Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

Not to be confused with the Syro-Malabar Church, another Eastern Catholic body.

Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
Old image of Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom, Trivandrum
Type	Particular church (sui iuris)
Classification	Eastern Catholic
Orientation	Eastern Christianity
Scripture	Peshitta
Theology	Catholic theology
Polity	Episcopal polity
Pope	Francis
Major Archbishop	Baselios Cleemis
Parishes	1096
Liturgy	West Syriac Rite (Malankara Rite)
Headquarters	Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom, Kerala, India
Founder	a. Jesus according to Catholic sacred tradition b. Apostle Thomas through apostolic succession, by tradition. c. Geevarghese Ivanios (1930)
Origin	1930—1932
Separated from	Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Branched from	Saint Thomas Christians
Members	458,015
Ministers	Bishops:16 Priests: 1,007 Nuns: 2,500
Other name(s)	Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Rite Catholic Church
Official website	Official site

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, also known as the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular church in full communion with the worldwide Catholic Church possessing self-governance under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. It is one of the major archiepiscopal churches of the Catholic Church. It is headed by Major Archbishop Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos of the Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum based in Kerala, India. With more than 1096 parishes, it is one of India's biggest church evangelical establishments.

The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church traces its origins to the missions of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. The Church employs the West Syriac Rite Divine Liturgy of Saint James. It is one of the two Eastern Catholic churches in India, the other being the Syro-Malabar Church which employs the East Syriac Rite liturgy.

The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church was formed on 20 September 1930 as a result of the reunion movement under the leadership of Archbishop Geevarghese Ivanios, when it split from the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and entered into communion with the Catholic Church. The Malankara Church itself had emerged from the split within the Saint Thomas Christian community of the 17th century; after the Coonan Cross Oath in 1653, the Malankara Church emerged as the faction that stood with Archdeacon Thoma I in swearing to resist the authority of the Latin Catholic Portuguese Padroado. This faction entered into a relationship with the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and adopted the West Syriac Rite (the Saint Thomas Christians of India had until this point used the East Syriac Rite inherited from the historic Church of the East). The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church represents the group from this Malankara faction that reunited with Rome in the 20th century (1930), though retaining the West Syriac liturgical rite.

Mar Ivanios started to have negotiations with the Holy See of Rome in 1926 to enter into a new communion. The two bishops including Ivanios, a priest, a deacon and a layman were received into the Catholic Church together on 1930. By 1950 there were some 65,588 faithful, in 1960 112,478, and in 1970 183,490. There are now over 400,000 faithful in over 12 dioceses in India and across the world.

History

Pre-Coonan Cross Oath

Main article: Saint Thomas Christians

The St. Thomas Christians, also known as Nasranis, are an ancient Christian community in India with origins traditionally traced to the evangelistic activities of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century CE. Situated primarily in the southwestern state of Kerala, the St. Thomas Christians developed a unique identity blending elements of Indian and Syriac Christian traditions. They maintained a hierarchical ecclesiastical structure, often aligning with the East Syriac Church (under the Church of the East) and later the Chaldean Catholic Church. The community largely followed Eastern Christian liturgy, practiced Syriac liturgical traditions, and were in communion with the Patriarch of the East based in Persia. The arrival of Portuguese explorers in India in the late 15th century marked the beginning of significant European influence on the St. Thomas Christians. The Portuguese sought to bring the Indian Christians into conformity with the Latin Catholic Church and asserted their religious and administrative control through the establishment of the Diocese of Goa. This led to tensions, as the Portuguese pressured the community to abandon Eastern practices and adopt Latinized customs, culminating in the Synod of Diamper in 1599, which formally placed the St. Thomas Christians under the jurisdiction of the Catholic Archbishopric of Goa and imposed Latin rites and customs. These measures sparked resistance among the St. Thomas Christians, who sought to preserve their traditions and ecclesiastical autonomy. By the mid-17th century, these grievances intensified, setting the stage for the historic Coonan Cross Oath.

A diagram showing the history of the divisions among the Saint Thomas Christians.

Coonan Cross Oath

Main article: Coonan Cross Oath

A protest took place in 1653 with the Coonan Cross Oath (Oath of the bent cross). Under the leadership of Archdeacon Thomas, the Thomas Christians publicly took an oath that they would not obey the Jesuit Bishops. Church historian KOOTHUR observes that "the 'Coonan Cross' revolution obviously was the final outbreak of the storm that had been gathering on the horizon of the ecclesial life of the St. Thomas Christians for over a century."

