Syro-Malabar Catholic Eparchy of Idukki

The Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Idukki is a suffragan eparchy (Eastern Catholic diocese) in southern India, in the proper ecclesiastical province of the Major Archdiocese of Eranakulam-Angamaly, which heads the entire Syro-Malabar Catholic Church (which follows a Chaldean = Syro-Oriental Rite), hence dependent on the Roman Congregation for the Oriental Churches.

Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Idukki
Location
Country India
Statistics
Area3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi)
Population
- Total
- Catholics		(as of 2009)
760,350
261,750 (34%)
Parishes151
Information
DenominationSyro-Malabar Church
RiteEast Syriac Rite
Established15 January 2003
CathedralCathedral of St George in VazhathoppeIdukki
Patron saintMar Sleeva
Current leadership
PopeFrancis
Major ArchbishopMetropolitan and Gate of all India,His Eminence Mar George Cardinal Alencherry
ܡܸܛܪܵܦܘܿܠܝܼܛܵܐ ܘܬܲܪܐ ܕܟܠ ܗܸܢܕܘܿ ܡܵܪܲܢ ܡܵܪܝ ܓܝܼܘܲܪܓܝܼܣ ܡܸܛܪܵܦܘܿܠܝܼܛܵܐ
BishopJohn Nellikkunnel
Website
Website of the Diocese

Its cathedral episcopal see is Saint George's Cathedral Vazhathoppe, in Idukki township, in Kerala state.

History

The creation of the diocese on 2003.01.15, as the twenty-sixth eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church, on territory split off from the Diocese of Kothamangalam is contained in an Apostolic Constitution Maturescens catholica fideis put forth by Pope John Paul II in December 2002. It started with 114 parishes and mission stations.

Statistics

As per 2015, it pastorally served 266,600 Catholics (34.0% of 785,000 total; there are also Latin Catholics and Syro-Malankara Catholics in this region, belonging to the Diocese of Vijayapuram viz. Thiruvalla, and Christians of Jacobite and Orthodox Churches besides various Protestant denominations) on 3,000 km² in 155 parishes with 573 priests (238 diocesan, 335 religious), 1,306 lay religious (350 brothers, 956 sisters) and 86 seminarians.

Episcopal Ordinaries

(all native Indians)

Suffragan Eparchs (Bishops) of Idukki
  • First Bishop Avoon Mar Mathew Anikuzhikattil (2003.01.15 – retired 2018.01.12), originated from the diocese of Kothamangalam
  • Present Avoon Mar John Nellikunnel (2018.01.12 – ...).

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