Raphael Thattil was installed as Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church at a solemn concelebrated Mass at the Church headquarters at Mount St. Thomas, Kakkanad, near here, on Thursday.
Apostolic administrator Sebastian Vaniyapurackal, Pala Bishop Joseph Kallarangatt, former Major Archbishop Cardinal George Alencherry, and representatives of the Malankara and Latin rites of the Catholic Church were present.
The venue of the installation was shifted from St. Mary’s Cathedral in the city to Mount St. Thomas. The cathedral is the principal church of the Syro-Malabar Church. The installation of the fourth Major Archbishop of the Church outside the traditional venue drew criticism from a group of lay people in the Ernakulam-Angamaly Archdiocese, who called it “inappropriate”.
