The Syro-Malabar Church celebrated the silver jubilee of successfully completing the ‘Major Archiepiscopal’ status on 13th January, 2018. Mount Kakkanad in Kerala, the headquarters of the Syro-Malabar Church witnessed the joyful celebrations in the presence of many Cardinals, Archbishops, Bishops, priests and other dignitaries who came together from various parts of the country to celebrate this accomplishment of the Church.
His Excellency Louis Raphael, the Head of the Chaldean Catholic Church, inaugurated the public meeting, under the guidance of His Grace Archbishop Giambattista Diquattro, the new papal envoy for India. His Eminence Cardinal George Alencherry, Major Archbishop of Syro-Malabar Church, His Eminence Cardinal Mar Baselios Cleemis, CBCI President and Major Archbishop of Syro-Malankara Church, His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Cyril Vasil, Secretary of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, His Excellency Archbishop Dr. Francis Kallarackal, former Archbishop of Varapuzha, His Excellency Bishop Mar Antony Kariyil, Mr. Kurian Joseph, judge of Supreme Court of India, CMC Mother General Sr. Siby, Catholic Congress President Biju Parayamnilam, Mathruvethi Secretary Jiji Jacob, SMYM President Arun Davis, addressed the gathering.
On December 16, 1992, Pope John Paul II, by the Apostolic Constitution Quae maiori (Acta Apostolicae Sedis, 85[1993], pp. 398-399), raised the Syro-Malabar Church to the status of Major Archiepiscopal sui iuris Church with the title of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Mar Antony Paidyara, the then Metropolitan of Ernakulam was appointed its First Major Archbishop with Mar Abraham Kattumana as the Pontifical Delegate who discharged the duties of the Major Archbishop. Archbishop Kattumana died unexpectedly during his visit to Rome in April 1995 and Mar Padiyara was given the powers of the Major Archbishop.
