Syro-Malankara Catholic Church

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The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic Church in full communion with the Holy See of Rome. It follows the West Syriac Rite and is part of the larger Syro-Malankara Rite. The Church is headquartered in Thiruvananthapuram, Kerala, India.

History[edit | edit source]

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its origins to the Malankara Church, which was part of the Saint Thomas Christians community in India. The Church was established in 1930 when Geevarghese Mar Ivanios, a bishop of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, entered into full communion with the Catholic Church. This union was formalized by the Holy See and led to the formation of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church.

Liturgy[edit | edit source]

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church uses the West Syriac Rite in its liturgical practices. The liturgy is celebrated in Malayalam and Syriac. The Church's liturgical calendar includes various feasts and fasts, similar to other Eastern Catholic Churches.

Governance[edit | edit source]

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is governed by a Holy Synod and follows an Episcopal polity. The head of the Church is the Major Archbishop, currently Baselios Cardinal Cleemis. The Church is divided into several eparchies (dioceses), each overseen by a bishop.

Major Archbishops[edit | edit source]

The title of Major Archbishop was granted to the head of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church in 2005. The current Major Archbishop is Baselios Cardinal Cleemis, who was elevated to the cardinalate in 2012.

Demographics[edit | edit source]

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church has approximately 500,000 members, primarily located in Kerala, India. There are also communities in North America, Europe, and Australia.