A brief history
Diocese of Kandanad East
Kandanad Diocese is one of the oldest dioceses of the Orthodox Syrian Church.
Kandanad Diocese is one of the oldest dioceses of the Orthodox Syrian Church. It was constituted with Kandanad St. Mary’s Church at its center, along with over forty parishes in the erstwhile Travancore State. The historical Synod of 1599 was held at Udayamperoor, a place close to Kandanad. Ancient churches such as Piravom, Kadamattam, Vadakara, Kolenchery, Mamalaserry, Nechoor, Mulakulam, and Kandanad itself came under this diocese. Geographically, it stretches from Vaikom in the west to Idukki in the east, covering parts of Ernakulam, Kottayam, and Idukki districts. The diocesan boundaries intersect with those of Kochi and Angamaly at certain points.
In 1876–77 (M.E. 1052), the Malankara Syrian Christian Church was divided into seven dioceses: Kollam, Thumbaman, Niranam, Kottayam, Kochi, Kandanad, and Angamaly. The Patriarch ordained Karavattuveettil Simon Cor-Episcopa on 5th September 1876 and Murimattathil Paulose Kathanaar on 25th March 1877 as Rambans at Mar Thomman Church, Mulanthuruthy, and St. Mary’s Church, Kuruppampady, respectively. Both registered their agreements (Salmoosa) on 26th March 1877 at the Kunnathunad Registrar Office in Perumbavoor and were members of the Malankara Association Managing Committee.
On 17th May 1877, Karavattuveettil Simon Mar Dyanasius and Murimattathil Paulose Mar Ivanasiose were ordained metropolitans at Chiralayam St. Lazarus Church, Kunnamkulam, for the dioceses of Kochi and Kandanad respectively. The four new metropolitans co-celebrated the spiritual function, with the final part of the Holy Mass led by Paulose Mar Ivaniose. On 19th May, at Chalissery West Church, both bishops were enthroned and accorded the ‘Stathicon’ for their respective dioceses. The document was prepared by HG Paulose Mar Ivaniose.
Churches included in the Kandanad Diocese were Kandanad Martha Mariam, South Paravoor, Chembu, Kurinji, Puttumanoor, Kanniyattunirappu, Nechoor, Mamalaserry, Piravom, Onakkoor, Kolenchery, Kottoor, Pampakuda, Ramamangalam, Mulakulam, Mannathoor, Vadakara, Kuzhikkattukunnu, Puthuvely, Palakuzha, and Kadamattam. The ‘Stathicon’ of Paulose Mar Ivaniose was read out and his ‘Sunthroniso’ was performed on June 16th, Pentecost day, at Mar Michael Church, Mamalaserry. Parishioners from eight churches participated in the ceremony. Of the six metropolitans ordained by H.H. Patriarch Pathrose III, Paulose Mar Ivaniose is the only one whose ‘Sunthroniso’ is on record.
On 15th September 1912, Paulose Mar Ivaniose was elevated and ordained as the first Catholicose of Malankara with the title H.H. Baselious Paulose I. He was the last among the mentioned metropolitans to pass away, entering eternity on 2nd May 1913 and being entombed at Pampakuda Cheriya Pally. He served as the diocesan metropolitan of Kandanad until his death.
Following the excommunication of Malankara Metropolitan Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dyanasius by the Patriarch on questionable grounds, the Church split into two factions: one supporting the Patriarch (Bava Kakshi) and the other siding with the Malankara Metropolitan (Methran Kakshi). In Kandanad Diocese, the Patriarch faction outnumbered the other. Kochuparambil Paulose Mar Coorilose (1911–17) and Kuttikkattil Paulose Mar Athanasius (1920–27) led the diocese during this time. Oughen Mar Thimotiose took charge from 1927.
On 15th September 1912, Paulose Mar Ivaniose was elevated and ordained as the first Catholicose of Malankara with the title H.H. Baselious Paulose I.
Simultaneously, Yuyakkim Mar Ivaniose (1913–1925), Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dyanasius, and Catholicose Baselious Geevarghese II (1934–42) oversaw the diocese on behalf of the Catholicose faction. In October 1942, Oughen Mar Thimotiose accepted Baselious Geevarghese II and joined the Catholicose faction. He continued as metropolitan with headquarters at Muvattupuzha until his elevation as Catholicose of the East, H.H. Baselious Oughen I, during the peaceful period following Church unification in 1958
Paulose Mar Athanasius of the Patriarch faction held additional charge of Kandanad Diocese from 1942 to 1952. Paulose Mar Philexinose, ordained on 19th October 1952, led the diocese until the 1958 merger of the factions. He then co-led with Oughen Mar Thimotiose until the latter became Catholicose in 1964, after which Philexinose became the sole metropolitan. However, by 1970, tensions resurfaced, and Philexinose aligned with the Patriarch faction, while the Malankara Metropolitan assumed charge on the Catholicose side.
On 16th February 1975, Joseph Mar Pachomiose was ordained and posted as metropolitan. After his death in 1991, the diocese returned under the Malankara Metropolitan until Dr. Mathews Mar Severios was appointed in 1993. On 7th September 1975, Paulose Mar Philexinose was elevated as Catholicose by the Patriarch with the title H.B. Baselious Paulose II, continuing as diocesan metropolitan. Philipose Mar Ivaniose and Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius served as his assistants from 1979 to 1988 and 1990 to 1996 respectively. H.B. Baselious Paulose II passed away on 1st September 1996.
Following the Supreme Court verdict on the Malankara Sabha case, the Diocese of Kandanad under Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius pledged allegiance to the 1934 Church Constitution and began working toward unity. Based on the recommendation of the managing committee elected by the Malankara Association on 20th March 2002 at Parumala, the diocese was divided into Kandanad East and Kandanad West. Dr. Thomas Mar Athanasius and Dr. Mathews Mar Severios were assigned to lead the respective dioceses.
Diocesan Secretary
Fr.Abin Abraham, Chempakathinal
Kandanad East Diocese
Bishop’s House
Muvattupuzha
