The journey of Orthodox Christians from Malankara (Kerala) to the Gulf began with the development of the Gulf countries. Our parish traces its beginnings back to 1934 when  Kuwait Oil Company started. 

Our Parish in under the dioesce of Calcutta. St.Thomas Orhtodox Indian Orthodox Pazhayapally is located in Ahmadi, the oil rich area in Kuwait.  Around 500 members were registered with Parish.

Address: 
P.B No 47373
FAHAHEEL-64024
KUWAIT
TEL:  (00965) 23714738
Email:-webadmin@orthodoxchurchahmadi.org

  OUR DIOCESE

Dioceses in the history of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, were formed for the first time in 1876 consequent to the Mulanthuruthy Synod. H.H.Patriarch Mar Peter III divided the Malankara Church into seven Dioceses. In 1938, Diocese for outside Kerala (Bahya Kerala Bhadrasanam) was formed and in 1976 the outside Kerala Diocese was divided into three, namely Bombay, Madras and Delhi dioceses as per the Catholicos Order No.58/76. The present Calcutta Diocese was included in Madras Diocese and late lamented Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was the first Diocesan Metropolitan.
The area of Madras Diocese jurisdiction were the states of Andra Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Parts of M.P. (East of Rewa, Jabalpur, Trunk Road), Tamil Nadu(excluding Coimbatore, Cunnoor, Gudalloor, Sherwani, Vaalpara, Mettupalayam, Erode and Tirupattoor), West Bengal, Union Territory of Andaman and Nicobar Islands and outside India- Malasia and Singapore.

Re - Organisation in 1979

On 30th October 1978 the Managing Committee in its meeting decided to further reorganized the three outside Kerala Dioceses comprising Bombay, Delhi and Madras into Five in view of their big geographical structure. The Episcopal Synod also approved the proposed reorganisation. The newly formed dioceses are America, Calcutta and Trivandrum. These changes came into effect from 1stJanuary 1979 as per order dated 8th December 1978.

The area under the Jurisdiction of the Calcutta Diocese is as follows In India
States of Assam, Bihar, Madhya Pradesh, Manipur, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Orissa, Tripura, West Bengal, Mizoram, Arunachal Pradhesh and Nagpur in Maharashtra.

Outside India :-Kuwait, Muscat and Salalah
As a result of the re-organisation of the outside Kerala dioceses, when the Calcutta Diocese was formed on 1st January 1979 H.G.Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was made its Shepherd and Tirumeni continud to lead it from Glory to Gloryuntil he wascalled to the heavenly abode on 5th Nov. 2007 and H.H. Catholicose took the charge of the diocese and nominated H.G.Geevarghese Mar Coorilos of Bombay diocese to assist Catholicose in the administration. H.G. Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius took over the Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese on March 2009.

Re-Organisation in 2009

In2009 it was decided to further reorganize the outside Kerala Dioceses into Nine. The newly formed dioceses were Bangalore , Ahmedabad, Brahmavar and North East America and South west America, UK- Europe & Africa . The parishes and Institutions in the Malwa region of Madhya Pradesh and the Parishes in Muscat , Sohar and Salala in the Gulf Region were taken away from Calcutta Diocese and added to the newly formed Ahmedabad Diocese.

The Founder Metropolitan of the Diocese of Kolkatha

 

Childhood EducationHis Grace Dr.Stephanos Mar Theodosios, was born on 2nd October 1924 as the fifth son of Chacko Kurien and Mariamma of Kayalath family in Pathamootom, Kottayam. He obtained B.A from C.A. Jain College, Jabalpur, M.A from Mahakeshal University, Jabalpur, B.D from General Episcopal Seminary, New York and S.T.M from Konnett Berkeley Divinity School. He ordained as deacon in 1946 and in 1947 his priesthood from His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East. Spiritual EvolutionThe Malankara Syrian Christian Association, which met on 2nd October 1974 at Niranam, elected him to the order of Episcopa. On 15th February 1975 Daniel Mar Philexinos made him Ramban. On 16th February 1975 he was elevated as Metropolitan Stephanos Mar TheodoMathews Mar Athanasios, the Diocesan Metropolitan of the Diocese of the outside Kerala (later H.H. The Catholicos Marthoma Mathews I) sius at Niranam. He was appointed as Diocesan head of Madras from 1976 to 1979 and as head of Calcutta Diocese in 1979. The Kolkatha Diocese was created in 1979. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius is its first Metropolitan.