Rome sent Carmelites in two groups from the Propagation of the Faith to Malabar headed by Fr. Sebastiani and Fr. Hyacinth. Fr. Sebastiani arrived first in 1655 and began to speak directly with the archdeacon, Thoma I. Fr. Sebastiani, with the help of Portuguese, gained the support of many, especially with the support of Palliveettil Chandy, Kadavil Chandy Kathanar and Vengoor Geevarghese Kathanar. These were the three of the four counselors of Thoma I, who along with Thoma I, had defected with Francisco Garcia Mendes, Archbishop of Cranganore, before the arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports.

Between 1661 and 1662, out of the 116 churches, the Carmelites claimed eighty-four churches, leaving the native Thoma I with thirty-two churches. The eighty-four churches and their congregations were the body from which the Syro Malabar Church and Chaldean Syrian Church have descended. The other thirty-two churches and their congregations represented the nucleus from which the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (Jacobite Church), Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox), the Malabar Independent Syrian Church (Thozhiyur Church), Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Reformed Syrians), and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church have originated.

In 1665 Gregorios, a bishop sent by the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, arrived in India. The independent group under the leadership of the archdeacon welcomed him. Though most of the St. Thomas Christians gradually relented in their strong opposition to the Western control, the arrival of Bishop Gregorios of the Syriac Orthodox Church in 1665 marked the beginning of a formal schism among the St. Thomas Christians. Those who accepted the West Syriac liturgical tradition of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch of Gregorios became known as the Puthenkoor. Those who were in the communion of Rome after the Synod of Daimper and remained in the communion even after the oath of bent cross, and those who rejoined the Catholic communion from the Puthenkoor church during the Carmelite period, came to be known as the Pazhayakoor.

Both factions continued to use the name "Malankara", the real name of the St. Thomas Christian community for the church. Some of the Pazhayakoor churches not joined in the Angamaly Padiyola (1787) later became Latin churches, e.g. Mathilakom (Pappinivattom), Maliankara, Thuruthipuram, etc. One branch of the Pazhayakoor Church later re-established ties with the Assyrian Church of the East and formed the Chaldean Syrian Church when an East Syriac bishop, Gabriel, came to evangelize them in 1701. Kottayam Cheriapally was the headquarters of Gabriel.

The remaining Pazhayakoor christians came to be known as the Syro Malabar Church from the last decade of the Nineteenth century onwards.

Post-Coonan Cross Oath

It was in this contentious context that the 118th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, Ignatius Abded Aloho II, went to Malankara in 1911 and excommunicated Vattasseril Geevarghese Dionysius (This excommunication was declared invalid by the High Court of Travancore). To ward off the undue interference of the Patriarch in the administration of the temporalities of the Church, Fr. P.T. Geevarghese with the blessing of Vattasseril Thirumeni contacted Ignatius Abdul Masih II, the 117th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, who had been excommunicated by the Ottoman government in 1906, and invited him to visit Malankara and to establish a Catholicate here. Accordingly, Ignatius Abdul Masih II went to Malankara in 1912 and established the Catholicate in Malankara. This created a split in the church:

• the faction resisting the Patriarch's administrative interference became the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, an autocephalous Church under Malankara Metropolitan and the Catholicos;
• the faction supporting the Patriarch's administration became the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church (known today as the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church).

Baselios Paulose I (1912–1913), the first Catholicos, died after a short period of five months on 13 May 1913; the See remained vacant until 1925. That was a period of litigation in the Malankara Church. The litigation for Vattippanam (a fixed deposit of money in the name of the Church) and its after-effects in the community was at its zenith.

Pre-Ecclesial communion

See also: Geevarghese Ivanios

Aboon Geevarghese Ivanios

In the early 20th century, Geevarghese Ivanios emerged as a pivotal figure in the development of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Born on 21 September 1882 in Mavelikara, he was raised in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and later pursued education at M.D. Seminary School in Kottayam. After completing high school, he furthered his studies at Madras Christian College, earning a master’s degree. In 1908, he was ordained as a priest by Vattasseril Geevarghese Dionysius and appointed principal of M.D. Seminary, a position that allowed him to shape future church leaders. Later, he accepted an invitation to teach at Serampore College in Calcutta, where he also founded a monastic community.

Upon returning to Kerala, Ivanios established the Bethany Ashram on land donated by his friend E. John Vakeel in Mundanmala, Ranni-Perunadu. This ashram, founded on 15 August 1919, served as a center for spiritual renewal and monastic life, with an additional outreach for orphan care. His monastic vision expanded in 1925 with the founding of the Bethany Madhom, a convent for women religious, inspired by the Epiphany Sisters of England.

