# Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta

The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta is a Syro-Malankara Catholic Church ecclesiastical territory or eparchy of the Catholic Church in Kerala, India. The diocese was created by Pope Benedict XVI on 25 January 2010. Yoohanon Chrysostom became the first eparch. St. Peter’s Malankara Catholic Church in the episcopal see of Pathanamthitta serves as the cathedral church. The Eparchy of Pathanamthitta is a suffragan eparchy in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archeparchy of Trivandrum.

## History

The Syro-Malankara Catholics are one of the oldest Saint Thomas Christians centered in Kerala, India. In the 16th century, the Catholics of the Latin Church came in contact with the Indian Christians through the Portuguese merchants and missionaries. But the relationship was fragile and several conflicts evolved among them, which later resulted in the Coonan Cross Oath. The majority of them restored ecclesial relationship with the Portuguese padroado hierarchy through the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, while others formed themselves into an independent ecclesial community as the Malankara Church and gradually established a relationship with the Church of the Antioch. Later, on 20 September 1930, a group headed by Geevarghese Ivanios lead the reunion movement and returned to the Catholic Church. The Metropolitan Eparchy of Trivandrum was inaugurated on 11 May 1933 and Geevarghese Ivanios was installed as its first Metropolitan. To cope up with the tremendous growth of the church the Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum was ramified and a new Eparchy of Pathanamthitta was formed.

## Statistics

As of 2021, there are 100 parishes in the Diocese and the number of priests incardinated is 120. The diocese has about 80 seminarians pursuing different grades in their priestly formation.The diocese possesses 10,000 families of Catholic faithful in its territory. A bigger part of the malankara global diaspora comes from this diocese. The diocesan area is basically hilly in nature including a considerable number of tribal colonies. The Exarcate of the United States got its first bishop Thomas Eusebius from the Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church in Mylapra the Eparch of Pathanamthitta.

## Curia members

| Designation | Name |
| Syncellus (Vicar General) | Msgr. Varghese Mathew Kalayil Vadakkethil |
| Chancellor | Rt. Rev. Sebastian Ambasseril Corepiscopa |
| Economus (Procurator) | Fr. Abraham (Jinse) Meppurathu |
| Judicial Vicar | Fr. Kuriakose Kuthinethu |
| Rector of Minor Seminary | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil |

## The Heads of Various Apostolic Services

| Designation | Name |
| Rector, Minor Seminary | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil |
| Director, Evangelization | Fr. Mathew Neriattil |
| Director, Catechism | Fr. Robin Manackalethu |
| Spiritual Advisor, Malankara Catholic Association (MCA) | Fr. Abraham Mannil |
| Director, Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) | Fr. Skariah (Job) Pathalil |
| Director, Malankara Catholic Mothers' Forum (MCMF) | Fr. Varghese Chamakalayil |
| Director, Family Apostolate | Fr. Varghese Thomas Chamakalayil |
| Director, Bible Apostolate | Fr. Chacko Karippon |
| Correspondent, Aided Schools | Msgr. Varghese Kalayil Vadakkethil |
| Correspondent, Unaided Schools | Msgr. Varghese Kalayil Vadakkethil |
| Director, Legion of Mary | Fr. Anto Kannamkulam |
| Director, Social Service | Fr. Varghese Chamakalayil |
| Spiritual Advisor, Vincent De Paul Society | Fr. George Varghese Puthuparambil |
| Public Relations' Officer | Fr. Joel John Poweth |
| Director, Upasana Pastoral Centre | Fr. Thomas Cheruthode |
| Vocation Promoter | Fr. Sijo James Charivuparambil |
| Director, Dialogue Commission | Fr. Daniel Bethel |
| Director, Suvisheshsa Sangam | Fr. Thomas Nedumankuzhiyil |
| Director, Jagratha Commission | Fr. Scott Sleeba Pulimooden |

## Parishes

| Catholic Bishop's House, Pathanamthitta | Pathanamthitta |
| St. Peter's Cathedral | Pathanamthitta |
| Sacred Heart Malankara Catholic Church | Mylapra |
| St. Edward Malankara Syrian Catholic Church | Aranmula |
| St John's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church Kadammanitta | Kadammanitta |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Ponnambu | Ponnambu |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Elappupara | Elappupara |
| Sacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic Church | Vadakkupuram |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Kumbazha |
| St.Mary's Kurishumala Church | Perunad |
| St Peters Malankara Catholic Church | Attachakal |
| St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Konny |
| St Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Pambumala |
| St. John Chrysostom Malankara Catholic Church | Mannarakulanji |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Kumplampoika | Kumplampoika |
| St. Antony's Malankara Catholic Church | Vadasserikkara |
| St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Vayalathala |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church | Athirumkal |
| St. Teresa's Catholic Church | Murinjakal |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Nedumonkavu |
| St. Georges Malankara Catholic Church | Vallicode Kottayam |
| St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Angadical |
| Syrian Malankara Catholic Church Mezhuveli | Mezhuveli West |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Kurichimuttam |
| St. Mary's Catholic Church | Chandanappally |
| St.Thomas Syro Malankara Catholic Church | Amalagiri-Kodumudi |
| St.Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Seethathode |
| Malankara Syrian Catholic Church | Vayyattupuzha |
| St George Malankara Syrian Catholic Church | Thannithode |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Thekkuthode |
| St.George Malankara Catholic Church | Manneera |
| St. Benedict's Malankara Catholic Church | Kokkathode |
| St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Valyayanthy | Valyayanthy |
| Malankara Catholic Church | Mekozhoor |
| St. Joseph Malankara Catholic Church | Karakkad |
| St.Thomas Malankara Catholic Church | Puthenpeedika |
| St Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, Mapilaly | Thumpamon |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Erathumpamon | Erathumpamon |
| St. Benedict's Malanakara Catholic Church, Konnithazham | Konnithazham |
| Malankara Catholic Church, Carmala | Carmala |
| MCC, Puthukkulam | Puthukkulam |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Athumpumkulam | Athumpumkulam |
| St. Sebastian's Malankara Catholic Church, Avolikuzhy | Avolikuzhy |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Chittar | Chittar |
| MCC, Pampini | Pampini |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Moolakkayam |
| St. Theresa's Malankara Catholic Church, Pampavalli | Pampavalli |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church | Anandappally |
| St. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church | Angamoozhi |
| Malankara Catholic Church, Anjilikunnu | Anjilikunnu |
| St Patrick's Malakara Catholic Church | Chengara |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Paranthal | Paranthal |
| St. George Malankara Catholic Church, Kallely | Kallely |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Oottupara | Oottupara |
| St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, Thonikadavu | Thonikadavu |

## Gallery

* Inauguration of the Eparchy
* Inauguration of the 'UPASANA' Pastoral Centre,Omalloor
* Ordination of priests held at S H Church, Mylapra
* Yoohanon Chrysostom with Curia Members