View source for Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

{{Short description|Eastern Catholic church}}
{{distinguish|text=the [[Syro-Malabar Church]], another Eastern Catholic body}}<!---unexplained changes with no edit summaries will usually be reverted.
     Also, new material with no [[WP:RELY]] footnotes
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{{Use dmy dates|date=January 2024}}
{{AI-generated|date=October 2025}}
{{Infobox religion
| name               = Syro-Malankara Catholic Church
| image              = St. Marys Cathedral Trivandrum Fassade 2 (retuschiert).jpg
| caption            = Old image of [[Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom]], [[Trivandrum]]
| type               = [[Catholic particular churches and liturgical rites|Particular church]] (''[[sui iuris]]'')
| main_classification = [[Christianity|Christian]]
| orientation        = {{ubl|[[Eastern Catholic Churches|Eastern Catholic]]|[[Syriac Christianity|Syriac]]}}
| theology           = [[Catholic theology]]
| polity             = [[Episcopal polity]]
| leader_title       = [[Pope]]
| leader_name        = {{Incumbent pope}}
| leader_title1      = [[Major Archbishop]]
| leader_name1       = [[Baselios Cleemis]]
| scripture          = [[Peshitta]]<ref>{{cite book|title=The Bible in Translation: Ancient and English Versions|last=Metzger|first=Bruce M.|year=2001|publisher=Baker Academic|isbn=9780801022821}}</ref>
| fellowships        = 
| associations       = 
| area               = 
| founder            = a. [[Jesus]] according to Catholic [[sacred tradition]] <br />b. [[Apostles in the New Testament|Apostle]] [[Thomas the Apostle|Thomas]] through [[apostolic succession]], by tradition.<br />c. [[Geevarghese Ivanios]] (1930)
| founded_date       = 1930—1932<ref>{{cite book|title=[[The Oxford History of Christian Worship]]|editor-last1=Wainwright|editor-first1=Geoffrey|editor-last2=Westerfield Tucker|editor-first2=Karen B.|isbn=978-0-19-513886-3|date=2006|publisher=[[Oxford University Press]]|location=[[Oxford]]|chapter=The Ancient Oriental Churches|last=Chaillot|first=Christine|page=161}}</ref>
| founded_place      = 
| separated_from     = [[Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church]] and [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
| branched_from      = [[Saint Thomas Christians]]
| merger             = 
| liturgy            = [[West Syriac Rite]]<br /> ([[Malankara Rite]])
| separations        = 
| hospitals          = 
| nursing_homes      = 
| aid                = 
| congregations      = 
| members            = 458,015<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat17.pdf |title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2017 |access-date=2019-09-02 |archive-date=2018-10-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181024215818/http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat17.pdf |url-status=dead }}</ref>
| division_type      = [[Parish in the Catholic Church|Parishes]]
| division           = 1096{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
| division_type1     = Eparchies
| division1          = 
| ministers          = [[Bishop (Catholic Church)|Bishops]]:18<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/rite/bml.html|title = All Bishops of Syro-Malankara Catholic Church &#91;Catholic-Hierarchy&#93;}}</ref><br />[[Priesthood (Catholic Church)|Priests]]: 1,007{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}<br />[[Nuns]]: 2,500{{citation needed|date=August 2018}}
| missionaries       = 
| temples            = 
| primary_schools    = 
| secondary_schools  = 
| tax_status         = 
| headquarters       = [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom|Cathedral of Saint Mary]], [[Pattom]], [[Kerala]], [[India]]
| tertiary           = 
| other_names        = Malankara Syrian Catholic Church, Syro-Malankara Rite Catholic Church
| website            = [https://malankaracatholicchurch.in/ Official site]
| footnotes          = 
}}



