- Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar
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Diocese of Kottar
Dioecesis KottarensisLocation Country India Metropolitan Madurai Statistics Area 1,665 km2 (643 sq mi) Population
- Total
- Catholics(as of 2004)
1,720,250
477,174 (27.7%)Information Rite Latin Rite Cathedral St. Francis Xavier’s Cathedral Current leadership Bishop Peter Remigius The Roman Catholic Diocese of Kottar (Latin: Kottaren(sis)) is a diocese located at Kottar in the city of Nagercoil in Kanyakumari District of Tamil Nadu. It comes under the Ecclesiastical province of Madurai in India.
Contents
History
- Kottar Chritian community was an important constituent of Malabar Vicariate since 1657 CE and came under Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Verapoly. The Christian Martyr Devasahayam Pillai was born and martyred here then. Again it became the southern center of Diocese of Quilon when it was formed in 1853 CE. Diocese of Kollam was again bifurcated and the Diocese of Kottar was established on May 26, 1930 CE. Due to linguistic reasons as per reorganization of States, Kottar diocese was formally detached from Archdiocese of Verapoly (Kerala) and attached with Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Madurai (Tamil Nadu) in 1963 CE.
Oldest churches
- Amalagiri church dedicated to Mother Mary in Thiruvithancode built by Thomas the Apostle in 57CE.[1] It is also called Thiruvithamcode Arappally which is, however, under the administration of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at present.
- St. Xavier′s Church, Kottar -the Cathedral Church of Kottar diocese built in 1600 CE, over the small chapel originally built by St. Francis Xavier in 1544 CE.
Leadership
- Bishops of Kottar (Latin Rite)
- Bishop Peter Remigius (June 30, 2007 – present)
- Bishop Leon Augustine Tharmaraj (November 14, 1988 – January 16, 2007)
- Bishop Marianus Arokiasamy (later Archbishop) (November 23, 1970 – July 3, 1987)
- Bishop Thomas Roch Agniswami, S.J. (January 5, 1939 – November 23, 1970)
- Bishop Lorenzo Pereira (May 26, 1930 – January 7, 1938)
References
- ^ Dr. Issac Arul Dhas G, `Kumari Mannil Christhavam` (Tamil), Scott Christian College, Nagercoil, 2010, ISBN:978-81-8465-204-8. Page7.
External links
Categories:- Roman Catholic dioceses in India
- Religious organizations established in 1930
- Roman Catholic dioceses and prelatures established in the 20th century
- Indian Roman Catholic diocese stubs
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