A new chapter in the history of the Syro-Malabar Church is being inscribed in golden letters by the announcements made by His Beatitude Mar Raphael Thattil, the Father and Head of the Church, on 28 August 2025. At the public meeting held just before the conclusion of the Second Session of the XXXIII Synod, in addition to appointing new Bishops for the Eparchies of Belthangady and Adilabad, the Major Archbishop made two historic proclamations in the presence of the Synod Fathers: first, that the Syro-Malabar Church will have four Ecclesiastical Provinces outside Kerala; and second, that the boundaries of eleven eparchies will be reorganized by redistributing the territories that currently fall within the jurisdiction of the Eparchy of Shamshabad.
On 16 December 1992, Saint Pope John Paul II raised the Syro-Malabar hierarchy to the status of a Major Archiepiscopal Church sui iuris, thus giving full canonical structure to this apostolic Church. At that time, its territorial boundaries were confined to Kerala, within the limits of the then Archeparchies of Ernakulam and Changanacherry. This territorial arrangement was made excluding the Eparchies established outside Kerala since 1962. Decades later, on 9 October 2017, Pope Francis, through a special intervention, extended the jurisdiction of the Syro-Malabar Church to the entire territory of India. As a practical step, the Eparchy of Shamshabad and Hosur were erected, and the boundaries of the Eparchies of Ramanathapuram and Thuckalay were extended. Thus, proper territory (territorium proprium) of the Syro-Malabar Church was defined to embrace the whole of India.
Subsequently, efforts were undertaken to make pastoral and evangelization activities more effective by sharing the vast territory of the Eparchy of Shamshabad, which spread across in 23 states, four union territories, and two islands. Initiatives set in motion by Cardinal Mar George Alencherry, Major Archbishop Emeritus, advanced significantly during his tenure. When, on 11 January 2024, Mar Raphael Thattil, the Bishop of Shamshabad, was elected to the leadership of the Church, the formation of new provinces and the reorganization of eparchial boundaries were identified as urgent priorities. Detailed discussions were held with the Dicastery for the Eastern Churches, and comprehensive reports were submitted, demonstrating the necessity for a new ecclesiastical framework. The Apostolic See, recognizing the pastoral needs, granted its consent for the reorganization of boundaries of the 12 eparchies. Having obtained the approval of the Apostolic See to the Synod’s decision to establish four new Provinces outside Kerala, the Major Archbishop issued the official decrees to that effect. This marked a decisive step in the strengthening and expansion of the administrative structures of the Church. In this, we can discern the pastoral solicitude of the Holy Father, Pope Leo XIV, and his invitation to encourage the pastoral and missionary vitality of the Syro-Malabar Church and calling us to harness it more fruitfully.
The history of the Syro-Malabar Church has never been one of ease and comfort. It is not merely written in golden letters, but rather carved through perseverance in the face of struggles, trials, and crises. Yet, even amidst the storm clouds of adversity, certain golden rays have always shone forth. The present time is a reminder that challenges and difficulties do not weaken the Syro-Malabar Church; rather, they urge us to confront them with courage and to labour all the more earnestly for the realization of the Kingdom of God. The Holy Father and the Universal Church look with hope to the Syro-Malabar Church; its traditions, its vitality, and its structures; as an instrument of evangelization. It now rests upon every member of the Syro-Malabar Church to broaden their vision and to act decisively. The golden rays that illumine the present are both a call and an inspiration for that mission.
