The Archdiocese of Verapoly Archivum are private archives and is aimed at preserving and enhancing the deeds and documents related to the government of the Universal Church in general and the Church in Kerala in particular. It primarily serves the Roman Pontiff and the Holy See along with the Metropolitan Archbishop of Verapoly. The Archives belongs to the Archdiocese of Verapoly which was originally known as the “Apostolic Vicariate of Malabar”. The Archdiocese of Verapoly has its origins in 1657. The Archives serves to preserve the rich past of the Archdiocese of Verapoly and strives to build the future.
The Verapoly Archives, housed within the Archdiocese of Verapoly in Kerala, India, represent one of the oldest and most significant ecclesiastical archival collections in the Indian subcontinent. Originating in the 17th century during the early Latin Catholic missionary efforts on the Malabar Coast, these archives preserve a rich tapestry of historical records that chronicle the growth of Christianity in South India. Administered initially by Carmelite missionaries under the auspices of the Congregation for the Propagation of the Faith (Propaganda Fide), the archives offer invaluable insights into the religious, cultural, and colonial dynamics of the region. The collection includes a wide range of documents—pastoral letters, missionary correspondence, sacramental registers, ecclesiastical decrees, and administrative records—spanning several centuries and written in multiple languages including Latin, Portuguese, Malayalam, Italian, and English. As a repository of Catholic heritage, the Verapoly Archives not only illuminate the evolution of the Latin Church in India but also provide a vital lens through which to understand the broader interaction between European missionaries and indigenous Christian communities.