Major Archiepiscopal Church
On 10 February 2005, a day engraved in golden letters in the history of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope John Paul II of venerable memory raised this Church to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church and appointed the then Metropolitan Archbishop as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church by the Papal Bull Ab ipso Sancto Thoma (PopeJohn Paul II, Apostolic Bull, Ab ipso Sancto Thoma, Prot. No. 570.809, February 10, 2005, Malankara, 1 (2005) 1, p. 12). This was the crowning event of all the ecclesial communion endeavors since 1653.
Thus the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church obtained the Synodal hierarchical structure with Major Archbishop as the “father and head” (pater et caput) of the Church exercising Patriarchal powers with the Synod of Bishops. In accordance with the provisions of the CCEO and the tradition of the Malankara Church, which has its roots in the Syro-Antiochene tradition, the Major Archbishop is the “Catholicos” of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, who with the Holy Episcopal Synod exercises Patriarchal powers envisaged in the CCEO (Pope Pius XII, Motu proprio, Cleri sanctitati, AAS 49 (1957) 430-603, c. 335). In complete concordance with this tradition, the pater et caput of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church assumed the title ‘Catholicos’ along with the title Major Archbishop. The announcement was officiated by His Grace Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom in the presence of all Bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and a large number of clergy and faithful.
The Enthronement of Major Archbishop-Catholicos Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, as the Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church and Major Archbishop of Trivandrum was held at St.Mary’s Cathedral on 14 May 2005. His Eminence Ignace Cardinal Mousa Daoud, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Patriarch Emeritus of the Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch presided over the liturgy of enthronement. A large number of Bishops, dignitaries, clergy, religious and lay people participated in the functions.
The Platinum Jubilee of the Reunion Movement and the Year of the Eucharist were celebrated jointly at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara on 19, 20, 21 September 2005. His Grace Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio in India, Shri Bhaironsingh Shekhawat, the Vice-President of India, and Sri Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister of Kerala, participated in the celebrations.
As per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and with the assent of the Holy See, His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos, the Major Archbishop-Catholicos, bifurcated the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, and established the new Eparchy of Mavelikara on 1 January 2007 (Decree, Prot. No. 1/2007). His Excellency Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum was transferred and appointed (Decree, Prot. No. 2/2007) as the first Bishop of Mavelikara, by His Beatitude Cyril Baselios. The Eparchy of Mavelikara comprises of the presbyteral districts of Mavelikara and Kollam and parts of the presbyteral districts of Chengannur and Adoor. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios was installed in office at St. Mary’s Church, Puthiakavu on 16 February 2007.
As per the decision of the Second Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, which was convoked on 6-7 December 2006 and the ministerial titles of Ramban and Corepiscopo which were in vogue were revived in the Church and to honour a few priests for their meritorious service in the Church. Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos conferred these titles on ten priests on 17 January, 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom.
His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, the first Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church passed away on 18 January 2007 and was entombed at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum on 20 January 2007. On 18 January 2007, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the Bishop of Bathery assumed the office of the Administrator of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum as per CCEO c. 127.
On 10 February 2005, a day engraved in golden letters in the history of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, His Holiness Pope John Paul II of venerable memory raised this Church to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church and appointed the then Metropolitan Archbishop as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church by the Papal Bull Ab ipso Sancto Thoma (PopeJohn Paul II, Apostolic Bull, Ab ipso Sancto Thoma, Prot. No. 570.809, February 10, 2005, Malankara, 1 (2005) 1, p. 12). This was the crowning event of all the ecclesial communion endeavors since 1653.
Thus the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church obtained the Synodal hierarchical structure with Major Archbishop as the “father and head” (pater et caput) of the Church exercising Patriarchal powers with the Synod of Bishops. In accordance with the provisions of the CCEO and the tradition of the Malankara Church, which has its roots in the Syro-Antiochene tradition, the Major Archbishop is the “Catholicos” of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, who with the Holy Episcopal Synod exercises Patriarchal powers envisaged in the CCEO (Pope Pius XII, Motu proprio, Cleri sanctitati, AAS 49 (1957) 430-603, c. 335). In complete concordance with this tradition, the pater et caput of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church assumed the title ‘Catholicos’ along with the title Major Archbishop. The announcement was officiated by His Grace Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom in the presence of all Bishops of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and a large number of clergy and faithful.
The Enthronement of Major Archbishop-Catholicos Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, as the Father and Head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Major Archiepiscopal Church and Major Archbishop of Trivandrum was held at St.Mary’s Cathedral on 14 May 2005. His Eminence Ignace Cardinal Mousa Daoud, the Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches and the Patriarch Emeritus of the Syrian Catholic Church of Antioch presided over the liturgy of enthronement. A large number of Bishops, dignitaries, clergy, religious and lay people participated in the functions.
The Platinum Jubilee of the Reunion Movement and the Year of the Eucharist were celebrated jointly at Mar Ivanios Nagar, Punnamoodu, Mavelikara on 19, 20, 21 September 2005. His Grace Pedro Lopez Quintana, the Apostolic Nuncio in India, Shri Bhaironsingh Shekhawat, the Vice-President of India, and Sri Oommen Chandy, the Chief Minister of Kerala, participated in the celebrations.
As per the decision of the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, and with the assent of the Holy See, His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos, the Major Archbishop-Catholicos, bifurcated the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum, and established the new Eparchy of Mavelikara on 1 January 2007 (Decree, Prot. No. 1/2007). His Excellency Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios, the Auxiliary Bishop of Trivandrum was transferred and appointed (Decree, Prot. No. 2/2007) as the first Bishop of Mavelikara, by His Beatitude Cyril Baselios. The Eparchy of Mavelikara comprises of the presbyteral districts of Mavelikara and Kollam and parts of the presbyteral districts of Chengannur and Adoor. Most Rev. Joshua Mar Ignathios was installed in office at St. Mary’s Church, Puthiakavu on 16 February 2007.
As per the decision of the Second Ordinary Holy Episcopal Synod of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, which was convoked on 6-7 December 2006 and the ministerial titles of Ramban and Corepiscopo which were in vogue were revived in the Church and to honour a few priests for their meritorious service in the Church. Moran Mor Cyril Baselios Catholicos conferred these titles on ten priests on 17 January, 2007 at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom.
His Beatitude Moran Mor Cyril Baselios, the first Major Archbishop-Catholicos of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church passed away on 18 January 2007 and was entombed at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pattom, Trivandrum on 20 January 2007. On 18 January 2007, Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Divannasios, the Bishop of Bathery assumed the office of the Administrator of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church and of the Major Archieparchy of Trivandrum as per CCEO c. 127.