The '''Syro-Malankara Catholic Church''', also known as the '''Malankara Syrian Catholic Church''', is an [[Eastern Catholic Church|Eastern Catholic]] ''[[sui iuris]]'' [[particular church]] that employs the [[West Syriac Rite]] and is 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 Church|major archiepiscopal]] churches of the Catholic Church. It is headed by Major Archbishop [[Baselios Cleemis|Baselios Cardinal Cleemis]] [[Maphrian|Catholicos]] of the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum|Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum]] based in [[Kerala]], [[India]]. With more than 1096 parishes, it is one of India's biggest church evangelical establishments.{{Eastern Christianity sidebar}}The Malankara Syrian Catholic Church traces its origins to the missions of [[Thomas the Apostle]] in the 1st century.<ref name="Official Website">{{Cite web |title=The Syro-Malabar Church Today: An Overview::The St. Thomas Christians::East Syrian (Chaldean)::Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Church |url=http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/syro-malabar-church.php |access-date=2020-02-28 |website=www.syromalabarchurch.in |archive-date=11 August 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120811103409/http://www.syromalabarchurch.in/syro-malabar-church.php |url-status=dead }}</ref><ref name="Menachery">[[George Menachery]] (1973) The St. Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, Ed. George Menachery, B.N.K. Press, vol. 2, {{ISBN|81-87132-06-X}}, Lib. Cong. Cat. Card. No. 73-905568; B.N.K. Press&nbsp;– (has some 70 lengthy articles by different experts on the origins, development, history, culture... of these Christians, with some 300 odd photographs).</ref><ref name="Lbrown">Leslie Brown, (1956) The Indian Christians of St. Thomas. An Account of the Ancient Syriac Church of Malabar, Cambridge: Cambridge University Press 1956, 1982 (repr.)</ref><ref name="Puthiakunnel">Thomas Puthiakunnel, (1973) "Jewish colonies of India paved the way for St. Thomas", The Saint Thomas Christian Encyclopedia of India, ed. George Menachery, Vol. II., Trichur.</ref> 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 Church|Latin Catholic]] [[Portugal|Portuguese]] ''[[Padroado]]''. This faction entered into a relationship with the [[Syriac Orthodox Church|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]]).<ref name="Gregorios285">Gregorios & Roberson, p. 285.</ref><ref name="Vadakkekara91">Vadakkekara, p. 91.</ref> 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 [[Ritual family|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.<ref>{{cite web |last=Roberson |first=Ronald |title=The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church |url=http://www.cnewa.org/default.aspx?ID=66&pagetypeID=9&sitecode=hq&pageno=1 |access-date=2 August 2018 |publisher=E Catholic Near East Welfare Association}}</ref>{{Eastern Catholicism }}

==History==

===Pre-Coonan Cross Oath===
{{Main|Saint Thomas Christians}}
The [[Saint Thomas Christians|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 Christianity|Syriac Christian]] traditions. They maintained a hierarchical ecclesiastical structure, often aligning with the [[Church of the East|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 Church of the East|Patriarch of the East]] based in [[Iran|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 Church]] and asserted their religious and administrative control through the establishment of the [[Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Goa and Daman|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.[[File:Branches & Denominations of Saint Thomas Christians.svg|thumb|420x420px|A diagram showing the history of the divisions among the Saint Thomas Christians.]]

===Coonan Cross Oath===
{{Main|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.<ref name="ReferenceB">Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, "Eastern Christianity in India"</ref> 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."{{Citation needed|date=July 2021|reason=No notable individual by the name of Koothur found in web search}}

Rome sent Carmelites in two groups from the [[Congregation for the Evangelization of Peoples|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 Mar Chandy|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 [[Kodungallur|Cranganore]], before the arrival of Sebastaini, according to Jesuit reports.<ref name="ReferenceB"/>

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 [[Jacobite Syrian Christian Church]], [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]] , the [[Malabar Independent Syrian Church]] (Thozhiyur Church), [[Mar Thoma Syrian Church|Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church]] (Reformed Syrians), and Syro-Malankara Catholic Church have originated.<ref>Catholic Encyclopedia profile of "St. Thomas Christians" - The Carmelite Period</ref>