Ivanios was consecrated as a bishop in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church by Catholicos Beselios Geevarghese I on 1 May 1925, taking the name Geevarghese Ivanios. However, he later advocated for reunification with the Catholic Church, leading a movement that ultimately established the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Ecclesial communion

The Five Pillars of 1930 Union Event: Ivanios, Jacob Theophilos, John Kuzhinapurath, Alexander, Chacko Kiliyilathu

On 20 September 1930 Ivanios, Bishop Jacob Theophilos, Fr. John Kuzhinapurath OIC, Dn. Alexander OIC, and Chacko Kilileth embraced and united with the Catholic Church. The Union Movement under the leadership of Ivanios gave rise to Malankara Catholic Church. This took place in the Quilon bishop’s chapel. The members of the Jacobite Church were received by his Lordship Bishop Aloysius Maria Benziger (Bishop of Quilon), whom Ivanios approached for help and who was deputed by the Holy See to perform the reception.

Quilon bishop's chapel, memorial stone to commemorate the founding of the Syro-Malankara rite, 1930

Post-Ecclesial communion

Pope Pius XI, through the Apostolic Constitution Christo Pastorum Principi of 11 June 1932, established the Syro-Malankara Catholic hierarchy for the reunited community and erected the Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram with the Eparchy of Tiruvalla as its suffragan. The Metropolitan Eparchy of Thiruvananthapuram was established in 1933. Ivanios was enthroned as its first Metropolitan Archbishop. The Eparchy of Tiruvalla was established in 1933. Jacob Theophilos was enthroned as its first bishop.

In 1937 Joseph Severios of the Malankara Orthodox Church joined the Catholic Church. In 1939, Thomas Dioscoros, the metropolitan of the Knanaya Jacobite Church, joined the Catholic Church. In 1938, the missionary congregation of the Daughters of Mary was founded at Marthandom in Kanyakumari District. Bishop Dioscoros died in 1943.

Ivanios consecrated Benedict Gregorios as his auxiliary bishop in 1953. Ivanios died on 15 July 1953.

The Eparchy of Tiruvalla was led by Jacob Theophilos and Joseph Severios. Severios was the administrator of the eparchy until 1950 due to the ill health of Theophilos. In 1950 he was appointed as the bishop of Tiruvalla. He was also invested with the title archbishop. He died on 18 January 1955.

Benedict Gregorios

In 1955 Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Gregorios was enthroned as the metropolitan archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram and the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

The Holy See appointed Zacharias Athanasios as successor to Severios; his consecration took place in 1954. Jacob Theophilos died in 1956.

Francis Acharya, a Cistercian monk, came to the Eparchy of Tiruvalla. In the year 1957 he founded the Kristiya Sanyasa Samaj, Kurisumala Ashram in the high ranges of Vagamon.

In 1958 the territorial boundary of the Eparchy of Tiruvalla was extended north to include the Malabar region of Kerala, the civil districts of Coimbatore and Nilgiris and Karoor Taluk in Tiruchirappally District of Tamil Nadu and districts of Mysore, Mandya, Coorg, Hasan, Chickamangalore, Shimoga and South Kanara of Karnataka State.

Athanasios died in 1977.

Paulos Philoxenos, the metropolitan of the Malabar Independent Syrian Church, was received into the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on 28 August 1977.

The appointment of Isaac Yoohanon as Bishop of Tiruvalla and erection of the Eparchy of Bathery with the appointment of Cyril Baselios as its first bishop through the decree of the Holy See took place in 1978. Both prelates were consecrated that year.

The Eparchy of Bathery was officially inaugurated in 1978. In 1979 the Eparchial contemplative monastery, Dhyana Ashram, was founded in the Eparchy of Bathery by Fr. Silvester Kozhimannil.

Lawrence Ephrem was consecrated bishop in 1980.

Malankara Catholics within India but outside the canonical territorial boundaries of the Church were first organized as Malankara Catholic Associations, and later came to be erected as personal parish communities. A coordinator was appointed to oversee them, in the Council of Hierarchs of the Malankara Catholic Church.

St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, the first local seminary, was inaugurated at Pattom in 1983 and the new building was blessed at Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram was blessed in 1989.

On 8 February 1986, Pope John Paul II visited St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram.

On 28 April 1987, Yoohanon, the bishop of Tiruvalla died.

Cardinal Lourdusamy, the then prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited the Malankara Catholic Church in August 1987.

Geevarghese Timotheos succeeded Yoohanon as the bishop of Tiruvalla. He was consecrated bishop in 1988.

