PUNE: The Exarchate of St Ephrem Khadki of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was elevated to an Eparchy by His Holiness Pope Francis with the Papal bull Scientia Crucis on December 23, 2019. 

His Excellency Bishop Thomas Mar Anthonios Valiyavilayil has been appointed the first Eparchial Bishop of the new Eparchy of St Ephrem Khadki. The official bull (soft copy in Latin) was communicated through the Apostolic Nunciature on January 10, 2020. 

The Canonical installation (Sunthroniso) of the Bishop and the inauguration of the new Eparchy was held on January 14, 2020, at St Mary’s Cathedral Khadki.

His Beatitude Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos led the installation ceremony during the Holy Qurbono. 

His Grace Archbishop Thomas Ignatius Macwan, Archbishop of Gandhinagar and President of the Western Region Bishops Council was present. Bishops Joshua Mar Ignathios, Joseph Mar Thomas, Jacob Mar Barnabas, Vincent Mar Paulos, Samuel Mar Irenius, Thomas Mar Eusebius, Yoohanon Mar Theodosius and Yoohanon Mar Chrysostom of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church were present.