In 1665 [[Gregorios Abdal Jaleel|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.<ref name="ReferenceC">Thekkedath, History of Christianity in India"</ref> Though most of the St. Thomas Christians gradually relented in their strong opposition to the Western control, the arrival of Bishop [[Gregorios Abdal Jaleel|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''.<ref name=Vadakkekara86>Vadakkekara, p. 84; 86.</ref><ref>Frykenberg, p. 361.</ref><ref>Fernando, p. 79.</ref><ref>Chaput, pp. 7–8.</ref> 

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.<ref name="ReferenceC"/>

===Post-Coonan Cross Oath===
It was in this contentious context that the [[List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch|118th Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch]], [[Ignatius Abded Aloho II]], went to Malankara in 1911 and excommunicated [[Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril|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, [[Geevarghese Mar Ivanios|Fr. P.T. Geevarghese]] with the blessing of [[Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril|Vattasseril Thirumeni]] contacted [[Ignatius Abdul Masih II]], the [[List of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchs of Antioch|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}}[[File:ARCHBISHOP GEEVARGHESE MAR IVANIOS.jpg|alt=|left|thumb|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 [[Mavelikkara|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 [[Dionysius Vattasseril|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 [[Kolkata|Calcutta]], where he also founded a monastic community.

Upon returning to Kerala, Ivanios established the [[The Bethany Ashram|Bethany Ashram]] on land donated by his friend E. John Vakeel in Mundanmala, Ranni-Perunadu.<ref>Fr. Thomas Inchakkalody, ''Archbishop Mar Ivanios'' (Vol.1), pp. 152-171</ref> 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 [[Baselios Geevarghese I|Catholicos Beselios Geevarghese I]] on 1 May 1925, taking the name Geevarghese Ivanios.<ref name="CLL">{{cite journal | last =Rajan | first =Matthew | title = H.H. Baselios Geevarghese I - Second Catholicose | journal=The Christian Light of Life | url=http://www.lightoflife.com/LOL_Arch_Basalios_GeevargheseI_Second_Catholicose.htm | year = 2004 |volume=3| issue=12|pages=221–225 }}</ref> However, he later advocated for reunification with the Catholic Church, leading a movement that ultimately established the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church. 

=== Ecclesial communion ===
[[Image:Five Pillars.jpg|thumb|right|The Five Pillars of 1930 Union Event: [[Mar Ivanios|Ivanios]], [[Jacob Mar Theophilos|Jacob Theophilos]], [[Fr. John Kuzhinapurath OIC|John Kuzhinapurath]], Alexander, Chacko Kiliyilathu]]

On 20 September 1930 Ivanios, Bishop [[Jacob Mar Theophilos|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. They 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.

[[File:Quilon Bischofskapelle Gedenkstein JS2.jpg|thumb|upright|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 bishop|Metropolitan Archbishop]]. The Eparchy of Tiruvalla was established in 1933. Jacob Theophilos was enthroned as its first bishop.

In 1937 [[Joseph Mar Severios|Joseph Severios]] of the Malankara Orthodox Church joined the Catholic Church.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} In 1939, Thomas Dioscoros, the metropolitan of the Knanaya [[Jacobite Church]], joined the Catholic Church.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}} In 1938, the missionary congregation of the [[Daughters of Mary (Syro-Malankara)|Daughters of Mary]] was founded at [[Marthandam|Marthandom]] in Kanyakumari District. Bishop Dioscoros died in 1943.

