Thomas Tharayil and Prince Antony Panengadan; Syro-Malabar Church announces new archbishops

KOCHI: Major Archbishop Raphael Thattil has appointed Thomas Tharayil as Archbishop of Changanassery Archdiocese and Mar Prince Antony Panengadan as Bishop of Shamshabad Diocese. The announcement was made at the Synod meeting held at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, the church headquarters. The order of appointment of Thomas Tharayil was read by Major Archiepiscopal Chancellor Fr Abraham Kavilpurayidathil and the order of appointment of Prince Antony Panengadan was read by Major Archiepiscopal Vice Chancellor Fr Joseph Mattam.

Thomas Tharayil was appointed in the vacancy of Changanassery Archdiocese Archbishop Joseph Perunthottam who resigned after completing 75 years. Thomas Tharayil is currently the Auxiliary Bishop of the Archdiocese. Prince Antony, currently Bishop of Adilabad Diocese, was appointed after Raphael Thattil, who was Bishop of Shamshabad Diocese, was elected as Major Archbishop. The church authorities informed that the day of ordination will be decided later.