The Eparchy of Irinjalakuda is both historically and geographically the inheritor of the apostolic tradition and of the See of St. Thomas, the Apostle in India since it contains Kodungallur, which is the cradle of Christianity. In the year A.D. 52 St. Thomas, one of the 12 Apostles of Jesus, landed at Kodungallur (Maliankara), the capital of the Chera Empire and preached the Gospel of Jesus Christ in Kerala and other parts of India. The metropolitan See of St. Thomas was formed in India for all India and continued to exist at Kodungallur before and during the Portuguese Padruado period.
The metropolitian sea of Kodungallur was abrogated in 1886 and formed two vicariates in 1887 Trichur and Kottayam. The Eparchy of Irinjalakuda was erected by bifurcating the ancient Eparchy of Trichur, namely, separating the entire taluk of Kodungallur, major part of Mukundapuram and small portions of Paravur and Aluva to the north of the river Chalakudy from the Eparchy of Trichur, by H.H. Pope Paul VI. Accordingly the papal Bull “Trichuriensis Eparchiae” was promulgated on 22nd June, 1978 and was declared on July 12th, 1978. Simultaneously Mar James Pazhayattil (Puthenchira) was nominated as the first Bishop. The Episcopal Ordination and the inauguration of the Eparchy took place at Irinjalakuda on 10th September 1978.
North : The Karuvannur River and the Kurumaly - Mupliyam River.
South : The Chalakudy River
East : The Western Ghats and the Kerala-Tamil Nadu Border (in Trichur District)
West : The Arabian Sea and the Southern Boundary of Valappad Village.
Area : 1180 Sq. K.m
The Eparchy of Irinjalakuda is surrounded by the Archeparchies of Ernakulam-Angamaly, and Trichur as well as the Eparchies of Idukki and Ramanathapuram. The Eparchy has made fast strides and as a result, has steadily grown in all spheres. It has at present 59,566 families with a population of about 2,66,818 Catholics spread over its 10 protopresbyterates : Irinjalakuda, Chalakudy, Ambazhakad, Puthenchira, Edathiruthy, Kuttikad, Mala, Parappukara, Kalparambu and Kodakara.
Canonization of St. Euphrasia CMC, a native of Edathiruthy Forane, was held in Rome on 23rd November 2014. It is also remarkable that St. Mariam Thressia CHF (1876-1926), native of Puthenchira and the foundress of the Congregation of Holy Family, hails from this Eparchy. Her canonization was held on 13th October 2019 in Rome. Rev. Fr. Joseph Vithayathil was declared Venerable by the Holy See on 14th December 2015 and Rev. Fr. Augustine John Ukken was declared Venerable on 21st December 2018. The servants of God Rev. Frs. Antony Thachuparambil, and Canisius Thekkekara CMI also had their birth or ministry in this Eparchy.
Mar Pauly Kannookadan, the present Bishop, was appointed on 18th January 2010 and was ordained bishop on 18th April 2010 at St. Thomas Cathedral, Irinjalakuda. He was enthroned, the Bishop of the Eparchy of Irinjalakuda on the same day