Ivanios consecrated [[Benedict Mar Gregorios|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.[[Image:Gregorios4.jpg|thumb|Benedict Gregorios|alt=]]
In 1955 Metropolitan Archbishop Benedict Gregorios was enthroned as the metropolitan archbishop of [[Thiruvananthapuram]] and the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.catholic-hierarchy.org/bishop/bthang.html|title=Archbishop Benedict Varghese Gregorios Thangalathil [Catholic-Hierarchy]|website=www.catholic-hierarchy.org|access-date=2020-02-28}}</ref>

The Holy See appointed [[Zacharias Athanasios]] as successor to Severios; his consecration took place in 1954. [[Jacob Mar Theophilos|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 (Northern Kerala)|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 Mor Philoxenos|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 [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Bathery|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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

[[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, Trivandrum|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.[[File:BaseliFinal.jpg|thumb|]]
[[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 Ottathengil|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 [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Marthandom|Eparchy of Marthandom]] bifurcating the Metropolitan Eparchy of Thiruvananthapuram. [[Lawrence Mar Ephrem|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 Mar Koorilos|Thomas Koorilos]], who was consecrated bishop on 17 July 1997. On 29 June 1998 [[Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom|Yoohanon Chrysostom]] was consecrated as the bishop of Marthandom and [[Joshua Mar Ignathios|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|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 [[Baselios Cleemis|Isaac Cleemis]].

Bifurcating the Eparchy of Tiruvalla, the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Muvattupuzha|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 Mar Thomas|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, Trivandrum|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 [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Mavelikara|Eparchy of Mavelikara]] was erected and [[Joshua Mar Ignathios|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 (title)|Ramban]]; and [[Corepiscopo]], to honour a number of priests for their meritorious service in the Church.

On 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.
[[File:Syro-Malankara Holy Mass 1.jpg|thumb|270px| [[Holy Qurobo|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.{{Citation needed|date=March 2010}}

[[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 Mar Koorilos|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 Mar Julios|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.

[[Image:Leonardosandri.jpg|thumb|270px| Cardinal [[Leonardo Sandri]] at [[St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum|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 [[St. Mary, Queen of Peace Basilica|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, [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta|Pathanamthitta]] in [[Kerala]] and [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Puthur|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 Mar Chrysostom|Yoohanon Chrysostom]] to the new See of [[Pathanamthitta]] and Bishop [[Geevarghese Divannasios Ottathengil|Geevarghese Divannasios]] from the [[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Bathery|See of Bathery]] to the new See of Puthur. [[Joseph Mar Thomas|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 Trivandrum|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.<ref>[[Malayala Manorama]], [[Deepika (newspaper)|Deepika]] January 26, 2010</ref>

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
[[File:Episcopal Ordination Syro-Malankara Catholic Church 1.jpg|thumb|270px| The public meeting after the Episcopal Ordination, March 2010|alt=]]

[[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 [[Holy See|Vatican]] on 24 November 2012.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/29888.php?index=29888&lang=ge|title=Annuncio di Concistoro per la Creazione di Sei Nuovi Cardinali|publisher=[[Holy See Press Office]]|date=2012-10-24|language=it|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130223054432/http://press.catholica.va/news_services/bulletin/news/29888.php?index=29888&lang=ge|archive-date=2013-02-23}}</ref> 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.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.scribd.com/doc/237392941/Kuzhinapurath-Bibliography-Till-August-2014|title=The classified Bibliography of Fr. Dr. Thomas Kuzhinapurath |publisher= Scribd.com|date=2014-09-15|language=en, ml}}</ref>

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.

<gallery>
File:St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram.jpg|The latest image of St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram
Image:SyroMalankara ireland.JPG|Syro-Malankara Catholics in Ireland with Dr. Joshua Ignathius. (Mavelikara Diocese Bishop)
</gallery>

