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 , 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) MeppurathuJudicial VicarFr. Kuriakose KuthinethuRector of Minor SeminaryFr. Sijo James Charivuparambil
The Heads of Various Apostolic Services Designation Name Rector, Minor Seminary Fr. Sijo James CharivuparambilDirector, EvangelizationFr. 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) PathalilDirector, 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 CharivuparambilDirector, Dialogue CommissionFr. Daniel BethelDirector, Suvisheshsa SangamFr. Thomas NedumankuzhiyilDirector, Jagratha CommissionFr. Scott Sleeba Pulimooden
Parishes Catholic Bishop's House, PathanamthittaPathanamthittaSt. Peter's CathedralPathanamthittaSacred Heart Malankara Catholic ChurchMylapraSt. Edward Malankara Syrian Catholic ChurchAranmulaSt John's Malankara Syrian Catholic Church KadammanittaKadammanittaSt. George Malankara Catholic Church, PonnambuPonnambuSt. George Malankara Catholic Church, ElappuparaElappuparaSacred Heart Malankara Syrian Catholic ChurchVadakkupuramSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchKumbazhaSt.Mary's Kurishumala ChurchPerunadSt Peters Malankara Catholic ChurchAttachakalSt.Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchKonnySt Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchPambumalaSt. John Chrysostom Malankara Catholic ChurchMannarakulanjiSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, KumplampoikaKumplampoikaSt. Antony's Malankara Catholic ChurchVadasserikkaraSt.Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchVayalathalaSt. George Malankara Catholic ChurchAthirumkalSt. Teresa's Catholic ChurchMurinjakalSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchNedumonkavuSt. Georges Malankara Catholic ChurchVallicode KottayamSt.Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchAngadicalSyrian Malankara Catholic Church MezhuveliMezhuveli WestSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchKurichimuttamSt. Mary's Catholic ChurchChandanappallySt.Thomas Syro Malankara Catholic ChurchAmalagiri-KodumudiSt.Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchSeethathodeMalankara Syrian Catholic ChurchVayyattupuzhaSt George Malankara Syrian Catholic ChurchThannithodeSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchThekkuthodeSt.George Malankara Catholic ChurchManneeraSt. Benedict's Malankara Catholic ChurchKokkathodeSt. Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, ValyayanthyValyayanthyMalankara Catholic ChurchMekozhoorSt. Joseph Malankara Catholic ChurchKarakkadSt.Thomas Malankara Catholic ChurchPuthenpeedikaSt Thomas Malankara Catholic Church, MapilalyThumpamonSt. George Malankara Catholic Church, ErathumpamonErathumpamonSt. Benedict's Malanakara Catholic Church, KonnithazhamKonnithazhamMalankara Catholic Church, CarmalaCarmalaMCC, PuthukkulamPuthukkulamSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, AthumpumkulamAthumpumkulamSt. Sebastian's Malankara Catholic Church, AvolikuzhyAvolikuzhySt. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, ChittarChittarMCC, PampiniPampiniSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchMoolakkayamSt. Theresa's Malankara Catholic Church, PampavalliPampavalliSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic ChurchAnandappallySt. Thomas Malankara Catholic ChurchAngamoozhiMalankara Catholic Church, AnjilikunnuAnjilikunnuSt Patrick's Malakara Catholic ChurchChengaraSt. George Malankara Catholic Church, ParanthalParanthalSt. George Malankara Catholic Church, KallelyKallelySt. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, OottuparaOottuparaSt. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church, ThonikadavuThonikadavu
Gallery
References
External links Official Website of the Eparchy of Pathanamthitta Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Website