About Us

The first Malankara Orthodox congregation in Atlanta was officially inaugurated on Nov 30th 1997 under the American Dioceses. The first vicar was Rev. Fr. Dr. Gee Varghese.  Later, Rev. Fr. Pullalil Daniel, Rev. Dr. Mathew Koshy and Rev Fr. K.Y. Wilson joined.  Our current vicar, Rev.Fr. Daniel George is leading the parish under the guidance of His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius, Diocesan Metropolitan of South-West America.

Our Patron Saint

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Saint Thomas the Apostle (called Didymus which means "the twin") was one of the Twelve Apostles of Jesus Christ, according to the New Testament. He is informally called doubting Thomas because he doubted Jesus' resurrection when first told, (in the Gospel of John), followed later by his confession of faith, "My Lord and my God", on seeing Jesus' wounded body.
Traditionally, he is said to have travelled outside the Roman Empire to preach the Gospel, travelling as far as Tamilakam in present-day India. According to tradition, the Apostle reached Muziris, Tamilakam present day India in AD 52 and baptized several people, founding what today are known as Saint Thomas Christians or Nasranis. After his death, the reputed relics of Saint Thomas the Apostle were enshrined as far as Mesopotamia in the 3rd century, and later moved to various places. In 1258, some of the relics were brought to Abruzzo in Ortona, Italy, where they have been held in the Church of Saint Thomas the Apostle. He is often regarded as the Patron Saint of India, and the name Thoma remains quite popular among Saint Thomas Christians of India.

Metropolitan

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CATHOLICOS OF THE EAST & MALANKARA METROPOLITAN

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan (the Supreme Head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India) on Friday, 15th October 2021. His Holiness is the 92nd Primate on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas.

His Holiness was born on 12 February 1949 to Mr Cherian Anthrayos of Mattathil family, being a member of St Peters Church, Vazhoor. After his school education, he joined Kerala University and passed his BSc Chemistry. After his BSc, he joined Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, and had his GST degree. His Holiness took his BD degree from the Serampore University and did his higher studies in Theology at Theological Academy, Leningrad, Russia. Thereupon he joined Oriental Institute, Rome, and took his MTh and PhD from there. His Holiness was ordained a deacon in 1976 and a priest in 1978 by HH Baselios Mathews I. His Holiness was escalated to the post of an Episcopa on 30 April 1991 at a function at Parumala, and metropolitan in 1993. He is a well-known teacher and a faculty member of the Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam. A philanthropist, he works relentlessly for the uplift of the poor, especially women. He has started many ventures to help give employment opportunities to women from the economically backward classes. His Holiness was also served the Holy Episcopal Synod as its secretary.

His Holiness has authored a few devotional and contemplative books in Malayalam.

H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III,

Catholicate Aramana

Devalokam P.O, Kottayam

Kerala, India

Tel: 04812578499, 04812578500

Email: catholicos@mosc.in
 website  www.mosc.in
phone    +91 481 2578500/2578499
email     catholicos@mosc.in
address  Catholicate Aramana
             Devalokam P.O, Kottayam
             Kerala, India 
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/CatholicosBaseliosMarthomaMathewsIII
Instagram: baseliosmarthomamathewslll

OUR METROPOLITAN

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Born to of Late Mr. Thomas Chacko and Mrs. Annamma, in Pullepparambil house, Aleppey on 13th December 1969, His Grace Thomas Mar Ivanios Metropolitan belongs to the parish of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Chennankari under Kottayam diocese. His Grace completed his school education from St. Joseph High School, Chennankari (1985), following which H.G. completed degree in Malayalam (1986-88) from SD College, Aleppey. He joined Kottayam Old Seminary in 1992 and completed GST (1992-96). Later, he did M.Th (1997- 99) from FFRRC and a degree in Doctor of Ministry (D. Min). He was ordained sub-deaconship, by H.G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios Metropolitan at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam on 8th December 1996 . He was ordained deaconship (1999) at Mar Baselios Dayara, Njaliyakuzhi, and priesthood at St. Thomas Orthodox church, Chennankari on 18th September 1999. He was chosen as Metropolitan in the Malankara Syrian Christian Association held at Kolencherry on 25th February 2022 . He received the status of Ramban at the Parumala Seminary on 2nd June 2022 . He was ordained as a Metropolitan by the name ‘Mar Ivanios’ by H.H. Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews III Catholicos at St. Mary’s Cathedral, Pazhanji on 28th July 2022 . H.G. has taken charge of the diocese of South-West America since 3rd November 2022. 

Diocese of South-West America,

3101 Hopkins Road.

Beasely, TX 77417

E-mail: dswadiocesanoffice@gmail.com

diocesanoffice@ds-wa.org 

Ph: +919511842199, 

001-281-403-0670 

Web: www.ds-wa.org

Our Achen

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Rev. Fr. George Daniel (Benny Achen) is the Vicar of our Parish.  Achen is originally a member of the St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Kartikapally (Mavelikara Diocese). In 1976, after completing his higher education at St Thomas High School, Karthikapally and attaining his pre-degree from TKMM college, Nangiarkulangra, Achen was enrolled in  the B.A Honors program at Gauhati University, Assam.   Three years later in 1979  Achen joined the Orthodox  Theological Seminary, Kottayam.    During his tenure at the Seminary, which is affiliated with the University of Serampore, he obtained his bachelors of Divinity and later attained a Master of theology majoring in the New Testament.  In June 1986 he married Ms. Delsey Mariam.  In 1988, after serving nearly two years in the Maveilkara Diocese, Achen was transferred to the American diocese, and was appointed as the first vicar of the newly established parish of St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Bronx, New York. Following this initial posting, Achen served in multiple parishes including St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Toronto, Canada (1990-1992), St.  Gregorios Orthodox,  Church Edmonton, Canada (1992-2001), St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Pompano Beach, Florida (2001-2012), St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, San Francisco, California ( 2012-2013) and St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Atlanta, Georgia ( 2013-present).  Achen has three children, Danny, Sam and Reshma and a son-in-law Sanju.

Phone: 954-632-8474
Email: vicar@stoca.org

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