==Liturgy==
The liturgy of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is of the [[Antiochene Rite]], [[West Syriac rite|West Syriac]] in character. The liturgy today is celebrated in [[Malayalam language|Malayalam]], [[Syriac language|Syriac]], [[English language|English]], [[Tamil language|Tamil]], and [[Hindi]]. The church uses one of several [[Bible translations into Malayalam]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==Jurisdictions==
{{Main|List of Syro-Malankara Catholic eparchies and bishops}}
[[File:Malankara Catholic India.png|thumb|350px|Syro-Malankara Catholic Jurisdictions in 2025]]
===Proper Ecclesiastical provinces===
*[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archeparchy of Trivandrum|Metropolitan Major Archeparchy of Thiruvananthapuram]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Marthandom|Eparchy of Marthandom]]
**[[Diocese of Mavelikara|Eparchy of Mavelikara]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Parassala|Eparchy of Parassala]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Pathanamthitta|Eparchy of Pathanamthitta]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of St. Ephrem of Khadki|Eparchy of St. Ephrem of Khadki]]
*[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Archieparchy of Tiruvalla|Metropolitan Archeparchy of Tiruvalla]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Bathery|Eparchy of Bathery]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Muvattupuzha|Eparchy of Muvattupuzha]]
**[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of Puthur|Eparchy of Puthur]]
===Personal Jurisdiction directly under the Holy See===
*[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of St. John Chrysostom of Gurgaon|Eparchy of St. John Chrysostom of Gurgaon]]
*[[Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of the United States of America and Canada|Eparchy of St. Mary, Queen of Peace of the United States of America and Canada]]
===Apostolic Visitation===
*[[Apostolic Visitator|Apostolic Visitation]] of Europe, based in Birmingham, UK
*[[Apostolic Visitator|Apostolic Visitation]] of Oceania, based in Adelaide, Australia
===Titular See===
*Titular Episcopal See of Chayal

==Statistics==
According to the Pontifical yearbook ''[[Annuario Pontificio]]'' for 2012, the Syro-Malankara Church had approximately 436,870 members.<ref name="statistics">{{cite web
|url=http://nasrani.net/2007/02/13/population-statistics-demography-saint-thomas-christians-churches/ |title=Population Statistics|date=13 February 2007}}, Syro Malankara Church.</ref><ref name="cnewastat">{{cite web
|url=http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat12.pdf
|author=Ronald Roberson
|title=The Eastern Catholic Churches 2012
|publisher=Catholic Near East Welfare Association
|access-date=Nov 18, 2012
|archive-date=April 18, 2013
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130418032947/http://www.cnewa.org/source-images/Roberson-eastcath-statistics/eastcatholic-stat12.pdf
|url-status=dead
}} Information sourced from ''Annuario Pontificio'' 2012 edition.</ref>

{| class="wikitable"
! 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<ref name="Official Statutes">{{cite web |url=http://syromalankarausa.org/content/exarchate-statutes/ |title=The Statutes from St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada website |access-date=2017-10-26 |archive-date=2021-01-12 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210112034645/http://syromalankarausa.org/content/exarchate-statutes/ |url-status=dead }}, Syro Malankara Church.</ref>
| 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===
{|cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0" border="2" align="center" style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 2px #DEE8F1 solid"
|
{| cellpadding="2" cellspacing="0"  border="2" style="background-color:white; border-collapse: collapse; border: 1px #DEE8F1 solid"
! style="background-color:#B0BFD5; color:white"|Title
! style="background-color:#B0BFD5; color:white"|Name
! style="background-color:#B0BFD5; color:white"|Notes
|----
|Archbishop
|[[Geevarghese Mar Ivanios|Geevarghese Ivanios]]
|Split from [[Malankara Orthodox Church]]
|----
|1st Metropolitan of Tiruvalla
|[[Jacob Mar Theophilos|Jacob Theophilos]]
|Split from [[Malankara Orthodox Church]]
|----
|2nd Metropolitan of Tiruvalla
|[[Joseph Mar Severios|Joseph Severios]]
|Left [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Malankara Orthodox Church]]
|----
|Bishop of Thirumoolapuram
|[[Thomas Mar Dioscoros|Thomas Dioscoros]]
|Left [[Syriac Orthodox Church|Knanaya Syriac Orthodox Church]] 
|----
|Archbishop
|[[Benedict Mar Gregorios|Benedict Gregorios]]
|Left [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Malankara Orthodox Church]]
|----
|3rd Metropolitan of Tiruvalla
|[[Zacharias Mar Athanasios|Zacharias Athanasios]]
|Left [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Orthodox Church]]
|----
|Titular Bishop of Chayal
|[[Paulos Mor Philoxenos|Paulos Philoxenos]]
|Left [[Malabar Independent Syrian Church]]
|----
|4th Metropolitan of Tiruvalla
|[[Isaac Mar Yoohanon|Isaac Yoohanon]]
|
|----
|Major Arch Bishop-Catholicos
| [[Cyril Baselios]]
|
|----
|1st Metropolitan of Marthandom
| [[Lawrence Mar Ephrem|Lawrence Ephrem]]
|
|----
|1st Metropolitan of Puttur
| [[Geevarghese Divannasios Ottathengil|Geevarghese Divannasios]]
|
|----
|5th Metropolitan & 1st Bishop Emeritus of Tiruvalla
| [[Geevarghese Timotheos]]
|Left [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church|Malankara Orthodox Church]] 
|----
|1st Metropolitan of Gurgaon
| [[Jacob Mar Barnabas|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.<ref>[http://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2015/03/26/0219/00492.html Bollettino] vatican.va {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221028012413/https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2015/03/26/0219/00492.html |date=28 October 2022 }}</ref>

