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Archdiocese of Travancore & Cochin
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Archbishop: Dr. Stephen Vattappara
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T&C,
as it is commonly called, consists of 5 Dioceses directly under its
jurisdiction and 2 Associated Dioceses.
Earlier known as the Diocese of Travancore and Cochin (T&C), it
was elevated to the status of an Archdiocese in 1990. The T&C was
renovated in 1966 May 5th under the leadership of its 7th
bishop, Dr. V J Stephen.
From 1966 till 1986, late Archbishop V J Stephen
served as the Archbishop of the Diocese and after his demise, Bp. Paulose M.
Markose served as the senior bishop for a brief period. After Bp. Markose’
demise, current Archbishop, Dr. Stephen Vattappara, was elected as the
Archbishop of T&C.
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Archdiocesan
Clergy Secretary:
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Rev. John Chettiyathara
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Diocesan
Lay Secretary:
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. Stephen J Vattappara
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. Rajesh John
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Dr. Rajamma John
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The Archdiocese consists of the following
dioceses:
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Diocese of Malankara:
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Bishop: Dr. John Joseph
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Earlier known as Kangazha Diocese, the Malankara
Diocese consists of 70 local parishes under the jurisdiction of 5 pastoral
dioceses. Bishop Paulose M. Nirappil was the first bishop of the diocese and
was consecrated on May 9th 1982. From 1990 till 2008, Bishop L C
Varghese served as the diocesan bishop. From 2008 onwards Bishop Dr. John
Joseph serves as the diocesan bishop.
Late Archbishop Dr. V. J. Stephen’s birth place,
Chelacompu, was selected as the headquarters of the Malankara Diocese and the
diocese is proud of that heritage.
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Diocesan
Clergy Secretary:
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Rev. K P George
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Diocesan
Lay Secretary:
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. Thomas Mavunkal
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. John V Mathew
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Molly John
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Diocese of High
Range
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Bishop: Dr. Levi Joseph Ikera
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On May 5th 1991, the Diocese of High
Range was formed as the first Diocese within the jurisdiction of the
Archdiocese of T&C. Bishop Dr. Levi Joseph Ikera was consecrated as the
first bishop of the diocese and he still serves as the diocesan bishop. Rev.
K C Mathai served as the Spiritual Administrator of the diocese.
The diocesan headquarters functions at the St.
Mathews Cathedral, Muniyara. The diocese consists of 51 local parishes under
the jurisdiction of 3 pastoral dioceses.
Late Bishop Paulose M Nirappil (Malankara
Diocese), late Bishop Paulose K Markose (Maramon Diocese) and late Honorary
Bishop Mathew Chakkumkal (High
Range) belonged to the
Diocese of High Range and the diocese is proud of their work.
Bishop Varkey Panachikkal serves as the current
honorary bishop of the diocese. Rev. John Chettiyathara from High Range
diocese serves as the Pastoral Secretary of the Archdiocese of Travancore
& Cochin. Rev. M. P. Mathew from the High Range
diocese serves as the Principal and Dean of the Anglican Theological Seminary
run by the Archdiocese of T&C.
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Diocesan
Clergy Secretary:
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Rev. Baby Palliparambil
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Diocesan
Lay Secretary:
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Mr. P D Sebastian
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. Benny Ulahannan
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. K M Thankachan
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Philomina Levi
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Diocese of Maramon
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Bishop: Dr. John Thundukulam
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It was in Maramon region in 1966 that late Bishop
Dr V J Stephen was consecrated as the seventh bishop of the Diocese of
T&C. The historical event happened in Thiruvalla and later the same town
was selected as the head quarters of the Maramon Diocese.
Late Bishop Paulose K Markose was the first
bishop when the Maramon diocese was formed. He also served as the Senior
Bishop of the Archdiocese for a brief period. After his demise the then
assistant bishop Thomas Karikuzhy was appointed as the next bishop. The
period of Thomas Karikuzhy could be described as one of the most testing
period in the history of the Diocese. Bishop Thomas was excommunicated from
the Diocese for his anti church actions.
