Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki

Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Idukki
Location
Country	India
Statistics
Area	3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi)
Population - Total - Catholics (including non-members)	(as of 2009) 760,350 261,750 (34%)
Parishes	151
Information
Denomination	Syro-Malabar Church
Rite	East Syriac Rite
Established	15 January 2003
Cathedral	Cathedral of St George in VazhathoppeIdukki
Patron saint	Saint Thomas the Apostle
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Major Archbishop	Metropolitan and Gate of all India Mar George Alencherry ܡܸܛܪܵܦܘܿܠܝܼܛܵܐ ܘܬܲܪܐ ܕܟܠ ܗܸܢܕܘܿ ܡܵܪܲܢ ܡܵܪܝ ܓܝܼܘܲܪܓܝܼܣ ܡܸܛܪܵܦܘܿܠܝܼܛܵܐ
Bishop	John Nellikkunnel
Website
Website of the Diocese

The Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Idukki is a suffragan eparchy (Eastern Catholic diocese) in southern India, in the proper ecclesiastical province of the Major Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly, which heads the entire Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (which follows a Chaldean = Syro-Oriental Rite), hence dependent on the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

Its cathedral episcopal see is Saint George's Cathedral Vazhathoppe, in Idukki township, in Kerala state.

History[]

The creation of the diocese on 2003.01.15, as the twenty-sixth eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, on territory split off from the Diocese of Kothamangalam is contained in an Apostolic Constitution Maturescens catholica fideis put forth by Pope John Paul II in December 2002. It started with 114 parishes and mission stations.

Statistics[]

As per 2015, it pastorally served 266,600 Catholics (34.0% of 785,000 total; there are also Latin Catholics and Syro-Malankara Catholics in this region, belonging to the Diocese of Vijayapuram viz. Thiruvalla, and Christians of Jacobite and Orthodox Churches besides various Protestant denominations) on 3,000 km² in 155 parishes with 573 priests (238 diocesan, 335 religious), 1,306 lay religious (350 brothers, 956 sisters) and 86 seminarians.

Episcopal Ordinaries[]

(all native Indians)

Suffragan Eparchs (Bishops) of Idukki

• First Bishop Avoon Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil (2003.01.15 – retired 2018.01.12), originated from the diocese of Kothamangalam
• Present Avoon Mar (2018.01.12 – ...).

Sources and external links[]

• GCatholic, with Google HQ satellite picture - data for all sections
• official diocesan website, with map, diocesan chronicle etc.
• Archdiocese of Ernakulam
• Catholic-Hierarchy

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