The Archeparchy of Ernakulam–Angamaly is the major archeparchy and the see of the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. It has been the major archeparchy since 1992 when the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church was elevated to the status of a major archiepiscopal church with Ernakulam-Angamaly as the primatal see. The major archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly is the main bishop of the jurisdiction, at the same time the head of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church. The eparchies of Kothamangalam and Idukki are the two suffragan eparchies of the major archeparchy.
The see of Ernakulam-Angamaly occupies a prominent position in the history of the Syro-Malabar. It is the diocese which contains the historic places Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam and Malayattoor associated with St. Thomas. The diocese also witnessed many significant events like the Synod of Diamper, Coonan Cross Oath and the Angamaly Padiyola. The present Syro-Malabar faithful were under the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and European bishops since the 1600s. Pope Leo XIII separated the Syro-Malabars from Latin Church jurisdiction and he established the vicariates of Ernakulam, Thrissur and Changanassery for Syro-Malabar Catholics by the late 19th century. Ernakulam–Angamaly was established as a Vicariate by the Bull Quae Rei Sacrae of Pope Leo XIII on 28 July 1896 and Mar Louis Pazheparambil was appointed as the first figure apostolic, who assumed charge on 5 November 1896. Under the able guidance of Mar Pazheparambil, the vicariate began to flourish. The city of Ernakulam was chosen to be the location for the bishop's house which was completed and blessed on 24 April 1900. When the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy was established in 1923, Ernakulam was chosen as the see. In 1992, the name of the diocese was changed to Ernakulam - Angamaly and it became the Major Archdiocese.
Mar Cardinal George Alencherry was the Major Archbishop till his resignation on 7 December 2023. Until July 2022, Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil CMI was the Vicar of Major Archbishop, responsible for the administration of the major archeparchy. Mar Andrews Thazhath, Archbishop of Thrissur Archeparchy, was appointed by the Pope Francis as the apostolic administrator of the same, replacing Mar Antony Kariyil. On 7 December 2023, he too resigned. Mar Bosco Puthur became the Apostolic Administrator of the Major Archeparchy. On 11 January 2025, The Holy See granted the Archdiocese back to the Major Archbishop, who named Mar Joseph Pamplany as the Vicar of the Major Archbishop.
The Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese caused a major controversy for the Syro-Malabar Church around the implementation of celebrating uniform mode of Holy Mass. Archbishop Mar Antony Kariyil's leadership and resignation in 2022, against the backdrop of resistance to Archbishop Mar George Alencherry, marked a significant phase. The dispute escalated with protests and the closure of St. Mary's Cathedral Basilica in Ernakulam. Despite Pope Francis's directives for unity and a deadline for resolution, conflicts persisted, leading to significant opposition and actions against Vatican-appointed Archbishop Cyril Vasiľ by the laity of the Archdiocese. The Pope's direct intervention on 7 December 2023 emphasized reconciliation and adherence to Catholic principles or face excommunication.
History Pre-Synod of Diamper
Post Synod of Diamper
Vicariate to Major Archeparchy
In 1896, Pope Leo XIII established the Vicariate of Ernakulam by the papal bull Quae Rei Sacrae, by bifurcating from existing two other Apostolic Vicariates, Kottayam (in Changanasserry) and Trichur. Mar Aloysius Pazheparambil was appointed as the first Apostolic Vicar, who assumed charge on 5 November 1896. Mar Pazheparampil governed the Vicariate until he died in 1919, and Augustine Kandathil was appointed the bishop the same year.
Archbishop Kandathil guided the life and work of the archdiocese and of the Syro-Malabar Hierarchy for well over three decades. The Syro-Malabar Hierarchy was established in 1923, and Ernakulam was raised to the Metropolitan status or Archdiocesan status, and Augustine Kandathil was made the first archbishop and Head of Syro-Malabar Church. Ernakulam was raised as the See of Syro-Malabar Church in 1923. Mar Augustine Kandathil served the archdiocese until his death in January 1956.
On 20 July 1956, Joseph Parecattil became the Archbishop of Ernakulam. On 29 July 1956, Ernakulam was bifurcated and the Diocese of Kothamangalam was erected. The dioceses of Thrissur, Thalassery and Kothamangalam became suffragan dioceses of Ernakulam archdiocese. Parecattil became a Cardinal on 28 March 1969, and Sebastian Mankuzhikary was appointed as his auxiliary on 15 November 1969. A large number of churches, monasteries, convents, seminaries, schools, colleges, technical institutions, printing presses, hospitals, homes for retired priests, social centres and various associations and institutes dedicated to intellectual and vocational apostolates came into being in this archdiocese during Cardinal Parecattil's tenure.
On 1 April 1984, Joseph Parecattil retired from the office, and Sebastian Mankuzhikary was designated as the apostolic administrator of the archdiocese. In the year 1985, Antony Padiyara was appointed as Archbishop of Ernakulam archdiocese and thereby the third Head of Syro-Malabar Church. Antony Padiyara was made Cardinal in 1988 and Mar Jacob Mananthodath became the auxiliary bishop of the archdiocese in 1992. On 16 December 1992 the Syro-Malabar Church was declared a major archiepiscopal church with the title of Ernakulam-Angamaly, by Pope John Paul II. Thereby the Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly is also the Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, and the name of the archdiocese changed from Ernakulam to Ernakulam-Angamaly. Angamaly, an ancient residential see of the Bishop of St Thomas Christians and now a municipal town in the Archdiocese of Ernakulam, was also associated with the title of the Major Archbishop. During this period, the powers of Major Archbishop were vested in the Pontifical Delegate Mar Abraham Kattumana (1992-1995). Major Archbishop Antony Padiyara retired from his office on 18 December 1996.
On 6 January 1997, Varkey Vithayathil C.Ss.R. was nominated titular Bishop of Antinoe and the Apostolic Administrator of the archdiocese. Thomas Chakiath was made auxiliary bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly in February 1998. On 23 December 1999, the Vatican appointed archbishop Varkey Vithayathil as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church. Sebastian Adayantharath was appointed Auxiliary Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly by Pope John Paul II on 3 January 2002. Bosco Puthur was appointed as Curia Bishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly on 15 January 2010.
On 1 April 2011, Varkey Vithayathil died. Bosco Puthur was apostolic administrator until installation of new Major Archbishop. On 24 May 2011, George Alencherry was elected as the major archbishop and installed on 29 May. Former Mandya Bishop Antony Karayil was appointed on 30 August 2019 as the Vicar of the Major Archbishop.
On 18 February 2012, Alencherry was made a cardinal of the Catholic Church.
In 2017, Alencherry was involved in a controversy involving improper transfers of archdiocesan property. Following protests from priests of the archdiocese, an acting administrator was named, who was eventually replaced by a permanent Archiepiscopal Vicar, Mar Antony Kariyil. In 2022, Kariyil was asked to step down by the Vatican following a dispute with the Syro-Malabar Synod when Kariyil refused to bring liturgical practices in the archdiocese into conformance with the norms set down by the Synod, instead of practices which had been in use for 60 years.
Carmelite missionaries and the Syriac Vicariates