Benedict Gregorios died in 1994 after serving 41 years.

Cyril Baselios, the bishop of Bathery having been appointed by Pope John Paul II, was enthroned as Metropolitan Archbishop of Thiruvananthapuram and as the head of the Malankara Catholic Church on 14 December 1995. Geevarghese Divannasios was consecrated Bishop of Bathery in the place of Cyril Baselios on 5 February 1997. Achille Silvestrini, Cardinal Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited the Malankara Catholic Church on 11–13 February 1996.

On the request of Cyril Baselios, by an Apostolic Bull dated 16 December 1996, Pope John Paul II erected the Eparchy of Marthandom bifurcating the Metropolitan Eparchy of Thiruvananthapuram. Lawrence Ephrem was appointed as its first bishop. He died after a few months of his enthronement as Bishop of Marthandom, on 8 April 1997.

In the meantime the Eparchy of Tiruvalla was blessed with an auxiliary bishop in the person of Thomas Koorilos, who was consecrated bishop on 17 July 1997. On 29 June 1998 Yoohanon Chrysostom was consecrated as the bishop of Marthandom and Joshua Ignathios as the auxiliary bishop for the Metropolitan Eparchy of Thiruvananthapuram. Paulos Philoxenos died on 3 November 1998.

Christu Jayanthi Maha Jubilee and the Sapthathy of the Re-union Movement of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church were celebrated jointly at Tiruvalla on 26–28 December 2000.

In this period parishes for the faithful of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in the United States of America were established. On 18 June 2001 Pope John Paul II nominated the Proto-Syncellus of Bathery Isaac Thottunkal, auxiliary bishop of Thiruvananthapuram and apostolic visitor for the Syro-Malankarites residing in North America and Europe. He was consecrated on 15 August 2001 at Tirumoolapuram, (Tiruvalla), and assumed the name Isaac Cleemis.

Bifurcating the Eparchy of Tiruvalla, the Eparchy of Muvattupuzha was erected on 15 January 2003 and Thomas Koorilos was appointed as its first bishop.

On 29 March 2003 Bishop Timotheos resigned due to his age, and the Holy See appointed Isaac Cleemis, the apostolic visitor to Europe and America, as the bishop of Tiruvalla. Cleemis took charge of the diocese on 2 October 2003. On 5 January 2005 Joseph Thomas was appointed as the auxiliary bishop of Thiruvananthapuram and apostolic visitor to North America and Europe.

On 10 February 2005, the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was raised to the status of a major archiepiscopal Church by the papal document Ab ipso Sancto Thoma, and as such possesses a high level of autonomy under the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches. Pedro López Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio in India, read the official declaration at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. The Hierarchical Head of the Church became a Major Archbishop who exercises patriarchal powers and governs the Church assisted by the Holy Synod of Bishops of the Church.

On 19 February 2005, Joseph Thomas was consecrated as auxiliary bishop of Thiruvananthapuram and apostolic visitor to North America and Europe. On 11 April 2005 the Faculty of Theology of St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary became affiliated to the Pontifical Urban University, Rome.

The enthronement of the major archbishop as the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church took place on 14 May 2005. The Malankara Major Archiepiscopal Curia (Catholicate Centre) started functioning at the St. Mary's Campus, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. On 20 May 2005, Cyril Baselios blessed the Curia building. Baselios soon constituted the first synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, convened from 16 to 18 August 2005 at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Thiruvananthapuram. It constituted the Permanent Synod and the various Synodal Commissions headed by bishops to take care of various apostolates of the Church. The official bulletin, Malankara is published from the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, to communicate the Synodal acts and voice of the Syro-Malankara Major Archiepiscopal Church.

The platinum jubilee of the Reunion Movement and the Year of the Eucharist were celebrated jointly at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara, on 19–21 September 2005.

By decrees of Baselios, the Metropolitan Province of Tiruvalla, with the Eparchies of Bathery and Muvattupuzha as suffragans, was established on 15 May 2006 and Isaac Cleemis was appointed as the metropolitan archbishop of Tiruvalla. On 10 June 2006 Isaac Cleemis was enthroned as the first metropolitan-archbishop of Tiruvalla.

By the decree of Baselios, on 1 January 2007, the new Eparchy of Mavelikara was erected and Joshua Ignathios, the auxiliary bishop and protosyncellus of the Major Archdiocese of Thiruvananthapuram, was appointed as its first bishop.

