Archdiocese of Verapoly

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Bishop(s) Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D., Archbishop Joseph Karikkassery, Auxiliary Bishop Cornelius Elanjikal, Archbishop Emeritus Suffragan Dioceses Calicut Cochin Kannur Kottapuram Vijayapuram

General Information Type of Jurisdiction: Archdiocese Elevated: 1 September 1886 Metropolitan See Rite: Latin (or Roman) Country: India Square Kilometers: 1,500 (579 Square Miles) Official Web Site: http://www.verapolyarchdiocese.org/ Mailing Address: P.O. Box 2581, Kochi-682031, Kerala, India Telephone: (0484)372.892; 360.988 Fax: 360.911

Historical Details

• Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar
  • Erected: 1659
  • Vicariate
  • Country: India

• Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
  • Name Changed: 1709
  • Vicariate
  • Country: India

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Past and Present Ordinaries

• Eustache Federl † (27 Jul 1774 Appointed - 9 Mar 1777 Resigned)
• Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (30 Sep 1776 Appointed - 8 Nov 1791 Died)
• Luigi Maria di Gesu Pianazzi, O.C.D. † ( 1785 Appointed - )
• Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P. † (8 Nov 1791 Succeeded - 30 Oct 1811 Died)
• Pietro Antonio Raimundo de San Giuseppe Roviglia, O.C.D. † (6 Mar 1803 Appointed - 18 Aug 1815 Resigned)
• Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P. † (3 Oct 1811 Succeeded - 8 Jul 1836 Appointed, Vicar Apostolic of Madurai)
• Leonardo Mellano, O.C.D. † (5 Jul 1868 Succeeded - )
• Felipe Arginzonis y Astobiza, O.C.D. † (19 Aug 1897 Succeeded - 18 Dec 1918 Resigned)
• Angel María Pérez y Cecilia, O.C.D. † (18 Dec 1918 Succeeded - 12 Nov 1934 Resigned)
• Joseph Attipetty † (15 Nov 1934 Succeeded - 21 Jan 1970 Died)
• Joseph Kelanthara † (16 Jan 1971 Appointed - 19 Oct 1986 Died)
• Cornelius Elanjikal (26 Jan 1987 Appointed - 14 Jun 1996 Retired)
• Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D. (14 Jun 1996 Appointed - )

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Historical Summary

Date	Event	From	To
Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar
1659	Erected	Diocese of Cochin	Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar (erected)
Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
1709	Name Changed	Vicariate Apostolic of Malabar	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
1838	Territory Added	Archdiocese of Cranganore (suppressed)	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly
Archdiocese of Verapoly
1 September 1886	Elevated	Vicariate Apostolic of Verapoly	Archdiocese of Verapoly
14 July 1930	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Verapoly	Diocese of Vijayapuram (erected)
3 July 1987	Territory Lost	Archdiocese of Verapoly	Diocese of Kottapuram (erected)

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Statistics

Year	Catholics	Total Population	Percent Catholic	Diocesan Priests	Religious Priests	Total Priests	Catholics Per Priest	Permanent Deacons	Male Religious	Female Religious	Parishes	Source
Archdiocese of Verapoly
1950	129,716	1,591,534	8.2%	89	52	141	919		87	286	45	ap1951
1970	648,432	2,500,000	25.9%	108	75	183	3,543		113	559	53	ap1971
1980	252,944	4,488,000	5.6%	116	78	194	1,303		202	736	69	ap1981
1990	24,754	2,293,575	1.1%	106	64	170	145		148	721	102	ap1991
1999	252,558	2,490,145	10.1%	185	118	303	833		268	882	132	ap2000
2000	266,060	2,539,948	10.5%	192	133	325	818		259	900	134	ap2001
2001	256,353	2,590,747	9.9%	192	134	326	786		340	923	139	ap2002
2002	262,284	2,642,562	9.9%	212	144	356	736		361	923	142	ap2003
2003	269,593	2,695,413	10.0%	204	147	351	768		463	951	143	ap2004
2004	269,946	2,749,321	9.8%	208	147	355	760		469	950	143	ap2005

Note: Any changes in boundaries over time are not indicated in the above table.

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Affiliated Bishops

• Daniel Acharuparambil, O.C.D. (Archbishop: 14 Jun 1996 - )
• Felipe Arginzonis y Astobiza, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Bishop: 14 Jan 1896; Bishop: 19 Aug 1897 to 18 Dec 1918)
• Joseph Attipetty † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 29 Nov 1932; Archbishop: 15 Nov 1934 to 21 Jan 1970)
• Marcellino Berardi, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 17 Aug 1877)
• Clément Bonnand, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 19 Aug 1831 to 3 Oct 1836)
• Pierre Brigot, M.E.P. † (Vicar Apostolic: 30 Sep 1776 to 8 Nov 1791)
• Nicolas Champenois, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 14 Jun 1785; Vicar Apostolic: 8 Nov 1791 to 30 Oct 1811)
• Etienne-Louis Charbonnaux, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 8 Jul 1844 to 3 Apr 1850)
• Francis Assisi Chullikatt (Priest: 3 Jun 1978 to 29 Apr 2006)
• Cornelius Elanjikal (Archbishop: 26 Jan 1987 to 14 Jun 1996)
• Eustache Federl † (Vicar Apostolic: 27 Jul 1774 to 9 Mar 1777)
• Louis-Charles-Auguste Hébert, M.E.P. † (Coadjutor Vicar Apostolic: 6 Jul 1806; Vicar Apostolic: 3 Oct 1811 to 8 Jul 1836)
• Joseph Karikkassery (Priest: 19 Dec 1973; Auxiliary Bishop: 25 Nov 2006)
• Joseph Kelanthara † (Archbishop: 16 Jan 1971 to 19 Oct 1986)
• Leonardo Mellano, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 5 Jul 1868)
• Angel María Pérez y Cecilia, O.C.D. † (Coadjutor Archbishop: 18 Jun 1915; Archbishop: 18 Dec 1918 to 12 Nov 1934)
• Luigi Maria di Gesu Pianazzi, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 1785)
• Pietro Antonio Raimundo de San Giuseppe Roviglia, O.C.D. † (Vicar Apostolic: 6 Mar 1803 to 18 Aug 1815)
• Anthony Thannikot † (Priest: 14 Mar 1964; Auxiliary Bishop: 19 Dec 1978 to 24 Feb 1984)