List of Syro-Malabar Catholics

An old church in Kerala

Syro Malabar Catholics form the majority among the Syrian Christians of Kerala. They are present in high proportions in the districts of Kottayam, Trissur, Idukki, Ernakulam and Alappuzha (mostly in Ambalappuzha and Cherthala Taluks). Many have also migrated to the Northern districts of Kerala, particularly Kannur and Wyanad, in the first half of the 20th century. They are the largest land owning community in the state. Some of the Prominent Syro-Malabar Catholics in History are listed here (living personalities are not included):

Religious and Spiritual

Parambil Mar Chandy

(In chronological order)

• Parambil Chandy Malpan (Malpan 1663-87)
• Joseph Kariattil (Appointed in 1782)
• Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar (Appointed in 1786)
• Palackal Thoma Malpan (1780–1841)
• Kuriakose Elias Chavara (1805–71)
• Nidhiry Mani Kathanar (1842–1904)
• Aloysius Pazheparambil (1847–1919)
• Thomas Kurialachery (1873–1925)
• Augustine Kandathil (1874–1956): First Head of the Syro-Malabar Church

Kuriakose Elias Chavara

• Varghese Payyappilly Palakkappilly (1876–1929)
• Joseph C. Panjikaran (1888-1949)
• Thevarparampil Kunjachan (Kunjachan) (1891–1973)
• St. Alphonsa of India (1910–46)
• Euphrasia Eluvathingal (1877-1952)
• Joseph Parecattil (1912–87)
• Antony Padiyara (1921–2000)
• Varkey Vithayathil (1927–2011)
• Abraham Kattumana (1944–1995)

Public service

(In chronological order)

• Thoma of Villarvattom (c. 15th century CE): The only Christian King in the history of the Indian sub-continent.
• Thachil Matthoo Tharakan
• C. J. Varkey, Chunkath - Minister of Madras Presidency (1939).^[1]
• A. J. John, Anaparambil (1893–1957): Chief Minister of Travancore-Cochin (1951–53) and Governor of Madras.^[1]
• P. T. Chacko, Pullolil - Member of Indian Constituent Assembly from Travancore (1949–50), and Home Minister of Kerala (1960–64).^[1]
• P. J. Thomas, Parakunnel - first Economic Advisor of independent India and Member of the Rajya Sabha, Upper house of Indian Parliament (1957-1962)

Literature and Media

(In chronological order)

Mar Emmanuel Nidhiri

• Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar - Author of the first travelogue in an Indian language (1778)^[2]
• Nidhiry Mani Kathanar (1842–1904): Founder Editor of Deepika, the oldest Malayalam Daily.

Academia

• Prasant Payyappilly Palakkappilly - Principal of Sacred Heart College, Thevara (autonomous).

Papal Dignitaries

Laymen chosen as Papal Dignitaries for their meritorious service to the Church and to society:-

• George Menachery, Ollur (2008)

References

1. Fr. G. Thalian. "`All Kerala Catholic Congress' in `The Great Archbishop Mar Augustine Kandathil, D. D.: the Outline of a Vocation'". David C. Kandathil, NYU. Retrieved 2007-12-23.
2. "Paremmakkal Thoma Kathanar". The Syro-Malabar Church. Retrieved 2013-09-28.