The Diocese of Cochin () is a Latin Church diocese of the Catholic Church in Cochin, Kerala, India. A constituent of the Latin Church, the diocese was established in 1557 after the domination of the Portuguese-speaking missionaries. The diocese is a suffragan diocese in the ecclesiastical province of the metropolitan Archdiocese of Verapoly. According to Annuario Pontificio 2025, Diocese of Cochin is the first diocese of Kerala
The diocese is situated with the Arabian Sea in the west, the Archdiocese of Verapoly in both north and east, and the Diocese of Alleppey in the south. The Santa Cruz Cathedral Basilica in Fort Cochin is the diocese's cathedral where the Diocesan Administrator resides. Pope Francis appointed James Raphael Anaparambil, Bishop of Diocese of Alleppey, as apostolic administrator sede plena to the diocese on 11 October 2024 and his term has ended on 8 December by the installation of Antony Kattiparambil as the Bishop of Cochin.
On 25 October 2025, Pope Leo XIV appointed Antony Kattiparambil as the bishop of the diocese.
History DateEventFromTo4 February 1557ErectedArchdiocese of GoaArchdiocese of Goa - suffragan sees of Cochin and MalaccaDiocese of Cochinwww.catholic-hierarchy.org | Diocese of CochinDiocese of Cochin erected | Original Catholic Encyclopedia www.gcatholic.org | Diocese of Cochin was erected as a suffragan diocese (other being Diocese of Malacca) to the Archdiocese of Goa1599Territory LostDiocese of CochinArchdiocese of Angamalé (erected) (Later name changed to Archdiocese of Cranganore and suppressed to Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly)9 January 1606Territory LostDiocese of CochinDioceses of Saint Thomas of Mylapore (Tamil Nadu) United To: Archdiocese of Madras and Mylapore (Meliapor)1606Territory LostDiocese of Cochinas Mission "sui iuris" of Madura (Tamil Nadu) Later Suppressed.1659Territory LostDiocese of CochinVicariate Apostolic of Malabar (erected) (Later namechanged to Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly and Later to Archdiocese of Verapoly)3 Dec 1834Territory LostDiocese of CochinVicariate Apostolic of Ceylon (Sri Lanka) Later changed to Archdiocese of Colombo19 June 1952Territory LostDiocese of CochinDiocese of Alleppey (erected)19 September 1953Metropolitan ChangedArchdiocese of GoaArchdiocese of Verapoly1955Territory LostDiocese of CochinDiocese of Trivandrum The early Christian missionaries arrived in India from Portugal in 1550, pioneering the Portuguese mission in the country. Subsequently, the Christians of Kochi began practicing the Latin liturgical rite. St. Francis Xavier often visited the land of Kochi, where he offered holy mass at the St. Francis Church, in which lies the body of Vasco da Gama buried in 1524. The Order of the Franciscans built a monastery in 1518 and two more, of the Jesuit Order, in 1550 and 1561. In 1553 the Dominicans sisters started a college and Monastery in Kochi, and before 1557, publication began and book printing began in Kochi. The Society of Jesus was then founded by Father Balthazar Gago, S.J. in 1550 and in 1560, the King of Portugal built for the Society of Jesus, the college of Kochi, and in 1562, a novitiate of the Society was established there. Following the rising of the land, Pope Leo X, in 1514 erected the Diocese of Funchal, and in 1534, the Diocese of Goa which was joined by the people in Kochi. The diocese of Cochin was elected by Pope Paul IV on 4 February 1557, in his decree for the two new suffragan dioceses (the other being Diocese of Malacca).
