This is a timeline of the history of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in India.
Ancient era
849 Ayyanadikal Kurakoni (Iyenadikal Thiruvadikal), King of Venad, granted special privileges to Christians of Kollam 892 Tharisapalli plates 1291 arrival of John of Montecorvino, a member of Societas Peregrinantium Pro Christo, in Kollam 1292 arrival of Venetian traveller Marco Polo in India; he later testified about Christian presence 1301 Mar Jacob (Mar Yaqob of India), 1301 AD) was one of the legendary metropolitan of the Church of Malabar of St Thomas Christians 1323 arrival of French Dominican friar Jordanus Catalani de Severac in Kollam (Quilon) 1324 Jordanus Catalani de Severac wrote Mirabilia Descripta, a rare work on plants, animals and the people of India and of other countries in Asia 9 August 1329 Pope John XXII (in captivity in Avignon) erected Quilon as the first Diocese in the whole of Indies as suffragan to the Archdiocese of Sultany in Persia through the decree Romanus Pontifix 21 August 1329 Pope John XXII by the bull Venerabili Fratri Jordano, appointed the French Dominican friar Jordanus Catalani de Severac as the first Bishop of Quilon 23 March 1346 arrival of John De Marignolli, Legate to China, in Quilon 1490 Two bishops, Mar Yohannan and Mar Thoma, served in India, sent there by the Patriarch of the Church of the East.
Portuguese era 20 May 1498 arrival of Vasco da Gama 1504 Bishop Mar Yacob (Kodungalloor) 6 June 1542 preaching by Francis Xavier 1555 Bishop Mar Joseph took charge 4 February 1557 Pope Paul IV established, by his Bull "Pro Excellento Praeeminentia", Diocese of Cochin 1564 Mar Abraham appointed Archbishop of Angamaly (Pope Pius IV) 29 August 1567 establishment of Archdiocese of Angamaly as Metropolitan see 1597 death of Mar Abraham, the last Syrian archbishop; burial at the Church of St. Hormice, Angamaly 20 June 26 June 1599 Synod of Diamper 5 November 1599 Francis Ros nominated first Latin Bishop of Syrians 4 August 1600 extension of the Rule of Padroado on Syrians 7 December 1603 Angamaly Synod 3 December 1609 seat of the Archdiocese of Angamaly moved to Kodungalloor
Era of divisions
22 December 1610 Archbishop Menezes of Goa restricted the jurisdiction of the Metropolitan of St. Thomas Christians from the north of Malabar to the south December 1647 Archbishop Garcia appointed Fr. Jerome Furtado as Vicar General in place of the traditional Archdeacon 1652 Mar Ahatalla met deacons Chenkayil Itty of Chengannur and Kizhakkedath Kurian of Kuravilangad at Mylapore and sent message to the Archdeacon 3 January 1653 Archdeacon and others with 25,000 soldiers went to Cochin Port to receive Mar Ahatalla; but the Portuguese did not permit Mar Ahatalla to meet the people; rumour spreads that Ahatalla was murdered by the Portuguese 3 January 1653 Archdeacon Parambil Thoma and the elders take the oath Coonan Cross Oath at Mattancherry that they will no longer be under the Portuguese Jesuits 22 May 1653 Episcopal ordination of Thomas the Archdeacon at Alangad by 12 priests of St. Thomas Christians 1659 death of Archbishop Garcia SJ 3 December 1659 Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar (Verapoly) erected by Pope Alexander VII 15 December 1659 Episcopal Ordination of Italian Sebastiani OCD 17 December 1659 Bishop Sebastiani OCD took charge as Administrator of Malabar 24 December 1659 Bishop Sebastiani given power to ordain a Bishop in Malabar by Pope Alexander VII through the Apostolic Letter Pro Commissa Nobis 7 January 1662 The conquest of Portuguese territories in Malabar and especially of Cochin by the Dutch and all the Catholic Missionaries including Bishop Sebastiani OCD were expelled from the territories occupied by the Dutch 31 January 1663 Alexander Palliveettil (Parambil Chandy, Alexander de Campo) appointed the first Syrian Vicar Apostolic of Malabar 1665–1671 Spread of Jacobite faith by Mar Gregorios of Jerusalem in Malabar 1 February 1663 Palliveetil mar Chandy consecrated as Metropolitan and gate of all India. 