Very Rev. P M John and Rev. Pathrose Kochuthara
(Later Bishop Pathrose) administered the diocese until the current bishop Dr.
John Thundukulam was consecrated as the third bishop of the Diocese of
Maramon.
Very Rev. Mosses Pullolickal, a Cor Episcopa of
the Maramon Diocese, currently serves as the vicar of the Malayalam
Congregation at the St. Paul’s Anglican Church
of Philadelphia in USA.
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Diocesan
Clergy Secretary:
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Rev. Paulson Mathew
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Diocesan
Lay Secretary:
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Mr. M M Thomas
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. Johnson Payyampallil
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. Rajesh John
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Thundukulam
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Diocese of South Kerala
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Bishop: Dr. Lukose Vallieathil
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The erstwhile Adoor Mission under the Diocese of
Travancore and Cochin
was developed as Diocese in 1985. The Diocese of South
Kerala was officially formed in 1985 August 10th.
Bishop Jacob Chennampallil served as the first bishop of the diocese. The All
Saints Cathedral at Thazhathuvadakku is maintained as a permanent memorial
for the first bishop Jacob Chennampallil.
Late Archbishop Dr. V J Stephen started his
historic fight against anti Anglicanism while he was a vicar at the Eanathu Church. In memory of him and his
historic struggle, the Eanath
Church is renamed as
St. Stephen’s Cathedral and it also functions as the head quarters of the
South Kerala Diocese.
After the demise of Bishop Jacob Chennampallill,
honorary bishop John M Peter administered the diocese for a period of time.
Later on 2002 January 18th, Bishop Lukose Vallieathil was
consecrated as the second bishop of the Diocese.
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Diocesan
Clergy Secretary:
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Rev. Alexander Sam
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Diocesan
Lay Secretary:
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Mr. S Daniel
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. James Chennampallil
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. Saji Solomon
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Rosemary Lukose
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Central Diocese
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Under the jurisdiction of the Archbishop
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Churches that are especially under the
jurisdiction of Archbishop were developed as the Central Diocese. Earlier it
was known as Centrally Administered Churches.
Central Diocese manages the Anglican Theological
Seminary at Perumpadavom, near Cochin,
and an annex of it at Thiruvalla. Ten Churches in different parts of Kerala
including the Silver Jubilee Chapel at the state capital of Kerala, Trivandrum, functions
under the Central Diocese.
The St. Paul’s
Anglican Church of Philadelphia, functioning in USA is under the jurisdiction of
the Central Diocese.
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General
Administrator:
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Rev. M P Mathew
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Spiritual
Administrator:
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Rev. Stephen J Vattappara
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Director
of Anglican Youth Fellowship (AYF):
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Rev. Binoy Mathew Padachira
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President
of AYF:
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Mr. Nibin Thomas
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President
of Anglican Women’s Fellowship:
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Mrs. Dr. Rajamma John
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The
following dioceses are the associated dioceses of the Archdiocese of T&C:
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Pampady Diocese
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Bishop: Pathrose Kochuthara
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The Trinity
Bible College
functions under the Diocese of Pampady.
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Central Kerala Diocese
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Bishop: Chacko C Puthettu
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Seven Churches functions under the Central
Diocese under the leadership of Bishop Puthettu.
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Northern Indian Dioceses
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Suffragan Metropolitan: Dr. D E Singh
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Northern Indian dioceses were formed in 1990.
Currently Bp. Singh, the bishop of Haryana, serves as the Suffragan
Metropolitan for the Northern Indian Dioceses.
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Diocese of Haryana:
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Bishop: Dr. D E Singh
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Please wait for more news!..
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Diocese of Delhi:
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Bishop: Cyril S Porter
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Please wait for more news!..
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Diocese of Chandigarh:
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Bishop: Dr. Javed Massey
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