Kochi: Major archbishop cardinal Mar George Alencherry declared the appointment of Mar Joseph Pamplany as archbishop of the Archeparchy of Thalassery and Mar Peter Kochupurakal as the new bishop of Eparchy of Palakkad respectively. The declaration came in the Syro-Malabar synod held at Mount St Thomas in Kakkanad on Saturday. 

Mar Joseph Pamplany was the bible apostolate director in Thalassery and the founder of Alpha institute. He had also served as a visiting professor at the seminaries of St Mary’s Thiruvananthapuram, Aluva, Vadavathoor, Kunnoth and St Peters in Bengaluru. He was appointed as archbishop in the vacancy of retired Mar George Njaralakatt.

Mar Peter Kochupurakkal has been designated as the third bishop of the eparchy of Palakkad. He was in the service of diocese chancellor, vicar general and minor seminary rector before being nominated as the bishop at Palakkad diocese.