KOCHI: Cardinal George Alencherry has stepped down as the Arch Bishop of the Ernakulam-Angamaly archdiocese on Friday. Mar Antony Kariyil, who is currently serving as the bishop in Mandya archdiocese, will take over as the next archbishop.

It was Mar George Alencherry himself who announced the name of the new archbishop during the conclusion of the Syro-Malabar church synod. Earlier, several priests had come out asking Alanchery to step down following a land deal controversy in the name of the diocese. He also received criticism for suspending Bishop Sebastian Adayanthrath and Bishop Jose Puthenveetil, the two auxiliary bishops in the diocese.