenue districts: Trivandrum, Kollam, Pathanamthitta and Alapuzha.
Statistics
Diocesan Clergy: 224
Religious Priests: 34
Religious Brothers: 28
Religious Women: 785
No. of Parishes: 513
Houses of Women Religious: 97
Houses of Men Religious: 15
Formation Houses
Major Seminary: 01
Minor Seminary: 01
No. of Educational Institutions
P. G. Depts. / Colleges: 02
Students: 40,000
B. Ed. Colleges: 01
Students: 200
Colleges: 01
Students: 1,000
Technical Institutions: 04
Students: 2,000
Sr. Secondary Schools (10+2): 03
Students: 1,400
High Schools (10th std.): 24
Students: 5,000
Primary Schools: 124
Students: 37,200
Hospitals: 11
Beds: 450
Dispensaries: 06
Beneficiaries (Annual): 40,000
