The Hindu : Kerala News : Archiepiscopal status for Church

Online edition of India's National Newspaper
Friday, Feb 11, 2005

Kerala

Kerala

Archiepiscopal status for Church

By Our Staff Reporter

THIRUVANANTHAPURAM, FEB. 10. The Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to the status of Major Archiepiscopal Church and its head, Archbishop Cyril Mar Baselius, was elevated as Major Archbishop by a decree of Pope John Paul II on Thursday. The announcement to this effect was made at St. Mary's Cathedral, Pattom, by the Papal Nuncio to India, Archbishop Pedro Lopez Quintana, at the same time (IST 4.30 p.m.) as the decree was read out at Rome at 12 noon.

Platinum Jubilee

This is a historic moment for the Malankara Church which is celebrating the Platinum Jubilee of the Churches' reunion movement, Cyril Mar Baselius, who will now hold the title, Catholicos of Malankara, said in his address. The elevation in status as Major Archiepiscopal Church is the highest honour to have been conferred on the Malankara Church, which was till now a Metropolitan church. With the new status, the Malankara Church attains full autonomy in all matters of internal governance.

Third such Church

Among the eastern Catholic Churches, the Malankara Church is only the third Church, after Syro- Malabar and the Ukrainian Church, to have been elevated to the Major Archiepiscopal status.

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