Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Malayalam: മലങ്കര മാര്‍ത്തോമ്മ സുറിയാനി സഭ, Malankara Mar Thoma Suriyani Sabha) otherwise called as Mar Thoma Church in a shorter form, which is a part of the One Holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. is one of the ancient Churches in the world. It is traditionally believed that St. Thomas (Mar Thoma in Syriac), the disciple of Jesus Christ came to India in AD 52 and established the Church in the Malabar coast. Kerala is known as Malankara in those times. Being rooted in the Bible, the Church maintains its Episcopal heritage and value oriented democratic form of administration.

The Church believes in Jesus Christ, the God incarnate for the redemption of humankind, and in the Triune God revealed by him, who himself is one among the Trinity. The Church cherishes its Oriental heritage and Episcopacy as a gift of God. The Church accepts Holy Bible as the basis for all matters of faith and doctrine, and the Nicene Creed formulated in accordance with the Holy Scripture. The Church is regarded as a ’bridge’ church in the Ecumenical world.

The Church identifies its goal and function as: to be the repository of the divine doctrines revealed by Jesus Christ and proclaimed by His Apostles; to maintain these doctrines in their purity; to promote the spiritual life of its members through the administration of the sacraments and by the ministry of the Word. The Church affirms that the people of God are sent all over to the world and they partake in the soteriological mission of God, to unite everything in Jesus Christ through the ministry of reconciliation begun in Jesus Christ. The Church is blessed and enriched by the leadership of Metropolitan, Episcopas, ordained Clergy and deacons. Metropolitan is the Supreme head of the Church. The Laity has full participation in the Priestly ministry, given through the Church, by Christ. They are called to profess and practice Christian truths and teachings in their daily life and avocations. The laity shall take active part in the life and ministry of the Church and co-operate in the general administration of the Church.

The Church is at present blessed by the able leadership of twelve Bishops and is headed by Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan who is the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan to occupy the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas. The Church is served by 1184 clergy through fourteen dioceses to 1.6 million people (approx).The headquarters is located at SCS Campus, Thiruvalla, Kerala, India and has a million adherents spread worldwide.

History of the Diocese of North America & Europe

The Diocese of North America & Europe is a realization of the early settlers in North America and Europe which became a diocese of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church that includes all the Mar Thoma parishes in the North American and European continents. Its diocesan office is at Sinai Mar Thoma Centre, 2320 Merrick Avenue, New York. The Mar Thoma Church is a reformed church which is Apostolic in origin, Catholic in nature, Biblical in faith and doctrine, Ecumenical in relation with other churches, Eastern in worship, Democratic in function, and Episcopal in administration. Mar Thoma Church is Bridge between Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Protestantism.

Members of the Mar Thoma Church, also known as Marthomites began to move to Europe and North America beginning in the1940 to the United Kingdom and to USA and Canada since 1960s and 1970s which still continues. These early settlers, most of whom came for higher studies have been very eager to worship in the tradition of Mar Thoma Church. However, with the revitalization of United States Immigration and Nationality Act of 1965 there has been an influx of Marthomites to North America in the early 1970s. As the number of families grew, many recognized the need for worship in their tradition and to maintain their faith and practices for those born in Europe and North America. During those early times, families met their sacramental needs like marriage and baptism of children by clergies who came for higher studies.

The early immigrants of the Mar Thoma members to United Kingdom (London) and to North America in cities like, New York, Chicago, Detroit, Dallas, Houston, Los Angeles, Toronto in Canada, organized prayer fellowships, and begun to teach their children the faith and traditions of the Mar Thoma Church. In the beginning, we enjoyed the fellowship of other Kerala Christians (CSI and Orthodox) who also joined in the prayer fellowships.

In the early 1970s late Rt. Rev Alexander Mar Theophilus (later Alexander Mar Thoma) came to New York as participant in the Bible Society meetings in New York, and Late Thomas Mar Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan visited New York to attend Faith and Order Commission of the World Council of Churches. Both bishops participated in local prayer meetings and conducted Holy Communion Service for the Kerala Christians at different places. Both bishops understood the earnest desire and need for sacramental and fellowship services for these early immigrants in their adopted countries in the northern hemisphere. Thomas Mar Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan who was the Missionary Bishop in charge of parishes outside Kerala convinced the Episcopal Synod of the need for Mar Thoma Congregations, and the Synod granted permission for congregations to be formed. The earlier congregations formed were in Queens New York, Chicago, Detroit, Philadelphia, Dallas, Los Angeles, and Toronto in Canada between 1972 and 1976.

As the number of parishes and congregations increased, the need to centralize them for administrative purposes was a necessity. Episcopal Synod authorized the formation of North America and Europe as a Zone under Kottayam-Ranni Diocese in 1982 under the leadership of late Thomas Mar Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan. Eventually, in 1988 the Episcopal Synod elevated North American Zone to a full diocese.

The Bishops who guided the Diocese from its beginning in their order of sequence are late Rt. Rev. Thomas Mar Athanasius Suffragan Metropolitan (1982-1984), the Most. Rev. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan (1984-1988); The Rt. Rev. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Suffragan Metropolitan (1988-1990); Rt. Rev. Dr. Zachariah Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan ( 1991-1999, first resident bishop); Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos (2000-2007); The Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, now Theodosius Mar Thoma (2008-2015); Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos (2016-2023), and Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos (2024-present).

The diocese has achieved great progress from its humble beginning as prayer groups in isolated cities, now spread along the breadth and length of North America. Each Diocesan bishop initiated new projects, and their successors further built and developed on them as it ought to be in the furtherance of the kingdom of God. Along with the diocesan bishops, the diocese had the service of dedicated vicars who served as Bishop’s and Diocesan Secretaries to the bishops during their terms.

Some milestones in the development of the diocese include the purchase of a property in New York and developed the Sinai Diocesan Center, at 2320 Merrick Avenue, New York during the term of Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan. Earlier, we bought a property in Richboro, Pennsylvania, but for convenience the Diocesan Assembly decided to sell Richboro property and develop the Center in New York. Another milestone event is the purchase of Carmel Center in Atlanta Georgia by the efforts of Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos during his term.

Currently we have sixty-eight parishes and twelve congregations. These parishes and congregations are being served by sixty-five active priests and nine retired clergies residing in various parts of North America. At present we have three clergies undergoing higher studies in different theological seminaries in USA. All parishes have regular Sunday School, Youth Fellowship, Yuvajana Sakyam, Sevika Sanghom, Senior Fellowship and voluntary Evangelists’ Association, and Mission activities. Mar Thoma Church in North America has at present 8,901 families with a total membership of 50,000 including children.

Parishes in the United Kingdom and Europe became a separate Zone of the Diocese of North America and Europe since January 2018, and beginning January 2024 it has become a full diocese comprising parishes in Europe and Africa under the Diocese of United Kingdom, Europe, and Africa (DUKEA). The Pioneer settlers in the United Kingdom scattered the seeds of Mar Thoma tradition in the European soil much earlier than in North America, beginning in late 1950s.

Now, it calls us collectively for more commitment and responsibilities, to be aware of the challenges facing the church globally and show the love of God to humanity everywhere in the furtherance of God’s kingdom.