Formed in 2010 for the eastern hill tracts of Central Kerala, Nilackal is a diocese with apostolic origins and a history of struggle for its own administration.
Counts above reflect Orthodox-held institutions only; churches, chapels, and other properties currently under schismatic occupation are catalogued separately below and are not included in these totals.
The spiritual roots of the region date to the first century CE, when St. Thomas the Apostle is believed to have established a Christian community at Nilackal, historically a trade hub known as Chayal. Before the diocese, the Orthodox community in the hilly, poor area was disorganised and disintegrating. Few priests were willing to serve there, and, while part of neighbouring dioceses such as Thumpamon, its churches and seminarians were neglected and denied places in the seminary. Thousands of members consequently joined other denominations, including the Malankara Catholics and Pentecostals. Fr. Idiculla Chandy worked strongly for the creation of a diocese.
The diocese was formed on 15 August 2010 by decree of Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I. It initially comprised 39 parishes and 2,953 families, across parts of Pathanamthitta and Kottayam districts. H.G. Dr. Joshua Mar Nicodimos was appointed first Metropolitan and continues to lead it from the St. Thomas Aramana, Ranni. The formation was contested, as the leaders of the Thumpamon, Kottayam, Niranam and Chengannur dioceses were unwilling to cede large or affluent parishes such as those at Vanchitra, Kozhencherry, Maramon, Vennikulam and Mundakkayam.
5 districts, listed alphabetically.