There are 40 Churches, 15 congregations, 31 priests, 2 deacons, 10 Seminarians. There are 15 Mission Centers functioning in the following places: Bhilai, Macodia, Bagdona, Bhopal, Devaz, Peethbur, Raj Nandagon, Raipur, Korba, Bokaro, Bhimapur, Jabalpur and Jagdalpur. Diocese has one College, 7Junior Colleges, 1 High School, 12 U.P Schools, 22 Balavadis for village students, 8 tailoring schools, 1 Typewriting Institute and 4 Hospitals. It also publishes a journal called 'The Light'. St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai is the Metropolitan headquarters. D iocesan Area: Madhya Pradesh, Orisa, Bihar, West Bengal, Assam, Meghalaya, Nagaland, Maharashtra (Nagpur side only), Kuwait and Oman St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mission, Bhilai Founded on July 3, 1972. The first North Indian Mission of the Church established as a memorial to the blessed memory of the martyrdom of St. Thomas the apostle, the founder of our Church, after 19 centuries of that event. Mathews Mar Athanasios, the Diocesan Metropolitan of the Diocese of the outside Kerala (later H.H. The Catholicos Marthoma Mathews I) Director: Rev. Fr. K. K. Punnose (later, H. G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius of the Diocese of Calcutta)

        The Mission center at Bhilai consists of:       

        1. St. Thomas Ashram 
        2. St. Thomas Convent 
        3. St. Thomas Blalagram 
        4. Diocesan Center 
        5. Bishop's House 
        6. Printing press (Traddle and Mini off-set) 
        7. Jeevan Jyothi Balawadi 
        8. Agricultural Farm 
        9. Dairy Farm 
        10. Fish Farm 
        11. Staff Quarters 
        12. Labor Quarters 
        13. Garage 
        14. Chapel 
        15. Christian College of Engineering and Technology Complex 
        16. Men's Hostel 
        17. Women's Hostel Educational Institutions       

        1. M. P. Christian College of Engineering and Technology
        2. St. Thomas College 
        3. M. G. M. Senior Secondary School, Bhilai 
        4. M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Bokaro 
        5. M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Rourkela 
        6. M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Hathilal, Jabalpur 
        7. M. G. M. English Higher Secondary School, Korba 
        8. M. G. M. Hindi Higher Secondary School, Korba 
        9. M. G. M. High School, Dimapur, Nagaland 
        10. M. G. M. High School, Raipur 
        11. M. G. M. High School, Itarsi 
        12. M. G. M. Middle School, Bhopal 
        13. M. G. M. Middle School, Dewas 
        14. M. G. M. Middle School, Bagdona 
        15. M. G. M. Middle School, Indore 
        16. M. G. M. Middle School, Dhawakala 
        17. M. G. M. Primary School, Pithampur 
        18. M. G. M. Nursery , Nagpur 
        19. Mar Baselios Vidya Bhavan High School, Bhilai 
        20. St. Mary's Hindi Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur 
        21. St. Mary's English Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur 
        22. St. Mary's Nursery, BokaroVillage Mission

More than three-fourths of the Indian population live in villages. Mahatma Gandhi said, “To see India, one should go the Indian villages.” Even-after half a century of the Indian independence, villages have not made much improvement. Government of India is spending millions of rupees through the N.G.O. organizations for the development of the poor villages. Unfortunately very little portion of the funds go to the intended villages. The Christian churches and organizations especially the oldest church in India-The Malankara Orthodox Church could do tremendous voluntary services in this situation for the upliftment of the villages. With this intention, Bhilai mission started its village mission in 1984 at Makodia Village in Hoshangabad District of M. P.The follo wing are the activities of our Abhaya Nikethan Makkodia Mission: Health

Health Projects

• Regular health professional visits
• Working in partnership with Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) and CARE INDIA 
Literacy and Vocational Training
• Balawadi, Typewriting and Tailoring Institutes
• Primary education in rural Institutes
• Adult EducationEconomic Upliftment• Forming a women group (WG) 
• Self Help Group (SHG) 
• Goat Farming, Picklemaking Units, etc..

Networking with Government Organization and Broadcasting Ministry.Jabalpur Earthquake Relief WorkIn intensity Jabalpur earthquake was almost equal to the earthquake that occurred in Lathoor, Maha Rashtra. In Jabalpur death toll was comparatively less, but the destruction of houses and damage to the crops and animals were high. Bhilai Mission sponsored the rebuilding of one village and constructed sixty new houses. One community center, and a dispensary. Fr. Mathai Alakot, a member of the mission from Houston did a splendid job in this connection.St. Thomas Orthodox Theological SeminaryAs per the decision of the Holy Episcopal synod seminary started in 1995 at the Bhilai Mission center. After completing 4 years in Bhilai, the seminary has shifted to Nagpur in July 1999 as decided by the Holy Synod. Only one wing of the seminary building is completed and the construction work is still going on. As the future of the church in outside Kerala depends upon the new seminary the church has to consider in priority the completion of the construction of the seminary project. The co-operation and assistance of the members of the church in this respect is earnestly solicited. Prayers and assistance are requested from the church members and well wishes in the Herculean task of making the Malankara Sabha a Bharatha Sabha through the North Indian Mission and the new seminary providing true Christian good Samaritan service to the millions living below the poverty line in our country.