==Around the world==
===North America===
{{main|Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy of the United States of America and Canada}}
[[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 Eusebius|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 [[Cathedral of Saint Mary, Pattom|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]].<ref name=zenit>{{cite news
 |url         = http://www.zenit.org/article-29886?l=english
 |title       = New Apostolic Exarchate for Syro-Malankara Church
 |publisher   = ZENIT News Agency
 |date        = July 14, 2010
 |url-status     = dead
 |archive-url  = https://web.archive.org/web/20110607212740/http://www.zenit.org/article-29886?l=english
 |archive-date = June 7, 2011
}}</ref><ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/gsI4qw9Tl3c Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201022223415/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsI4qw9Tl3c&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gsI4qw9Tl3c| title = Malankara Catholic Exarchate in USA Inauguration | website=[[YouTube]] | date = 17 September 2011 }}{{cbignore}}</ref>

On 4 January 2016, [[Pope Francis]] elevated the exarchate to the status of an eparchy, expanding its jurisdiction to include [[Canada]].<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211205/jsDRTQb7_Mw Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201022223410/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsDRTQb7_Mw&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web| url = https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jsDRTQb7_Mw| title = Announcement of New Syro-Malankara Eparchy in USA & Canada | website=[[YouTube]] | date = 6 January 2016 }}{{cbignore}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malankaracatholicna.church/content/his-holiness-pope-francis-erects-syro-malankara-catholic-eparchy-usa-and-canada|title = His Holiness Pope Francis Erects Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada &#124; St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada}}</ref> Subsequently, Bishop [[Philippos Stephanos Thottathil|Philippos Mar Stephanos]] was appointed as the eparchy's second bishop on 5 August 2017, succeeding Bishop Thomas Mar Eusebius.<ref name="press.vatican.va">{{Cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/08/05/170805b.html|title=Resignations and Appointments|website=press.vatican.va|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malankaracatholicna.church/node/7436|title = Most Rev. Dr. Philipos Mar Stephanos &#124; St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada}}</ref> Bishop Mar Stephanos was installed on 28 October 2017.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malankaracatholicna.church/node/7445|title = Bishop Philipos Mar Stephanos installed as the second bishop of the Eparchy &#124; St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada}}</ref>

As of now, the eparchy oversees 19 parishes and missions, with 14 located in the United States and five in Canada.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malankaracatholicna.church/parishes-and-missions|title = Parishes and Missions &#124; St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada}}</ref>

