Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda
| Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalkuda | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Location | |
| Country |  India |
| Territory | Thrissur district |
| Ecclesiastical province | Kerala |
| Metropolitan | Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur |
| Statistics | |
| Population - Catholics |
260000 |
| Parishes | 136 |
| Churches | 152 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Syro-Malabar Catholic Church |
| Rite | East Syriac Rite |
| Established | 1978 |
| Cathedral | St Thomas Cathedral & Bishop House |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Bishop | Mar Pauly Kannookadan, Bishop of Irinjalakuda |
| Website | |
| irinjalakudadiocese.com | |
The Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Irinjalakuda is a suffragan eparchy (Eastern Catholic diocese) in the ecclesiastical province of the Metropolitan Syro-Malabar Catholic Archeparchy of Thrissur in Kerala state's Thrissur District, southern India.
It is part of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (which follows a Chaldean = Syro-Oriental Rite.
Its cathedral episcopal see is St Thomas Cathedral , in Irinjalakuda city. The former cathedral (of Arch diocese of Crangannore), now St. Mary’s Forane Church -Puthenchira, is also in this eparchy.
As per 2015, it pastorally served 269,867 Catholics (20.4% of 1,326,000 total) on 1,180 km² in 134 parishes and 20 missions with 301 priests (209 diocesan, 92 religious), 2,085 lay religious (168 brothers, 1,917 sisters) and 53 seminarians.
The eparchy was created as Diocese of Irinjalakuda / Irinialakuden(sis) (Latin adjective) by Pope Paul VI in his bull Trichurensis Eparchiae of 22 June 1978, on territory split off from the then Eparchy (Diocese) of Trichur (now its Metropolitan).
St Thomas, one of the apostles of Christ, after receiving the Holy Spirit at Pentecost, set about the mission of spreading the gospel of Jesus Christ to the whole world. A review of the life of St Thomas will prove how he fulfilled this great mission in India. According to the tradition, St Thomas came by sea and landed at Kodungalloor (Cranganore) the capital of the then Chera Empire in 52 AD. He baptised families in Kodungalloor and Palayur (Trichur). St Thomas preached the gospel wherever he went, and founded churches. According to Malabar tradition St Thomas founded seven churches, they are in Cranganore, Quilon, Chayal, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Paravur and Palayur. From there he went to Coromandel and suffered martyrdom near the Little Mount in Tamil Nadu. His body was brought to the town of Mylapore and was buried in a holy shrine. According to "Ramban Songs", St Thomas converted 17,550 people. He ordained priests and consecrated bishops. The Apostle consecrated Kepa, a native, as Bishop of Kodungalloor and as the head of St Thomas Christians and Paul as the Bishop of Mylapore. It is worth mentioning that the Apostle gave his followers a way of worship suited to their clime, culture and customs. Since the 4th century, the Church in India started communication with the East Syriac Church and soon began to introduce liturgical books and share rites. Thus the Indian Church became a member of the Babylonian (also known as Assyrian & Syro-Chaldean) Patriarchate for practical purpose, not for doctrinal reasons.
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