The Second Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod was convoked on 6–7 December 2006 and it was decided to revive monastic consecration according to the tradition of the Antiochene Church, properly termed Rabban per the Syriac, but locally called Ramban; and Corepiscopo, to honour a number of priests for their meritorious service in the Church.

On Thursday, 18 January 2007, Cyril Baselios died, and was entombed by the side of his predecessors at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram on 20 January 2007.

Isaac Cleemis was elected the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church through the first Episcopal Synod of election of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church held on 7–10 February 2007 at the Catholicate Centre, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram. Pope Benedict XVI confirmed the election on 9 February and it was announced on 10 February at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram.

Holy Qurbono in Syro-Malankara Rite

The installation of Aboon Joshua Ignathios was held on 16 February 2007 at Mavelikara and Aboon Geevarghese Divannasios, the administrator of The Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church, presided over the installation ceremony. The new eparchy has a 30,825 Syro-Malankara Catholic faithful of a total population of 2,998,325 inhabitants. Of this 269,849 are Malankara non-Catholics and 598,824 Christians of other denominations.

On 7 February 2007, Pope Benedict XVI appointed Fr. Chacko Aerath OIC as the Apostolic Visitor with Episcopal status for the Malankara Catholic faithful residing in the Extraterritorial Regions of the Church within India.

Baselios Cleemis was enthroned as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on 5 March 2007 at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram.

In March 2007 the Aboon Thomas Koorilos was appointed the Second Metropolitan Archbishop of the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla. His installation Ceremony was held in May 2007 at St. John's Cathedral, Tiruvalla. Cleemis was the main celebrant.

Baselios Cleemis visited Pope Benedict XVI on 28 May 2007 at the Vatican and exchanged ecclesiastical Communion.

In July 2007 Baselios Cleemis declared Ivanios a Servant of God.

In accordance with the provisions of CCEO can. 1063, the Ordinary Tribunal of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was constituted on 15 November 2007.

Aboon Abraham Julios, PhD, was consecrated Bishop of the Eparchy of Moovattupuzha by Baselios Cleemis on 9 February 2008 at Moovattupuzha.

Baselios Cleemis blessed the newly built Tomb Chapel of the Servant of God Ivanios in St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram, on 1 July 2008.

Cardinal Leonardo Sandri at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram

Leonardo Sandri, Cardinal Prefect of Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church on 10 November 2008. Holy Qurbono according to the Syro-Malankara Tradition was celebrated. Baselios Cleemis was the main celebrant. In the following meeting Cardinal Sandri recognized Queen of Peace Pro-Cathedral at Palayam, Thiruvananthapuram, as a Basilica. Cleemis dedicated St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica on 7 December 2008.

Cleemis created two new eparchies in the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, Pathanamthitta in Kerala and Puthur in the State of Karnataka. He appointed four new bishops, elected by the Holy Episcopal Synod. He announced the transfer of Bishop of Marthandom Yoohanon Chrysostom to the new See of Pathanamthitta and Bishop Geevarghese Divannasios from the See of Bathery to the new See of Puthur. Joseph Thomas, the Apostolic Visitator to North America and Europe was appointed Bishop of Bathery. To the See of Marthandom, vacant due to the transfer of its bishop, was appointed Vincent Kulapuravilai, Professor and Registrar of St. Mary's Malankara Seminary Thiruvananthapuram. Samuel Kattukallil, Syncellus of the Major Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram, and Stephen Thottathil, Dean of the Faculty of Theology of St. Mary's Malankara Seminary, were appointed auxiliary bishops of the Major Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram and the Archieparchy of Tiruvalla respectively. Antony Valiyavilayil, the Postulator of the Cause of Canonisation of Servant of God Archbishop Ivanios and the Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, was appointed the bishop of the Curia.

The episcopal ordination of Bishops Vincent Paulos, Samuel Irenios, Philipose Stephanos and Thomas Anthonios took place at Ivanios Vidya Nagar in Thiruvananthapuram on 13 March 2010

The public meeting after the Episcopal Ordination, March 2010

Thomas Naickamparampil was appointed as the first exarch of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Exarchate in the United States by Pope Benedict XVI, with consultation by Cleemis and the Holy Synod of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, on 14 July 2010. He was ordained bishop and received the name Aboon Thomas Eusebius on 21 September 2010 at St. Mary's Malankara Syrian Catholic Cathedral, Thiruvananthapuram. His installation ceremony was on 3 October 2010 at Kellenberg Memorial High School, Uniondale, New York.