2 January 1687 Death of Bishop Alexander Palliveettil (Parambil Chandy Malpan, Bishop Alexander de Campo) 29 June 1704 John Ribeiro S. J. appointed Archbishop of Kodungalloor (Padroado) 13 March 1709 Suppression of Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar and Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly erected by Pope Clement XI 1773 February 8 Martyrdom of Fr. Jacob (Ikako) Puthenpurackal 16 July 1782 Mar Joseph Kariyatty appointed Archbishop of Kodungalloor by Padroado 16 December 1782 Rome approves Mar Joseph Kariyatty as Archbishop of Kodungalloor 17 February 1783 Episcopal ordination of Mar Joseph Kariyatty at Lisbon, Porgugal 10 September 1786 Death of Archbishop Kariyatty in Goa; Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar appointed Gubernador (Administrator) of the Archdiocese of Kodungalloor 1 February 1787 Angamaly Padiyola
Era of invasions
December 1790 - Invasion of Mysore ruler Tipu Sultan on Kingdom of Cochin. Ancient Syrian churches at Palayur, Arthat, Ollur, Parappukkara, Velayanad (Mukundapuram), Ambazhakad, Thazhekad, Angamaly, Akaparamb etc. were destroyed by the Mysore army. The Syrian seminary and nasrani church headquarters at Angamaly were devastated. The headquarters of the church moved first to Alengad and then to Vadayar in Travancore. Many priests and laymen were martyred for faith and hundreds of Nasranis migrated to Travancore to protect their faith. 20 March 1799 Death of Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar 10 February 1805 Birth of Kuriakose Elias Chavara at Kainakary, Alappuzha 1818 Arrival of the CMS missionaries 11 May 1831 Foundation of the first indigenous religious congregation (CMI) at Mannanam by Frs. Thomas Palackal, Thomas Porookara and Kuriakose Elias Chavara 1833 Establishment of the Seminary at Mannanam 24 April 1838 The final Latin invasion on the Indian Syrian church - the Metropolitan See of Kodungallur (Angamaly for Syrians) and the See of Cochin were suppressed and territory was added to Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly by the Brief "Multa Praeclara" of Pope Gregory XVI 1861- The arrival of chaldean bishop Thomas mar Rocos 8 June 1861 Fr. Kuriakos Elias Chavara appointed Vicar General for Syrians 13 February 1866 Foundation of the first indigenous religious congregation for women (CMC) at Koonammavu 13 August 1866 Establishment of Seminary at Puthenpally 1866 Purchase of land in the name of Parayil Varky Tharakan at Mangalappuzha near Aluva 3 January 1871 Death of Kuriakose Elias Chavara 1 August 1874 Chaldean bishop Mar Elia Melus arrived in Kerala 25 October 1874 Mar Melus excommunicated by Rome. Origin of Suryis of Thrisur (Assyrian Church of the East) 26 April 1876 Birth of Sr. Mariam Thressia at Puthenchira, Thrisur 12 October 1877 Episcopal ordination of Bishop Marcellinus OCD 17 October 1877 Birth of Sr. Euphrasia (Rose) at Kattur, in the parish Edathuruthy, Thrisur 15 November 1877 Bishop Marcellinus OCD made ruler of the Syrians 19 March 1878 Bishop Marcellinus OCD commenced his reign 23 June 1886 See of Cochin (for Latin Catholics) restored by Pope Leo XIII 1 September 1886 Establishment of the Latin Hierarchy in India by Pope Leo XIII by the decree Humanae Salutis Auctor; Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly elevated to Archdiocese of Verapoly
Era of self-governance 20 May 1887 two independent Vicariates of Kottayam (present Changanassery 1) and Thrissur 2 for Syrians; Charles Lavigne and Adolf Medlycott were made Vicar Apostolic respectively (Quod Jampridem, Pope Leo XIII) 14 December 1888 foundation of Franciscan Clarist Congregation (FCC) at Changanassery. 25 March 1889 - Under Thrissur Vicariate, establishment of one of first catholic schools in princely state of Cochin, St Thomas Lower Secondary School in Thrissur by Mar Adolf Medleycott. 16 September 1890 seat of Kottayam Vicariate moved to Changanassery. 26 January 1891 - Under Kottayam Vicariate, Establishment of one of the oldest residential catholic schools in central Travancore, St. Berchmans English High School in Changanassery by Mar Charles Lavigne. 