History

The Apostolic Church of St. Thomas Christians in India has always remained in Catholic Communion until 16 century. But, under the influence of ‘padroado’ agreement, the Indian Church of St. Thomas came into direct contact with the Latin Catholic Church through the Portuguese missionaries. The missionaries, who were mostly ignorant of the Oriental Catholic traditions wished to latinize the St. Thomas Christians of India in a clandestine manner and that ended up in the revolt of Koonan Kurisu Sathyam (Bended Cross Pledge) in 1653.

Consequently, the Church of St. Thomas split into two known as Pazhaya koottukar and Puthenkoottukar. The Puthenkoottukar, being comparatively a small group made several attempts to re-establish the long existed communion with Rome. Since they failed in their efforts to come into communion with Rome, they, somehow, managed to establish communion with Jacobite Syrian Church of Antioch. Even after establishing communion with the Jacobite Church of Antioch, the prelates of Puthenkoottukar continued their efforts for reunion with Rome.

Thus, the reunion attempt under the leadership of Bethany Metropolitan Mar Ivanios was duly authorized by the Jacobite Holy Episcopal Synod (Methran Kakshi) held at Parumala, near Tiruvalla, Kerala on 1st November 1926. Mar Ivanios, following earnestly the mandate of Holy Synod, made prolonged negotiations with Rome. Finally on 4 July 1930, Rome took the crucial decision to accept the request of Puthenkoottukar represented by Mar Ivanios. Thereafter, on 20 September 1930, Mar Ivanios and four others, made profession of faith, before the Quilon Bishop Maria Aloysius Benzigar O.C.D. as per the direction from Rome. Since the Reunion Movement gained momentum, Pope Pius XI of happy memory, through the Apostolic constitution “christo pastorum principi” of 11 June 1932, established the Syro- Malankara Catholic Hierarchy for the reunited community and erected the Archieparchy of Trivandrum together with the Eparchy of Thiruvalla as its suffragan. The Archieparchy of Trivandrum was inaugurated on 11 May 1933, and Mar Ivanios was enthroned as its first Metropolitan Archbishop.

After these epoch-making events under the providence of God, the Archieparchy of Trivandrum engaged in her double mission of Re-union and Evangelization. The committed and dedicated work of the priests, religious and laity made the Archieparchy to grow up and expand in ecclesial and social dimensions. The social and cultural heritage together with the linguistic consideration and development of the southern region of the Archieparchy led to the formation of the Marthandom Eparchy on 16 December 1996.

Since the Malankara Catholic Church made great strides in its ecclesial and social development, Pope John Paul II, the servant of God, elevated the Malankara Catholic Church to the juridical status of the Major Archiepiscopal Church on 10 February 2005, with all its rights and obligations as per the Canon Law of the Eastern Churches (Vide, Apostolic Bull Ab ipso sancto Thoma). This event became the real fulfillment of the long cherished dream – to elevate this Church in to ‘Sui juris’status - of the most venerated founding father Mar Ivanios ,the servant of God. And that too, a turning point in the history of Malankara Catholic Church.

Thereafter, considering the pastoral needs and the special circumstances of the people of God in the Major Archieparchy, the 4th ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of Syro Malankara Catholic Church held from 31 October to 3 November 2006, decided to erect Mavelikara Eparchy. It comprises more or less the North-Western region of the erstwhile Trivandrum Major Archieparchy. Taking into account the significance of Mavelikara in the history of St.Thomas Christians of Puthenkoottukar, the newly erected Episcopal See was named after it. The famous Holy Mavelikara Synod and the Mavelikara ‘Padiyola’ (document) are the evidence of its historical importance. Moreover, Mavelikara is the native place of Mar IvaniosMetropolitan, the servant of God, the most venerated father of Malankara Church and founder of the Re-union Movement.

After the formation of this new Eparchy the whole geographical area was re-arranged into five ecclesiastical districts; namely, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kadampanad, Puthoor and Kollam. By the providence of God and under the able leadership of His Excellency Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios the Eparchy is growing fast in all its dimensions.

As per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos, by the decree Prot.No. 1/2007, erected the Eparchy of Mavelikara, bifurcating the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, on 1 January 2007. His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios, the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum was transferred and was appointed the first Bishop of the Eparchy of Mavelikara. The official inauguration of the Eparchy of Mavelikara and the Installation of His Excellency Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios as its Bishop were held at St.Mary’s Church, Punnamood, Mavelikara on 16 February 2007. The Holy Qurbono was celebrated by the newly elected Major Archbishop-Catholicos and the Installation was officiated by the Administrator of the Church His Excellency Most Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios. The Eparchy of Mavelikkara comprises of the prebsyteral districts of Mavelikakra and Kollam and parts of the presbyteral districts of Chengannur and Adoor. This coincides with the civil districts of Alapuzha minus the portions that belong to the Archdiocese of Tiruvalla and parts of the civil districts of Kollam and Pathanamthitta.

After the formation of this new Eparchy the whole geographical area was re-arranged into five ecclesiastical districts; namely, Chengannur, Mavelikara, Kadampanad, Puthoor and Kollam and later in 2014 created a new ecclesiastical districted named Kattanam. There are 25000 Catholic faithful distributed over the 96 parishes in the new Eparchy. There are 66 diocesan priests in the Eparchy. The patroness of the Eparchy is Mary, Mother of God. By the providence of God and under the able leadership of His Excellency Dr. Joshua Mar Ignathios the Eparchy is growing fast in all its dimensions.