Major archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church
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The Syro-Malabar Church, an Eastern Catholic Church within the Catholic Church, is led by the Major Archbishop of Ernakulam-Angamaly in Kerala, India. The Major Archbishop holds the following title;
- Father and Head of the Syro-Malabar Church
- Major-Archbishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly
- President of the Holy Synod of the Syro-Malabar Church
- Metropolitan of the Ecclesiastical Province of Ernakulam-Angamaly
- Metropolitan and Gate of All-India
- Successor to the throne of Mar Thoma Sliha
By virtue of his office, he is a member of the Dicastery for Eastern Churches and ranks second in the order of precedence among Major-Archbishops of the Catholic Church.
Major Archbishops of Ernakulam-Angamaly
| No. | Image | Name | Term | Date and Place of Birth | Age at start/end of Term | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara | 16 December 1992–11 November 1996 | 11 February 1921 Manimala, Travancore | 64 / 75 (†79) | First Major Archbishop of the Syro Malabar Church, with the elevation of the Metropolitan See of Ernakulam to Major-Archiepiscopal See of Ernakulam-Angamaly. Established the Syro-Malabar Synod of Bishops. Retired at the age of 75. | |
| 2 | Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil | 23 December 1999–1 April 2011 | 29 May 1927 North Parur, Travancore | 70 / 83 (†83) | Appointed by Pope John Paul II as the Apostolic Administrator (for around three years) and later elevated as the Major Archbishop on 23 December 1999. Helped establish the Eparchy of St. Thomas of Chicago along with other dioceses. | |
| 3 | Mar George Cardinal Alencherry | 24 May 2011-7 December 2023 | 19 April 1945 Thuruthy, Travancore | 67 / 81 | First Major Archbishop to be elected by the Synod of Bishops. Given the title of Metropolitan and Gate of All India (All India Jurisdiction) by the establishment of Eparchy of Shamshabad and Eparchy of Hosur. Also established the Eparchies of Mississauga, Melbourne, Great Britain, and the Apostolic Visitation to Europe, among others. Retired at the age of 78. | |
| 4 | Mar Raphael Thattil | 9 January 2024-Present | (1956-04-21)21 April 1956(age 69) Trichur, Travancore-Cochin | 67 | Previously served as the apostolic visitor for the Syro-Malabar faithful "outside proper territory" in India and then as the first Eparch of Shamshabad (since 2017). Elevated the Eparchies of Shamshabad, Faridabad, Kalyan, and Ujain as metropolitan archeparchies, creating new ecclesiastical provinces in India and redistributing the territories of 12 eparchies for better administration. |