The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church

History

The Syro-Malabar Catholic Church of Kerala (India) shares a connection to the Eastern Church through its origins and hierarchical relations but does not share its rejection of the council of Ephesus (431).

It is Latinised by the Portuguese from 1552 and enters the jurisdiction of the Latin Archbishop of Goa in 1599.

In 1919, the Malabar church rediscovers its Syriac identity and Eastern Aramaic rite.

In 1923, Rome re-establishes its hierarchy.

In 1992, it becomes a Major Archiepiscopal Church.

The Major Archbishop resides in Ernakulam (Kochi).

 

The current patriarch of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church is H.B. George Alencherry.

This church has 31 dioceses and approximately 4.5 million faithful, including 2.6 million in Kerala.