Archeparchy of Trichur


The Archeparchy of Trichur, in Thrissur District of Central Kerala, India, with nearly half a million Syro-Malabar Catholics now, used to be the largest Catholic diocese in India when it included the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda until 1978 and Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Palghat until 1973. It was one of the two Vicariates created for Syriac Catholics while the latter being Archeparchy of Changanassery. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Irinjalakuda, also located in Thrissur District, has over a quarter million Syro-Malabar Catholics now. Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat in Central Kerala extends to some regions in the neighbouring state of Tamil Nadu. In 2010, the parts of Tamil Nadu under the Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat were separated to form another Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram.
The Archeparchy of Trichur was founded on 20 May 1887 by Pope Leo XIII by his papal bull Quod Jam Pridem now covers an area of 2000 Sq. km and has a Catholic population of about 460848. There are 16 Foranes under the Archeparchy of Trichur. The total number of parishes is 215. In addition, there are 36 stations in the archdiocese. Diocese of Ramanathapuram, Diocese of Irinjalakuda and Diocese of Palghat are the suffragan dioceses of the Archeparchy. Raphael Thattil is the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, Andrews Thazhath is the Metropolitan Archbishop, Tony Neelankavil is the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese and Jacob Thoomkuzhy is the Archbishop Emeritus.
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History

The diocese was founded on 20 May 1887 by Pope Leo XIII by his papal bull Quod iam pridem. The boundaries of diocese were from Periyar (river) in Aluva to Bharathappuzha. Later it was extended to Palakkad district and extended to Coimbatore District in Tamil Nadu and was the largest Catholic diocese in India.

Role in education

Rev. Medlycott has given a description about the state of facilities for education in the vicariate on his arrival in 1887 and on his return in 1896 as below:

Parishes and population

The total number of parishes is 215. In addition, there are 36 stations in the archdiocese. The population of Syro-Malabar Catholics in Thrissur Archdiocese is about 4,60,848. There are 16 foranes under Thrissur Archdiocese. They are:
Serial No.ForaneParishesStationsHousesCatholic Population
1Lourdes Cathedral1711174659539
2Dolours' Basilica1601009554777
3Chelakara11116158080
4Erumapetty111245212285
5Kandassankadavu136693339781
6Kottekad82499426134
7Mattom85376118471
8Ollur1451337263211
9Palayur142587329696
10Parappur105378317685
11Pattikad120260913735
12Pazhuvil124442524892
13Pudukad1841103861064
14Puthur100323216040
15Velur132377518528
16Wadakkanchery131517426872

Ordinaries

Vicar Apostolic, Bishops and Archbishops
Sl.NoOrdinaryDesignationYear of appointmentLast year of service
1Adolph MedlycottVicar Apostolic18871896
2John MenacheryVicar Apostolic18961919
3Francis VazhapillyBishop19191944
4George AlapattBishop19441970
5Joseph KundukulamArchbishop19701997
6Jacob ThoomkuzhyArchbishop19972007
7Andrews ThazhathArchbishop2007present

Auxiliary Bishops
Sl.NoOrdinaryDesignationYear of appointmentLast year of service
1Andrews ThazhathAuxiliary Bishop20042007
2Raphael ThattilAuxiliary Bishop20102017
3Tony NeelankavilAuxiliary Bishop2017present

Prelates Hailing From the archdiocese
Sl.NoOrdinaryDesignationYear of appointmentLast year of service
1Joseph IrimpenFormer Bishop - Palghat19741994
2James PazhayattilFormer Bishop - Irinjalakuda19782010
3Paul ChittilapillyFormer Bishop - Thamarassery19882010
4Raphael CheenathFormer Archbishop - Cuttack–Bhubaneswar19742011
5Clemens Thottungal C.M.IFormer Bishop - Sagar19771987
6Joseph PastorFormer Bishop - Sagar19872006
7Antony ChirayathFormer Bishop - Sagar20062018
8Bosco Puthur*Curial bishop - Syro malabar Church
20102025
9Paul AlappattBishop - Ramanathapuram2010present
10Raphael ThattilMajor Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church2025present
11Joseph ThykkattilBishop – Gwalior2019present
12Franco MulakkalFormer Bishop – Jalandhar20132023
13Antony Prince PanengadenArchbishop – Shamshabad2025present
14Vincent NellaiparambilBishop – Bijnor2019present
15Thomas Anthony VazhapillyFormer Bishop – Mysore20032017

Saints and causes for canonisation