Baselios Cleemis was elevated to the College of Cardinals of the Catholic Church by Pope Benedict XVI at the Papal Basilica of Saint Peter in the Vatican on 24 November 2012. As Cardinal-Priest he was assigned the titular church of San Gregorio VII. He is the first bishop of the Syro-Malankara church and the fifth Keralite to become cardinal.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is fast growing in theological and canonical studies. Many authors have contributed to the development in the field of theology and canon law.

Besides the canonical institutions of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, various associations including the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM), the Malankara Catholic Association (MCA), and the Legion of Mary, Matruvedi, Pithruvedi, emerged.

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church engages in humanitarian activities. One example of such services is Thapovanam, Shelter of Hope, Sulthan Bathery, a centre for the rehabilitation of the mentally ill.

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  The latest image of St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
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  Syro-Malankara Catholics in Ireland with Dr. Joshua Ignathius. (Mavelikara Diocese Bishop)

Liturgy

The liturgy of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is of the Antiochene Rite, West Syriac in character. The liturgy today is celebrated in Malayalam, Syriac, English, Tamil, and Hindi. The church uses one of several Bible translations into Malayalam.

Eparchies

Syro-Malankara Catholic Jurisdictions

• Major Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram
  • Eparchy of Marthandom
  • Eparchy of Mavelikara
  • Eparchy of Parassala
  • Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
  • Eparchy of St. Ephrem of Khadki
• Archieparchy of Tiruvalla
  • Eparchy of Bathery
  • Eparchy of Muvattupuzha
  • Eparchy of Puthur
• Eparchy of Gurgaon
• Eparchy of the United States of America and Canada

Statistics

According to the Pontifical yearbook Annuario Pontificio for 2012, the Syro-Malankara Church had approximately 436,870 members.

Dioceses	Members	Bishops	Parishes	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Men Religious	Women Religious	Seminarians
Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram	219,437	2	184	131	24	97	578	100
Eparchy of Parassala	22,000	1	104	31	4
Eparchy of Pathanamthitta	37,500	2	99	64	6	6	110	26
Eparchy of Marthandom	65,715	1	85	40	7	14	178	21
Eparchy of Mavelikara	24,083	1	93	56	7	9	145	23
Archeparchy of Tiruvalla	75,000	1	122	112	25	54	285	37
Eparchy of Bathery	25,000	1	101	77	8	8	274	25
Eparchy of Muvattupuzha	12,435	2	69	41	8	24	82	13
Eparchy of Puttur	2,700	1	32	14	7	8	20	3
Eparchy of the United States and Canada	10,000	1	19	11	1	1	16	4
Eparchy of Gurgaon	10,000	1	34	26	15
Eparchy of Khadki	10,000	1	29	27	10
TOTAL	436,870	14	692	546	93	221	1688	252

Previous metropolitans

Title Name Notes Archbishop Geevarghese Ivanios Split from Malankara Orthodox Church 1st Metropolitan of Tiruvalla Jacob Theophilos Split from Malankara Orthodox Church 2nd Metropolitan of Tiruvalla Joseph Severios Left Malankara Orthodox Church Bishop of Thirumoolapuram Thomas Dioscoros Left Knanaya Syriac Orthodox Church Archbishop Benedict Gregorios Left Malankara Orthodox Church 3rd Metropolitan of Tiruvalla Zacharias Athanasios Left Orthodox Church Titular Bishop of Chayal Paulos Philoxenos Left Malabar Independent Syrian Church 4th Metropolitan of Tiruvalla Isaac Yoohanon Major Arch Bishop-Catholicos Cyril Baselios 1st Metropolitan of Marthandom Lawrence Ephrem 1st Metropolitan of Puttur Geevarghese Divannasios 5th Metropolitan & 1st Bishop Emeritus of Tiruvalla Geevarghese Timotheos Left Malankara Orthodox Church 1st Metropolitan of Gurgaon Jacob Barnabas

In the Indian diaspora

There are 39 Syro-Malankara communities in North India, including churches at Bangalore, Chennai, Kolkata, Delhi, Mumbai, Pune and Hyderabad. On 26 March 2015, Cleemis and the Holy Synod in consultation with Pope Francis erected two Eparchies to cover all of India. Bishop Barnabas Jacob was appointed bishop of the Delhi-based Eparchy of St. John Chrysostom of Gurgaon. Bishop Anthonios Thomas heads the Apostolic Exarchate of St. Ephrem of Khadki.

