Kollam Orthodox Diocese

The Kollam Orthodox Diocese, one of the 32 dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, was created after the Mulanthuruthy Synod in 1876. H.G. Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius is the Metropolitan of the diocese, whose head office is in Bishop's House, Cross Junction, Kadappakada, Kollam, Kerala, India.

History

Kollam is an ancient commercial center and seaport. According to tradition, Thomas the Apostle arrived in the city and founded a church which is now underwater. Kollam is one of the seven dioceses created after the Mulanthuruthi Syrian Christian Association (synod) of 1876, led by Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Peter IV; the other dioceses are Kottayam, Kandanadu, Angamali, Niranam, Thumpamon, and Kochi. Originally, there were over 30 churches in the diocese. Dionysious V was its first metropolitan bishop. He was succeeded by Geevarghese Gregorios of Parumala, who also led the Niranam diocese. Vattasserril Geevarghese, Geevarghese II (when the diocese's head office was in the Kundara seminary), Alexios Mar Thevodosios of Bethany (who became metropolitan in 1938), Mathews I, and Mathews II followed.

Mathews I moved the diocese's head office from Kottappuram Seminary in Kottarakkara to Cross Junction, near Kadappakada, where the bishop's house (''aramana'') and St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Cathedral were built. Mathews II was appointed assistant metropolitan in 1985, and became metropolitan in 1991; the following year, there were 130 parishes and 13 churches. After his death, Didymos I became the diocese's eighth metropolitan. The Thiruvananthapuram Orthodox Diocese was created from the Kollam diocese in 1979, and the Adoor Kadampanad and Kottarakkara Punalur Orthodox Dioceses were created from the Thiruvananthapuram diocese in 2010.

Diocesan Metropolitans

Major churches

The diocese has 64 parishes. The Kadeesha Syrian Church in Port Kollam, the tomb of Mar Abo in Thevalakkara, St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church in West Kallada, and St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church in Kundara are its oldest religious buildings. Kundara Seminary, the Nedumpaikulam St. George Orthodox Syrian Church, and the Nallila Bethel St. George Orthodox Syrian Church are other churches.

Parishes

#Ananthamon Sehion St. George Orthodox Church
#Ambalanirap St. George Orthodox Church
#Chowallor St. George Orthodox Church
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Chittumala
#Edavattom St. George Orthodox Church
#Edakulangara Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
#Erathukulakkada Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
#Kadamanthadom Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church
#Karimthottuva St. Mary's Orthodox Church
# St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church, Kallada
#St. George Orthodox Church, East Kallada
#St. George Orthodox Church, Kareepra
#St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor
#Kunathoor St. George Orthodox Church
#Kulakkada St.George Orthodox Church
#Kadeeshtha Orthodox Church, Kundara
#St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kundara
#St. George Orthodox Church, Kaithacode
#St. Elijah Orthodox Church, Koduvila
#Kollam Kadeesha Orthodox Church
#St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kollam
#Mar Semavoon Desthuni Orthodox Church, Manjakala
#St. Mary's Salem Orthodox Church, Manappally
#St. George Orthodox Church, Maruthoorbhagam
#Mar Thevodoros Orthodox Church, Madhavasseri
#St. Peter and Paul Orthodox Church, Maranadu
#Mar Barsauma Orthodox Church, Maranadu
#St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Mukhathala
#St.George Orthodox Church, Mukhathala
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Muthupilakkadu
#St. George Orthodox Church, Muthupilakkadu
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Mynagapally
#St. George Orthodox Church, Nallila
#St. Gabriel Orthodox Church, Nallila
#St. George Orthodox Church, Nadutheri
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Nedumbaikulam
#St. George Orthodox Church, Nedumbaikulam
#St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
#St. George Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
#Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Pattazhy
#St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Pandithitta
#St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Perinadu
#Mar Kuriakose Orthodox Church, Perayam
#St. John the Baptist Orthodox Church, Perumpuzha
#St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor
#Mar Baselios Gregorios Orthodox Church, Poruvazhy
#St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Sooranad
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Sooranad
#St. Thomas Orthodox Valiyapally, Thazhava
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Thalavoor
#Marthamariam Orthodox Church, Thamarakkudy
#Marthamariam Orthodox Church, Thevalakara
#St. George Orthodox Church, Thevalappuram
#St. George Orthodox Church, Kundara Kuzhimathikadu
#St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Perinad
#St. Thomas Orthodox puthenpally , Thrippilazhikom
#St. Thomas Orthodox sehion church, Thrippilazhikom

Gallery

File:Kundara Valiyapally.jpg, St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Kundara
File:Holy Altar of Kundara ValiyaPally.jpg, Holy Altar of St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Kundara.

References

External links

Malankara Orthodox Church website

Diocese of Kollam

{{Dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church

Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church dioceses
Dioceses in Kerala
1876 establishments in India
Dioceses established in the 19th century
Oriental Orthodox dioceses in India