The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Catholicate of the East

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52. At least from the fourth century, the Indian Church entered into a close relationship with the Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, the Indians inherited The East Syrian language and liturgies, and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians. In the sixteenth century Roman Catholic missionaries came to Kerala. They tried to unite the Syrian Christians to the Roman Catholic Church and this led to a split in the community. Those who accepted Roman Catholicism are the present Syro-Malabar Catholics. Later, Western Protestant missionaries came to Kerala and worked among The Syrian Christians. This also created certain divisions in the community. In the seventeenth century, the Church came in to relationship with the Antiochene Church, which again caused splits. As a result of this relationship, the Church received West Syrian liturgies and practices. The Church entered into a new phase of its history by the establishment of the Catholicate in 1912.

At present, the Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the Church is that which was established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A.D. 431).

The Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, Syriac, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. The Church is in good ecumenical relationship with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.

This Church now consists of about 2.5 million members, who are spread all over the world, though the majority reside in The state of Kerala in South West India. The Supreme Head of the Church and the present Catholicos is H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III. H H's residence and the Head-quarters of the Church is in Kottayam in the Kerala State of the South-West India. The Church as a whole is divided into 30 ecclesial units called dioceses and each diocese is served by a bishop, administratively and spiritually.

Our Parish

The St. John’s Orthodox Church with its three decades of existence, is a source of light and a fountain of blessings for many who seek solace under its shadow of grace, especially catering the spiritual needs of hundreds of Orthodox Christians settled in the eastern outskirts of the capital region. Dedicated to the sacred memory of St. John the Evangelist, the church is a staunch witness of christian faith and enjoys the unique distinction of being the only church in the region named after the Apostle of love. Presently the church has 156 families. The activities of spiritual organisations like the Youth League, Martha Mariam Vanitha Samajam, Indian Orthodox Diaspora, M.G.O.C.S.M. and Sunday School have earned a good reputation in the Diocese of Delhi. The nine prayer groups functioning in different areas of the parish strengthen the unity and spiritual fellowship among the members. As part of its social commitments, the parish is engaged in various charitable activities.