St. Mary’s Syro Malabar Cathedral Basilica, Ernakulam, Kerala, India

The Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly (formerly known as Archdiocese of Ernakulam) occupies a prominent position in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church.  It was established as a Vicariate by the Bull “Quae Rei Sacrae” of Pope Leo XIII on 28th July 1896. Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil was appointed as the first Vicar Apostolic, who assumed charge on 5th  November 1896.

Under the able guidance of Mar Pazheparambil, the Vicariate began to flourish.  City of Ernakulam was chosen to be the location for the Bishop’s House and the construction was begun in October 1897 and it was completed and blessed on 24th April 1900.   Although he had to begin from the scratches, his indefatigable labours, coupled with the hearty co-operation of the clergy and laity brought the Vicariate within a few years, to a position of eminence.  He continued to govern the Vicariate ably and successfully till his death on 9th December 1919.

As the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy was established on 21st December  1923, by the Bull “Romani Pontifices” of Pope Pius XI, Ernakulam was raised to the status of an archdiocese and was made the centre of the Syro-Malabar Church.  Its Vicar Apostolic Mar Augustine Kandathil was appointed as the first archbishop.

 On 20th July 1956, Mar Joseph Parecattil became the Archbishop of Ernakulam.  By the Bull, “Qui in Beati Petri Cathedrae” of Pope Pius XII, Ernakulam was bifurcated and the diocese of Kothamangalam was erected on 29th July 1956. The Dioceses of Thrissur, Thalassery and Kothamangalam became suffragan Dioceses of Ernakulam Archdiocese. Mar Joseph Parecattil was made Cardinal on 28th March 1969 and Mar Sebastian Mankuzhikary was appointed as his auxiliary on 15th November 1969.

The present church was built in the early twentieth century under the direction of Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil and was elevated to the status of a Basilica by Pope Paul VI on 20 March 1974.

The Auxiliary Bishop Jacob Manathodath was appointed Bishop of the Diocese of Palakkad and took charge there on 1st February 1997. Msgr. Thomas Chakiath was nominated Auxiliary Bishop to the Apostolic Administrator Archbishop Varkey Vithayathil on 17th February 1998.  Bishop Chakiath who is also the Vicar General assists the Archbishop in the Administration of the Archdiocese. 

 On 23rd December 1999 Holy Father Pope John Paul II appointed Mar Varkey Vithayathil as the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and as the Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly. His enthronement as the Major Archbishop took place at St. Mary’s Basilica, Ernakulam on 26th January 2000. Fr. Sebastian Adayanthrath was nominated Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly by Pope John Paul II on January 03, 2002. Major Archbishop His Beatitude Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil expired on 1st April 2011.

Mar Thomas Chakiath, the Auxiliary Bishop and Protosyncellus, retired from his office on 10th September 2012 as he turned 75. Mar Sebastian Adayanthrath, the syncellus took charge of the office of the  Protosyncellus on the same day. Mar Jose Puthenveettil, who has been syncellus since March 2011, was ordained Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese on 21st September 2013.

 Due to certain controversies in the Archeparchy, Pope Francis appointed Mar Jacob Manathodath. Bishop of Palghat the Apostolic Administrator Sede Plena for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly on 22nd June 2018. The Apostolic Administration of the Archeparchy was concluded on 27th June 2019.

On 30th August 2019, the Major Archbishop appointed Archbishop Antony Kariyil the Vicar of the Major Archbishop for the Archeparchy of Ernakulam-Angamaly. He was until then the Bishop of the Eparchy of Mandya. On the same day, Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath was appointed Bishop of the Eparchy of Mandya, and Bishop Jose Puthenveettil  Auxiliary Bishop of the Eparchy of Faridabad.