Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church |
| |
|
|
The Malankara Orthodox Church has 20 Diocese in Kerala , 7 Diocese out side Kerala and 3 Diocese out side
India. First formation of Diocese for The Malankara Orthodox Church was in 1876
after the Mulanthuruthy Synod. Then H.H Patriarch Mar Peeter III devided the
malankara Church in to 7 Diocese for the first time, Ankamaly, Cochin, Kandanad,
Kottayam, Niranam, Thumpamon and Quilon. H.H Patriarch Mar Peter III ordained 7
Bishops including Mar Dionysios V and put each Diocese under one Bishop. In 1953
Malabar Diocese was formed.
Reorganisation of 1976
In the beginning for Out-side Kerala, there were only one diocese which was
formed in 1938 by the name, "The mission out-side Malabar" or later known as the
"Diocese for out-side Kerala". The Diocesional changes made in 1976 were in the
Catholicos's order No.58/76 dated March 27 1976 and were approved earlier by the
Managing Committee on May 12,1975 and the Episcopal Synod on March 22 1976.They
were:
1.The outside Kerala Diocese was divided in to three namely Bombay
Madras and Delhi dioceses.
2.Malabar diocese was enlarged adding certain
areas of Tamilnadu
The new Metropolitans were
also assigned new dioceses, viz
1.Mar Osthathios was assigned Niranam
diocese
2.Mar Pachomios was appointed as Assistant Metropolitan of Kottayam
Diocese. He will also assist the Catholicos in the administration of Kandanad
diocese.
Reorganisation of 1979 and
1982
The Managing Committee at its
meeting held on October 30,1978 decided to reorganise further the three outside
Kerala diocese in to five and also the Kollam Diocese. The newly formed diocese
were America, Calcutta and Trivandrum.In 1979 Trivandrum Diocese was formed by
dividing Kollam Diocese. In 1982 Idukki Diocese was formed by taking out high
range areas from Kottayam Diocese. In the same year Kottayam central Diocese was
formed grouping all Churches which were under the direct control of Malankara
Metropolitan in Kottayam.
Reorganisation of 1985
In
1985 Chengannoor Diocese was formed by grouping 50 Churches out of Thumpamon,
Niranam and Kollam Diocese. In the same year Kunnamkulam Diocese was formed by
dividing Cochin Diocese. In the same year, Sultan Bethery Diocese was formed by
grouping Churches from Vayanadu, Canannore,Coorg and Nilgiries from the Malabar
Diocese. In 1993 August 1,Canada-UK-Europe Diocese was formed by grouping 8
Churches from Delhi diocese and 8 Churches from America Diocese. With the these
inclusions the Church constituted of 21 dioceses.
Reorganization of
2002
In
2002 Mavelikara Diocese was formed by grouping 50 Churches out of Thumpamon,
Niranam and Kollam Diocese. In the same year Trichure Diocese was formed by
dividing Cochin and Kunnamkulam Diocese. In the same year, Ankamali Diocese
was divided in to Ankamali East and Ankamali west and the Kandanadu Diocese
was divided in to Kandanadu East and Kandanadu west. With the these inclusions
the Church constituted of 25 dioceses.
Reorganization of
2009
In 2009 South West American Diocese was
formed by grouping 40 Parishes from American Diocese and a new Diocese
of UK, Canada, Africa was formed with 16 Parishes. Banglore and Ahamadabad
diocese also formed in 2009
The Holy Episcopal Synod approved the recommendation of the
managing committee regarding the allotment and transfer of Metropolitans. The
recommendation is as follows.
Transfers:
1. H.G.
Kuriakose Mar Clemis Metropolitan: Sulthan Battery to Thumpamon
Diocese
2. H.G. Zachariah Mar Anthonious Metropolitan: Kochi to
Kollam
3. H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaios Metropolitan: Madras to Kochi
New Allotment:
1. H.G. Yuhanon Mar
Polycarpos Metropolitan : Angamaly
2. H.G. Mathews Mar Theodosious
Metropolitan: Idukky
3. H.G. Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysious Metropolitan, Diocese
of Calcutta
4. H.G. Abraham Mar Ephiphanios Metropolitan, Diocese of Sulthan
Battery
5. H.G. Mathews Mar Themothios Metropolitan, Diocese of UK, Canada,
Africa
6. H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius Metropolitan, Diocese of America South
West
7. H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscorous Metropolitan, Diocese of Madras
Reorganization of 2010
In 2010 August 15 Brahmavaar, Adoor, Kottarakara Diocese were formed. H G Zacharia Mar Nicholavas is appointed as the Metropolitan of North Ease American Diocese
- H.G. Yuhanon Mar Dimithrios Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese
- H.G. Yacob Mar
Elias Metropolitan of Brahmavar Diocese
- H.G. Abraham Mar
Thevodorus Metropolitan of Kotarakara Diocese
- H.G. Joshua Mar Nichodemos Metropolitan of Nilackal Diocese
- H.G. Zacharias Mar Aprem Metropolitan of Adoor Diocese
- H.G. Geevarghese Mar Yulios Metropolitan of Ahamadabad Diocese
- H.G. Abraham Mar Seraphim Metropolitan of Bangalore Diocese
|