The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in India was functioning as a single diocese until 1876. In 1876, His Holiness patriarch Ignatius Peter III came to Malankara to settle disputes in the Church caused by the Anglican faith. H.H. Peter III convened a meeting of the representatives from all Syrian Churches at Mulanthuruthi. This general body is called the Syrian christian Association. The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church Which was then being administered by His Grace Pulikkottil Joseph Mor Dionysius, who was ordained by His Holiness Ignatius Yakoob II The Patriarch of Antioch & all the east in 1865. H.G. Joseph Mor Dionysius was desingnated as Malankara Metropolitan in 1876.

In 1876 H.H. Patriarch Peter III organized the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church into seven seperate diocese including Kottayam Diocese.

The St.Joseph's Cathedral, located at Lal Bahadur Sastri Road, Kottayam, is the spiritual center of the Jacobite Syrian Christians of the Kottayam diocese. Founded in 1981 by Metropolitan Mor Gregorios (Perumpilly Thirumeni), the diocesan headquarters consists of the church, Michael Mor Dionysius Centre, Mor Gregorios parish hall, Mor Julius Book Stall and the Bishops house.

In 1980 the Holy Synod appointed H.G. Geevarghese Mor Gregorios (Perumpilly Thirumeni) as the assistant Metropolitan of the diocese. On 19th June, 1980 the 'Sunthroniso' of the new bishop was held at the St.Mary's church, Panampady. On that occasion His Beatitude the Catholicos, who presided over the ceremony, expressed his desire to start a centre for the diocese without any further delay. A diocesan assembly was convened soon under the presidentship of Mor Gregorios and officially approved the resolution to construct a church centre in memory of Michael Mor Dionysius, the former Metropolitan of Kottayam and southern dioceses. Consequently on 13th January 1981, 40 cents of land at Shastri Road was bought in the joint names of Metropolitan Mor Gregorios, the diocesan secretary Rev. Fr. P P Joseph Pulickaparambil and Mr. P T Abraham Kaduvumbhagam on behalf of the Jacobite Syrian Christian community of Kottayam diocese. The foundation stone of the proposed centre was blessed by H.B. Catholicos Baselios Paulose II on 18th January, the day being the 25th death anniversary of late lamented Metropolitan Michael Mor Dionysius. A temporary chapel was consecrated here on 25th March 1981 (the day of Vachanippu Perunnal - annunciation to the Holy Virgin Mary) by His Beatitude the Catholicos Aboon Mor Baselios Paulose II, assisted by Metropolitans Geevarghese Mor Gregorios, Kuriakose Mor Kurillos and Thomas Mor Theophilos.  

In 1999 when H.G. Mor Gregorios Geevarghese (PerumpillyThirumeni) fell ill, Mor Thimotheos Thomas the bishop of outside Kerala diocese was given the additional charge of the Kottayam diocese. After the  passing away of Perumpilly Thirumeni on 22 February 1999, the full responsibility of the diocese was entrusted to Mor Thimotheos by the Malankara Episcopal Synod. His Grace hails from the Muriyankal family of Veloor, Kottayam.

St.Joseph's Cathedral
L.B.Sastri Road, 
Kottayam-686 001,
Kerala,
India.
Phone:91-481-2304646, 2564499