Around the world

North America

Main article: Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of the United States of America and Canada

The eparchy of the United States of America and Canada was initially established as an apostolic exarchate by Pope Benedict XVI in July 2010. Father Thomas Naickamparampil, then serving as secretary general of the Major Archiepiscopate of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, was appointed the first apostolic exarch. He was consecrated as bishop on 21 September 2010 at St. Mary's Malankara Syrian Catholic Cathedral in Pattom, adopting the episcopal name Aboon Thomas Eusebius. His enthronement took place on 3 October 2010 at Kellenberg High School in Uniondale, New York.

On 4 January 2016, Pope Francis elevated the exarchate to the status of an eparchy, expanding its jurisdiction to include Canada. Subsequently, Bishop Philippos Mar Stephanos was appointed as the eparchy's second bishop on 5 August 2017, succeeding Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius. Bishop Mar Stephanos was installed on 28 October 2017.

As of now, the eparchy oversees 19 parishes and missions, with 14 located in the United States and five in Canada.

Europe and Oceania

In 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Yoohanon Mar Theodosius as Apostolic Visitor for Syro-Malankara Catholics residing in Europe and Oceania. This appointment was in addition to his role as Bishop of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. The Syro-Malankara communities in these regions are present in several countries, including Germany, Austria, Ireland, Italy, Switzerland, the United Kingdom, Australia, and New Zealand.

Middle East

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has a presence in Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates, with a total of thirteen communities. These communities do not have an organized ecclesiastical jurisdiction and remain under the supervision of the Latin Church's Apostolic Vicariates of Northern Arabia and Apostolic Vicariates of Southern Arabia. Qatar is the only country in the region with an officially organized Syro-Malankara parish.

The Syro-Malankara faithful in the Gulf region have been proactive in their online engagement, with early websites being launched to connect the community before the establishment of official church platforms. Currently, most communities in the region maintain their own websites to support pastoral activities.

In recent developments, Rev. Fr. Mathew Kandathil, a Syro-Malankara priest serving in the Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia, has been appointed as the Coordinator for the Malankara Catholic faithful in the Middle East. He oversees pastoral activities and coordinates the efforts of Syro-Malankara priests in the Gulf region, facilitating religious services and community engagement.

Institutions and organizations

Daughters of Mary

The Congregation of the Daughters of Mary is a missionary organization within the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Established in 1938 at Marthandam, in the Kanyakumari district, the congregation was founded by Joseph Kuzhinjalil under the guidance of Geevarghese Ivanios. Its mission focuses on evangelization and serving the poor and marginalized.

In 1988, the congregation was granted pontifical right status, signifying its recognition by the Holy See. Today, the Daughters of Mary operates six provinces, serving six eparchies of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and 20 dioceses worldwide. The congregation was initially supported by the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, which contributed religious women to assist in its establishment. The founder, Joseph Kuzhinjalil, was originally a member of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Other religious orders and ashrams

• Order of the Imitation of Christ, Bethany Ashram
• Order of the Friars Minor Capuchin
• Kristiya Sanyasa Samaj, Kurisumala Ashram
• Franciscan Missionary Brothers
• Malabar Missionary Brothers
• Disciples of Divine Saviour
• Dhyana Ashram
• Chyalpadi Ashram
• Santhi Ashram
• Sisters of the Imitation of Christ, Bethany Madhom
• Holy Spirit Sisters
• Congregation of the Sacred Heart
• Dina Sevana Sabha
• Sisters of the Charity of St. Vincent de Paul
• Snehagiri Missionary Sisters
• Little Sisters of Jesus
• Sisters of John the Baptist
• Salesian Sisters
• Basilian sisters
• Franciscan Missionaries of Mary
• Adoration monastery of Mount Thabor
• Gathsemene Samarpitha Satsangham
• Little Servants of Divine Providence
• Sisters of Charity
• Fervent Daughters of the Sacred Heart of Jesus

Seminaries

Major seminary

• St. Mary’s Malankara Major Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram

Minor seminaries

• Bethany Vedavijnana Peetham, Pune
• St. Aloysius Seminary, Thiruvananthapuram
• Infant Mary's Minor Seminary, Thiruvalla
• St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Gurukulam, Bathery
• St. Ephraem's Minor Seminary, Marthandom
• Gurusannidhi Minor Seminary, Muvattupuzha
• Ivanios Minor Seminary, Mavelikkara
• Gregorios Malankara Syrian Catholic Seminary, New York
• St. Thomas Minor Seminary, Pathanamthitta
• Girideepam Minor Seminary, Diocese of St. John Chrysostom, Gurgaon, New Delhi
• Nirmal Hriday Minor Seminary, Pune

Educational institutions

The Malankara Catholic Educational Society manages various ecclesiastical, charitable, and educational institutions. Baselios Cleemis is the president and Samuel Irenios the vice-chairman of Malankara Catholic Educational Society.