Address:St. Thomas AshramPost Box 24Kailas Nagar, Bhilai, DurgMadya Pradesh State, India

Phone: 011-91-788-381309 or 011-91-788-381949 Fax: 011-91-788-383266

Email: M.P.C.C.E.T@mantraonline.com

EpilogueHis Grace Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was called to eternal rest on 5 th November 2007 while he was in Muscat . His mortal remains were taken to India and entombed at the St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai on 7 th November 2007.His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, the Metropolitan of the Mumbai diocese has been assigned the charge of Calcutta diocese by the Catholicose. 

METROPOLITAN OF THE DIOCESE OF CULCUTTA

His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius

His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius, formerly Rev. Fr. Alex Daniel is a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor of Kollam Diocese.  Thirumeni hails from Vattakkattu family, Puthoor.  His Grace was born on 5th September, 1964 as the fourth son of late Sri Y. Daniel and Smt. Chinnamma Daniel. The late Rev. Fr. V.J. Jacob Vattakkattu is his paternal uncle.

His Grace graduated from Kerala University with Bachelor’s degree in Science. He then joined Bangalore University for legal studies and secured LL.B. After completing his secular studies, he devoted himself for theological studies and joined the Orthodox Theological seminary, Kottayam. He completed Graduation in Sacred Theology from Orthodox Theological seminary and Bachelor of Divinity from Serampore University, Calcutta. Pursuing his post-graduation, he secured Master’s Degree in Theology from St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore. He acquired a Diploma in Biblical Geography from Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem and conducted his Doctoral Research Study in Old Testament from Friedrich Alexander University, Germany. He also practiced as a Civil Lawyer in the District Court of Kollam in 1994-95.

On May 15, 1993 he was ordained as a deacon and on 4th May 1995, H. H Baselious Marthoma Mathews II ordained him to the priesthood. As a priest, he has served the parishes in Bangalore, Germany, and in the Calcutta diocese.

In 1997, His Grace was appointed as the faculty of Old Testament at St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur.  During the period as the faculty (1997-2008) he served in different capacities like Warden, Director of Fieldwork, and Bursar of the seminary.

He has also served as the treasurer of the Orthodox Sunday School Association of the East (Outside Kerala Region), Director of Akhila Malankara Orthodox Shushrushaka Sangam (AMOSS – OKR), Director of OVBS (OKR) and as Treasurer of Prerana School for Mentally Challenged Children, Nagpur.

His Grace handled the regular columns in the Malankara Sabha, Sahayatra, and Parish Mission Literatures for the Outside Kerala Region. He has authored a book in Malayalam named “Vachanathejas”, a compilation of Sunday Sermons for a complete liturgical year. His Grace has served and represented the Church in Ecumenical Conferences in India and abroad.

The Malankara Syrian Christian association held at Pampakuda on 2008 September 11 elected him with six others to be metropolitans of the church. On 2009 February 19 H.H. Baselios Marthoma Didymus I Catholicos with the assistance of the holy Episcopal synod, ordained him as Metropolitan along with the six other candidates at Puthupally St. George Orthodox Church.

When the Diocese of South-west America was formed in 2009, His Grace was appointed as the first Metropolitan of that Diocese on April 1, 2009.  He took leadership in building the Diocese from scratch.  The beautiful diocesan center at Beasley, Houston in 100 Acres is one of the greatest achievements of his time.  A Liturgical Resource Development Committee was formed and initiated to translate all our liturgical books into the English Language. About 15 new churches and congregations were established in the cities where the Malankara Orthodox church Mission had not started.

From September 20, 2017, to November 2, 2022, H.G.Alexios Mar Eusebius Metropolitan also served as the assistant metropolitan of the Mavelikkara diocese.  Apart from the administrative responsibilities of the diocese H.G. Mar Eusebius currently holds the office of the vice president of the Kerala Council of Churches.

As per the Kalpana of His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III Malankara Metropolitan, His Grace is serving as the  Metropolitan of the Calcutta Diocese from November 3, 2022, onwards.