A few words about us
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church sees itself as continuation of the Saint Thomas Christians a community traditionally believed to have been founded in the first century by Thomas the Apostle who is known as Mar Thoma (Saint Thomas) in Syriac, and describes itself as “Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical) in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function, and Episcopal in character” It is believed that St. Thomas the Apostle of Jesus Christ came to Kerala and established a Christian community in AD 52. The Mar Thoma Syrian church traces its origin from that point onwards. Hence it is said that the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian church is Apostolic in origin since she was founded by St. Thomas the Apostle of Christ. She is universal in nature as it does not exist in isolation in itself but tries to work with the universal church in Many ministries worldwide. The Bible is the foundation of the belief of the church and guides the church in all its norms. The Bible was the driving force in the reformation that happened in the church. Hence she is Biblical in faith. The gospel and the proclamation of the Gospel has been the corner stone and passion of the church. Accordingly the church h has been and is still involved in reforming the society through the proclamation and practical expression of the Gospel. The church traces a lot of its history to the oriental Eastern churches. Early in the period of her growth the church was sustained by Bishops, clergies from the Oriental Eastern churches. Hence the worship is oriental in its expression. The church celebrates the liturgy of St. James the brother of Jesus Christ among other liturgies. Democracy has been the driving force since the reformation of the church. The people’s voice, vote, presence, needs and providence has been the pivotal in forming and reforming the mission of the church. Though the church is democratic she is still episcopal in character. The spiritual head of the church is the Metropolitan and the other Bishops are the spiritual authority in the matters of the church. So in the Mar Thoma Syrian Church we find a balance of the people’s voice as well as the priestly spiritual governance.
History
Our parish was established in 1979 with a handful of families under the leadership of Rev. Joseph Thomas. We have come a long way from 1979 when we started with seven families, growing at one time to 41 families. Two thousand twenty-one is the year we took a new census and recounted
the families and set our membership at 30, thereby reducing our annual financial obligation to the Diocese of North America and Europe, resulting in a modest cost savings to the church. The following is a list of the vicars who served our parish since its inception in 1979.
1. Rev. Joseph Thomas
2. Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese
3. Rev. T. I. Joseph
4. Rev. Eapen Cherian
5. Rev. Thomas Alexander
6. Rev. Kuruvila Philip
7. Rev. Ninan Jacob
8. Rev. Jiji Mathews
9. Rev. Thomas Mathew
10. Rev. M. O. Oommen (Youth Chaplain)
11. Rev. Saji Joseph (Youth Chaplain)
12. Rev. V. J. Mathew (1st Resident Vicar)
13. Rev. Mathew Joseph
14. Rev. George Varghese
15. Rev. Dr. Philip Varghese
16. Rev. John N. Abraham
17. Rev. Aji Varghese
18. Rev. Sonu Varughese
19. Rev. Abraham Kuruvilla, (Present Vicar)