Colleges

Kerala

• Ivanios College, Thiruvananthapuram
• St. John's College, Anchal
• Theophilos Training College, Thiruvananthapuram
• Pazhassi Raja College, Pulpally, Bathery
• Mar Severios College of Teacher Education, Chengaroor, Thiruvalla
• St. Joseph's College of Information Technology and Management, Thiruvalla
• St. John's Parallel College, Thiruvalla
• Mar Baselios College of Education, Bathery
• Mar Ivanios College of Education, Kunthoor, Karnataka
• Girideepam Institute of Advanced Learning, Kottayam
• Bethany Junior College, Noojibalthila, Bathery

Tamil Nadu

• Mar Gregorios College of Arts and Science, Chennai
• Malankara Catholic College, Mariagiri, Marthandom
• Bethany College, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram
• Bethany Navajeevan College of Education, Vencode, Marthandom
• Mar Chrysostom College of Education, Kirathur, Marthandom
• Kanyakumari Community College, Mariagiri, Marthandom

Other Indian states

• Jnanodaya Bethany PU Science College, Nellyadi
• Nirmal Bathany Junior College, Kalewadi, Pune

Professional and technical institutes

Medical and health sciences

• Pushpagiri Medical College, Thiruvalla
• Pushpagiri College of Pharmacy, Thiruvalla
• Pushpagiri College of Nursing, Thiruvalla
• Pushpagiri College of Dental Sciences, Thiruvalla
• Bethany Navajeevan College of Nursing, Borsi, Durg, Bhilai

• St.Joseph's College of Nursing, Anchal
• Bethany Navajeevan College of Physiotherapy, Nalanchira, Thiruvananthapuram

Engineering and technology

• Mar Baselios College of Engineering and Technology, Thiruvananthapuram
• Mar Baselios Institute of Technology, Anchal
• Mar Ephraem College of Engineering, Marthandom

Advanced studies and research

• St. Ephrem Ecumenical Research Institute, Kottayam
• Mar Athanasios College for Advanced Studies, Tiruvalla

Youth and lay organizations

Malankara Catholic Youth Movement

Main article: Malankara Catholic Youth Movement

The Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) is the official youth organization of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. It originated in Kerala during the late 1960s. While individual youth groups existed at the parish level earlier, the development of a unified diocesan structure occurred later.

The movement aims to foster spiritual growth, leadership, and community engagement among young members of the Church. MCYM has expanded its presence across Kerala, other Indian states, and internationally.

MCYM branches in Kerala include the Major Archieparchy of Thiruvananthapuram, the Archieparchy of Thiruvalla, and the Eparchies of Bathery, Muvattupuzha, Mavelikkara, and Pathanamthitta. In Tamil Nadu, the movement serves the Eparchy of Marthandam, while in Karnataka, it operates within the Eparchy of Puttur. In North India, it functions under the Apostolic Visitation for Malankara Syrian Catholic Churches (MCCETR – New Delhi). Internationally, MCYM serves the Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of the United States and Canada, headquartered in Elmont, New York, through the Malankara Catholic Youth Movement of North America (MCYM-NA).

Malankara Catholic Association

Founded in 1989, the Malankara Catholic Association is the official organization for the lay faithful of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. Its activities are aimed at fostering lay participation in the Church's mission and supporting the spiritual and social needs of the community.

The association functions across several dioceses, including the Thiruvananthapuram, Thiruvalla, Bathery, Muvattupuzha, and Marthandam eparchies, as well as in the United States and Canada. Baselios Cleemis serves as its patron.

Notable people

Main article: List of Syro-Malankara Catholics

Official name

The official name of the church is Syro-Malankara Catholic Church which is mainly used in the English speaking Western regions. The name of the church as translated from Malayalam/Syriac is Malankara Syrian Catholic Church.

See also

• All India Catholic Union
• Churches of Kerala
• List of Major Archbishops of Trivandrum
• Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mylapra, Pathanamthitta
• Saint Thomas Anglicans
• St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
• List of Syro-Malankara Catholics

References

Additional sources

• The Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church Directory, Thiruvananthapuram, 2006.
• Ronald Roberson, CSP; The Eastern Christian Churches: A Brief Survey (6th Edition); Edizioni Orientalia Christiana, Pontifico Instituto Orientale; Rome, Italy; 1999; ISBN 88-7210-321-5

External links

Official websites

• Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum
• Major Archdiocese of Tiruvalla
• Eparchy of Pathanamthitta
• St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada

Other

• Article on the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website.