The Archdiocese of Verapoly was originally known as the Vicariate of Malabar. It had its origin in 1657, with the arrival of Carmelite Missionaries; most prominent among them was Father Joseph of St. Mary, better known as Joseph Sebastiani. They had been deputed under Father Hyacinth as Apostolic Commissar, by Pope Alexander VII to effect a reconciliation of St. Thomas Christians of the Syro-Chaldaic Rite, who had seceded from their Archbishop Francis Gracia, S.J. The majority of them had in 1653 revolted against the Archbishop and forsaking his authority by taking an oath for the purpose at the foot of a cross-thereafter called the "Coonen Cross"-situated in Mattancherry, had illegally made their Archdeacon the Archbishop by going through a farcical ceremony. By the efforts of Sebastiani a large number of seceders were brought back to the true fold. Nevertheless, they refused to be under the authority of their lawful Archbishop or under any prelate of the Jesuit Order (called by them `Paulists').
Rome, being informed of the situation by Sebastiani in person, decided to entrust the Carmelites with the spiritual care of the Syro-Chaldaic Rite. For this purpose the Vicariate of Malabar was erected by Pope Alexander VII on the 3rd of December, 1659. Sebastiani was consecrated titular Bishop of Hierapolis on December 15, 1659, and sent back to Malabar with the title of Vicar Apostolic Administrator of the Archbishopric of Cranganore. The new Vicariate eventually established its headquarters in the island of Verapoly.
The conquest of Portuguese territories in Malabar by the Dutch and especially of Cochin in 1663, and the consequent expulsion of all European Catholic Missionaries from the Dutch territories and elsewhere threatened the very existence of the Malabar Vicariate. Nevertheless, it survived under the Indian prelate Parambil Chandy (Alexander de Cambo) whom Sebastiani had consecrated as his successor before he left Malabar in 1663. Before long Carmelites were allowed to resume their ministration, which was now extended also to the Catholics of the Latin Rite who were under Portuguese protection.
On the 13th of March 1709 by a Brief of Pope Clement XI the Malabar Vicariate was suppressed and the Vicariate of Verapoly took its place with Bishop Angelo Francisco as its first Vicar Apostolic.
By the Brief "Multa Praeclare" of Pope Gregory XVI dated 24th of April 1838, the Sees of Cranganore and Cochin which at that time included also Quilon were annexed to the Vicariate of Verapoly, which thus came to comprise the whole of Malabar. However in 1845, Quilon was served from Verapoly as a suffragan Vicariate.
When by the famous Apostolic Letter "Humanae Salutis Auctor" of Leo XIII dated September 1, 1886, the Hierarchy of India was established, the Vicariate of Verapoly was raised to the status of an Archdiocese with the Most Rev. Dr. Leonard Mellano of St. Louis, OCD as its first Archbishop, who was the 17th in the line of Vicars Apostolic.
Along with this in 1886 the Diocese of Cochin was resuscitated and reconstituted with 34 Latin churches taken from the Archdiocese of Verapoly and the Diocese of Quilon.
On 19th of March, 1887 the Catholics of the Syrian Rite were separated from those of the Latin Rite and placed under an Administrator Dr. Marcelino Bernard of St. Teresa, OCD, who was consecrated co-adjutor to Archbishop Mellano. By the Brief "Quod Iam Pridem" of Pope Leo XIII dated 20th of May 1887, the Syrians were exempted from the jurisdiction of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and the twoVicariates of Trichur and Kottayam were erected with Dr. Adolphus E. Medlycott and Dr. Charles Lavigne as their Vicars Apostolic. In 1890 two more Vicariates-Ernakulam and Changanacherry-were created and all the four were entrusted to the Indian Bishop of the Syrian Rite. Thus the Archdiocese of Verapoly came to consist exclusively of Latin Catholics.
On 14th July 1930, by the bull, "Ad Christi Nomen" of Pius XI the new Diocese of Vijayapuram was formed and dismembered from Verapoly and its administration was placed in the hands of Discalced Carmelites, who left Verapoly, which they had served for 273 years. With this change the Archdiocese came under the administration of the Indian clergy, except for continuance of its head in the Person of the Archbishop the Most Rev. Dr. Angel Mary, OCD.
The Indianisation was completed when, on 29th November 1932 the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Attipetty, was nominated Co-adjutor to Archbishop Dr. Angel Mary. Dr. Joseph Attipetty assumed the reins of administration on 21st of December 1934 after the resignation of Archbishop Angel Mary, the last in the long line of European prelates to the Archdiocese.
On the demise of the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Attipetty on January 21st 1970, Rt. Rev. Msgr. Cornelius Elanjikal, was elected Vicar Capitular on January 24, 1970. He was nominated Bishop of Vijayapuram on February 15, 1971 and Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Kelanthara, was nominated the Archbishop of Verapoly on January 16, 1971. He was ordained Bishop by the Most Rev. Dr. Simon Lourdusamy, then Joint Secretary to the Congregation of the Propagation of Faith on April 4, 1971, and became Ordinary on April 8, 1971.
Bishop Antony Thannikot, was nominated Titular Bishop of Tigillava and Auxiliary to the Archbishop of Verapoly on December 19, 1978. He was ordained Bishop by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Kelanthara, Archbishop of Verapoly on March 11, 1979. He died in Lourdes Hospital, Ernakulam, on February 24, 1984.
