Recognition Oriental Orthodox Website [1] Founder Thomas the Apostle | Territory Universal Independence Apostolic Age | |
Headquarters Kottayam, Kerala, India Possessions United Arab Emirates, United States, Canada, Great Britain, Ireland, South Africa, Kuwait, Malaysia, New Zealand, Germany, Switzerland, Oman, Qatar, Bahrain, Singapore and Australia, Language Malayalam, English, Hindi, Konkani, Kannada, Syriac Primate Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II | ||
The Diocese of Madras is one of the 30 dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church with its headquarters at Chennai .
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History
Parishes of Madras Diocese were formerly consisted of the present Calcutta and Madras dioceses with H.G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius as the first Diocesan Metropolitan.
Today
The present diocese was formed on 1979 and the Diocesan Metropolitan was the late H.G. Zachariah Mar Dionysius. Diocese of Madras includes the territorial area of Tamil Nadu, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and Andaman islands in India, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and churches in other countries.
Since the demise of H.G. Mar Dionysius in 1997, H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaios Metropolitan led the diocese. The Diocese celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2004 and launched several charitable and social development programmes. Territorial and institutional growth caused the Diocese to be divided into three Madras, Bangalore and Brahmavar Dioceses. The diocese has 64 independent parishes and many more congregations including 9 cathedrals. Sixty-five priests serve the parishioners, including 6 Cor-episcopas, 1 Cor-episcopa ramban, 4 rambans, and 4 retirees.
The diocese has a charitable institution called Snehabhavan, which is a guidance centre for patients undergoing treatment in Christian Medical College, Vellore.
Mercy Home is a home for physically challenged children in Eluru, Andhra Pradesh. Almost all parishes operate elementary and higher secondary schools. One degree college operates in Narasimharajapuram, South canara, and two colleges run under control of the parishes. They are St.Mary’s college, Brahmavar and St.Thomas College, Koyambedu, Chennai.
This diocese includes non-Malayalee communities consisting of Konkani Christians with Konkani Priests, worshiping in Konkani language in Brahmavar. Another community of Telugu inhabits Eluru with Telugu Evangelists. The diocese also runs 2 guesthouses in Chennai city for youngsters who came to study as well as work.