The Papal Bull of Pope Paul IV, which was used earlier in erecting the diocese was also utilised in raising the collegiate church of the Holy Cross, and the parish church of Cochin to a cathedral of the diocese with the first Bishop of Cochin, a Dominican Father Jorge Tremudo. In 1577, Brother João Gonsalves, S.J. was engraved at Cochin for the first time, thus, outlined the first Malealam book Outlines of Christian Doctrine, which was written in Portuguese by St. Francis Xavier to aid children. Cochin was taken on 6 January 1663, by the Dutch after a siege of six months. The city was reduced in size; the clergy were expelled; the monasteries and colleges, bishop's palace, etc., were razed to the ground. The church of St. Francis of Assisi, belonging to the Franciscan monastery was spared by the conquerors and converted for their religious use. After the English overthrew the Dutch, they kept the church which was turned into a merchandise to serve as a witness to the past four centuries, as well as an existing oldest church in India.
Notable ordinaries Sl.no Ordinary Year of appointment Last year of service 1 Dom Jorge Temudo O.P 1557 1567 28 Dom Mateus de Oliveira Xavier 1898 1908 31 Dom José Vieira Alvernaz 1942 1951 32 Alexander Edezhath 1952 1975 33 Joseph Kureethara 1975 1999 34 John Thattumkal 2000 2008 35 Joseph Kariyil 2009 202436 Antony Kattiparambil2025Present
Parishes The Diocese Of Cochin has fifty one independent parishes with resident priests under six ecclesiastical districts as follows
Name Of The ParishYear Established First District – Fort Cochin ForaneSanta Cruz Cathedral Basilica Fort Kochi1505Church of Our Lady of Life Mattancherry9th centuryChurch of Our Lady of Hope Fort Vypeen1605St Peter and Paul Church Amaravathy1857Holy Family Church Nazareth1901Stella Maris Church Willington Island1955St Joseph's Bethlehem Church Chullicakal1974St Mary's Church Kochery2016 Second District – Kannamaly ForaneSt Antony's Forane Church Kannamaly1873St Louis Church Mundamveli9th centurySt Sebastian's Church Chellaanam1832St Joseph's Church Cheriyakadavu1968St Francis Assisi Church Kaattiparambu1980St Thomas Apostle Church Santhome1990St John The Baptist Church Anjilithara2019 Third District – Edakochi ForaneSt Lawrence Church Edakochi9th centurySt Sebastian's Church Thoppumpady1833Santa Cruz Church Perumpadappu1965St Joseph's Church Chirackal1965St Mary's Church North Edakochi1978St Lawrence Church Palluruthy1986St Thomas More Church Palluruthy1991St Joseph's Church Maduracompany2012Santa Maria Church Perumpadappu2018 Fourth District – Kumbalanghi ForaneSt George Church Pazhangad1869St Peter's Church Kumbalanghi1875St Joseph's Church North Kumbalanghi1967Immaculate Conception Church Ezhupunna1977St Sebastian's Church Neendakara1977Sacred Heart Church Kumbalanghi1994St Martin De Porres Church Kallencherry1996Holy Maris Church Azheekakam2014San Jose Church Ettumkal2014 Fifth District – Aroor ForaneSt Augustine's Church Aroor1901St Francis Xavier Church Eramalloor1843St Joseph's Church Kumbalam1977St Antony's Church Arookutty1978St Joseph's Church Vallithod1986Our Lady Of Fatima Church Kodamthuruth 1991St Mary's Church Chandiroor2004St Sebastian's Church Karunyapuram2013Little Flower Church Perumbalam2013St Jude Church Eramalloor2020Queen Of Peace Church Ezhupunna2024 Sixth District – Thankey ForaneSt Mary's Forane Church Thankey1832Our Lady Of Assumption Church, Poomkavu1860St George Church Arthumkal1866St Francis Xavier Church Vayalar1936St Sebastian's Church Areeparambu2016St George Church Arasupuram2017St Antony's Church Pathirapally2019
In the 9th century there were only three parishes in Kochi:
St. Lawrence Church Edakochi,
Our Lady Of Life Church Mattancherry, and
St. Louis Church Mundamveli.
Gallery
See also Catholic Church in India List of Catholic dioceses in India Territories of Catholic dioceses in India
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