Summary
The Eparchy of Idukki is an eparchy of the Syro-Malabar Catholic Church in southern India. It belongs to the ecclesiastical province of Eranakulam-Angamaly. Its cathedral church is Saint George's Cathedral Vazhathoppe, Idukki township, Kerala.
Syro-Malabar Eparchy of Idukki | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Location | |
| Country |  India |
| Metropolitan | Ernakulam–Angamaly |
| Statistics | |
| Area | 3,000 km2 (1,200 sq mi) |
| Population - Total - Catholics | (as of 2009) 760,350 261,750 (34%) |
| Parishes | 151 |
| Information | |
| Denomination | Catholic Church |
| Sui iuris church | Syro-Malabar Catholic Church |
| Rite | East Syriac Rite |
| Established | 15 January 2003 |
| Cathedral | Cathedral of St George in VazhathoppeIdukki |
| Patron saint | Mar Sleeva |
| Current leadership | |
| Pope | Francis |
| Major Archbishop | Raphael Thattil |
| Bishop | John Nellikkunnel |
| Website | |
| Website of the Diocese | |
History edit
The creation of the diocese on 15 January 2003, 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 edit
As of 2015[update], 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 edit
- Eparchs of Idukki
- Mathew Anikuzhikattil (2003.01.15 – retired 2018.01.12), originated from the Eparchy of Kothamangalam
- John Nellikunnel (2018.01.12 – ...).
Sources and external links edit
- GCatholic, with Google HQ satellite picture - data for all sections
- official diocesan website, with map, diocesan chronicle etc.
- Archdiocese of Ernakulam
- Catholic-Hierarchy