1 April 1891 birth of Augustine Thevarparampil (Kunjachan) at Ramapuram, Kottayam 24 June 1892 foundation of Sisters of the Visitation of the Blessed Virgin Mary (SVM) at Kaipuzha, Kottayam 28 July 1896 Vicariate of Ernakulam3 created, with territories from both Vicariates of Changanassery and Thrissur and Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil, Mar Mathew Makkil, and Mar John Menachery were made the bishops respectively (Quae Rei Sacrae, Pope Leo XIII). 8 December 1908 foundation of Sisters of Adoration of the Blessed Sacrament (SABS) at Champakulam, Changanassery 19 August 1910 Birth of Sr. Alphonsa Muttathupadth FCC at Kudamaloor, Kottayam. 1 January 1911 foundation of Sacred Heart Congregation for Women (Kerala) (SH) at Palai 29 August 1911 establishment of Kottayam4 Vicariate for the Knanaya (Southists) Community of the Syrians 14 May 1914 foundation of the Congregation of Holy Family (CHF) at Puthenchira, Thrisur by Mariam Thressia 8 August 1918 - Raised St. Thomas Lower Secondary School to St. Thomas College, Thrissur. 29 January 1921 foundation of Eparchial Society of the Oblates of the Sacred Heart (OSH) 22 June 1922 - Establishment of SB College Changanassery by Mar Thomas Kurialacherry in compound of St. Mary's Church, Parel.
Metropolitan Archbishop, title restoration 21 December 1923 establishment of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy with Ernakulam as the Metropolitan See and Mar Augustine Kandathil as the first Head and Archbishop of the Church (Romani Pontifices, Pope Pius XI) 16 November 1924 Mar Augustine Kandathil installed as Archbishop 19 March 1927 foundation of the Sisters of the Destitute (SD) at Chunungumvely, Ernakulam by Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly 19 July 1927 foundation of the Vincentian Congregation (VC) 3 July 1928 foundation of Sisters of St Joseph Congregation (SJC) at Kottayam 5 October 1929 death of Mar Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly 19 March 1931 foundation of the Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (CST) by Mar Augustine Kandathil as a religious brothers congregation, the first such in India 1 June 1932 establishment of Mangalapuzha Seminary 7 May 1933 foundation of the Missionary Congregation for the Blessed Sacrament (MCBS) 1 January 1944 foundation of Congregation of Sisters of Charity (CSC) at Chollannoor, Thrisur 31 October 1944 foundation of Medical Sisters of St Joseph (MSJ) at Kothamangalam 27 December 1945 Fr. Thomas Panatt (Fr. Basilius CST) founds the priestly wing of the Congregation of Saint Thérèse of Lisieux (CST) to better realise its aims 28 July 1946 death of Sr. Alphonsa Muttathupadath FCC at Bharanaganam 19 March 1948 foundation of Congregation of the Sisters of Nazareth (CSN) at Edakkunnu, Ernakulam 20 April 1948 foundation of Congregation of the Sisters of St. Martha (CSM) at Ponnookara, Thrisur 2 April 1949 foundation of Assisi Sisters of Mary Immaculate (ASMI) at Cherthala, Alappuzha by Mgr. Joseph K. W. Thomas 25 July 1950 eparchy of Palai5 29 August 1952 death of Sr. Euphrasia CMC 1 December 1953 official visitation of Cardinal Tisserant of the Oriental Churches in India 31 December 1953 Eparchy of Thalaseri6 29 January 1954 Birth of Sr. Rani Maria FCC at Pulluvazhy, Ernakulam. 10 January 1956 death of Archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil 26 July 1956 Changanaseri made Archiparchy
10 January 1957 Eparchy of Kothamangalam7 1 June 1957 establishment of Dharmaram College, a major seminary by the CMI in Bangalore 1 January 1958 Fr. Placid Podipara made Rector of Malabar College in Rome 25 January 1961 foundation of Congregation of Samaritan Sisters (CSS) at Thrisur 19 December 1961 The Portuguese surrendered to Indian army. Portuguese colonies including Goa were liberated and annexed to Indian Union. 31 March 1962 eparchy of Chanda,8 Maharashtra (CMI) 3 July 1962 establishment of St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam 16 May 1968 foundation of Malabar Missionary Brothers (MMB)