Syro-Malabar Catholic Archdiocese of Thrissur

Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur

Location
Country	India
Territory	Thrissur district
Ecclesiastical province	Kerala
Metropolitan	Thrissur
Statistics
Population - Total - Catholics	2,018,635 470,056
Parishes	205
Churches	254
Schools	23
Members	500,000
Information
Denomination	Syro-Malabar Catholic Church
Rite	East Syrian Rite
Established	1887
Cathedral	Our Lady of Lourdes Metropolitan Cathedral,
Co-cathedral	Basilica of Our Lady of Dolours
Patron saint	Our Lady of the Immaculate Conception
Current leadership
Pope	Francis
Bishop	Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur
Auxiliary Bishops	Bishop Raphael Thattil
Vicar General	George Edakulathur
Emeritus Bishops	Mar Jacob Thoomkuzhy
Website
bispage.net/trichurarchdioces

The Syro Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur, 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. 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 Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Palghat were separated to another Syro-Malabar Catholic Diocese of Ramanathapuram.

The diocese was founded on May 20, 1887 by Pope Pius XI by his Papal bull Quod Jam 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.