Syro-Malabar church forms four new ecclesiastical provinces

The new provinces are expected to enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen the Church’s reach across India.

Published Aug 28, 2025 | 8:22 PM ⚊ Updated Aug 28, 2025 | 8:22 PM

St. George Syro-Malabar Basilica, Angamaly. (Creative Commons)

The Syro-Malabar Church has announced the creation of four new ecclesiastical provinces— Faridabad, Ujjain, Kalyan, and Shamshabad —along with the appointment of their respective Metropolitan Archbishops.

The announcement was made at the Major Archiepiscopal Curia in Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, in the presence of the Synod Fathers and was simultaneously released from the Vatican at noon (Italian time).

Faridabad Province will include the Eparchies of Bijnor and Gorakhpur as suffragans, with Mar Kuriakose Bharanikulangara, the current Bishop of Faridabad, appointed as Metropolitan Archbishop.
Ujjain Province will cover the Eparchies of Sagar, Satna, and Jagdalpur, led by Mar Sebastian Vadakel MST, Bishop of Ujjain, as Metropolitan Archbishop.
Kalyan Province will comprise the Eparchies of Chanda and Rajkot. Following the retirement of Mar Thomas Elavanal, Mar Sebastian Vaniyapurackal, Curia Bishop of the Syro-Malabar Church, has been named Metropolitan Archbishop.
Shamshabad Province will have the Eparchy of Adilabad as its suffragan, with Mar Prince Antony Panengadan as Metropolitan Archbishop.

Additionally, the Eparchy of Hosur in Tamil Nadu has now been brought under the Archeparchy of Thrissur.

The new provinces are expected to enhance administrative efficiency and strengthen the Church’s reach across India.