=== Europe and Oceania ===
In 2017, Pope Francis appointed Bishop Yoohanon Mar Theodosius as [[Apostolic visitor|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.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://press.vatican.va/content/salastampa/en/bollettino/pubblico/2017/08/05/170805c.html|title=From the Oriental Churches|website=press.vatican.va|accessdate=21 January 2024}}</ref><ref name="press.vatican.va"/> The Syro-Malankara communities in these regions are present in several countries, including [[Germany]], [[Austria]], [[Republic of Ireland|Ireland]], [[Italy]], [[Switzerland]], the [[United Kingdom]], [[Australia]], and [[New Zealand]].{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

===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 Vicariate of Northern Arabia|Apostolic Vicariates of Northern Arabia]] and [[Apostolic Vicariate of Southern Arabia|Apostolic Vicariates of Southern Arabia]].<ref name="qatar">{{cite web
|url=http://www.smccqatar.org/
|title=St. Mary's Malankara Catholic Church (Doha, Qatar)
|access-date=July 15, 2010
|archive-date=28 July 2011
|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110728031808/http://www.smccqatar.org/
|url-status=dead
}}</ref> [[Qatar]] is the only country in the region with an officially organized Syro-Malankara parish.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

The Syro-Malankara faithful in the [[Persian Gulf|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== 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.<ref>{{Cite journal|title=Malankara Church / Syro-Malankara Church|url=http://dx.doi.org/10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_sim_13461|access-date=2021-02-09|journal=Religion Past and Present|date=April 2011|doi=10.1163/1877-5888_rpp_sim_13461|last1=Tubach|first1=Jürgen|url-access=subscription}}</ref>

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 Church|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

=== 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 of Don Bosco|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]]
*[[Mar Ivanios Minor Seminary, Mavelikkara|Ivanios Minor Seminary, Mavelikkara]]
*[[Mar Gregorios Malankara Syrian Catholic Seminary, New York|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 =====

*[[Mar Ivanios College|Ivanios College]], Thiruvananthapuram
*[[St. John's College, Anchal]]
*Mar Theophilos Training College
*[[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|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 [[Sultan Bathery|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, Karnataka|Puttur]]. In North India, it functions under the Apostolic Visitation for Malankara Syrian Catholic Churches (MCCETR – [[New Delhi]]). {{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}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).''<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://malankaracatholicna.church/content/youth-apostolate-malankara-catholic-youth-movement-mcym|title = Youth Apostolate - Malankara Catholic Youth Movement (MCYM) &#124; St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada}}</ref>''

==== 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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

== Notable people ==
{{Main|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.{{Citation needed|date=November 2024}}

==See also==
<!---for articles NOT mentioned above--->
*[[All India Catholic Union]]
*[[Churches of Kerala]]
*[[List of Major Archbishops of Trivandrum]]
*[[Sacred Heart Catholic Church (Mylapra, Pathanamthitta)|Sacred Heart Catholic Church, Mylapra, Pathanamthitta]]
*[[Saint Thomas Anglicans]]
*[[St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, Trivandrum|St. Mary's Higher Secondary School, Pattom, Thiruvananthapuram]]
*[[List of Syro-Malankara Catholics]]

==References==
=== Citations ===
{{Reflist}}

===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==
{{Commons}}

===Official websites===
*[http://www.malankaratvm.com/ Major Archdiocese of Trivandrum]
*[http://catholicarchdioceseoftiruvalla.com/ Major Archdiocese of Tiruvalla]
*[http://www.pathanamthittadiocese.com/ Eparchy of Pathanamthitta]
*[http://syromalankarausa.org/ St. Mary, Queen of Peace Syro-Malankara Catholic Eparchy in USA and Canada]

===Other===
*[https://cnewa.org/eastern-christian-churches/toc/the-catholic-eastern-churches/from-the-oriental-orthodox-churches/the-syro-malankara-catholic-church/ Article on the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church by Ronald Roberson on the CNEWA website.]

{{Syro-Malankara Catholic Church Hierarchy}}
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{{Churches in India}}
{{Christianity in Kerala}}
{{Syriac Christianity}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Syro-Malankara Catholic Church| ]]
[[Category:1930 establishments in British India]]