The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America is an ecclesiastical jurisdiction or archdiocese of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church for the United States and Canada, incorporated in the state of New Jersey. It is a part of the Syriac Orthodox Church under the Holy See of Antioch.
The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America is under the direct ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. [1] This Archdiocese comprises the parishes all over the United States and Canada for the people predominantly from India who follow the Syriac tradition. The Church uses the Syriac language, a dialect of Aramaic spoken by Lord Jesus, as the liturgical language along with English and Malayalam, a vernacular language of South India. Mor Titus Yeldho is the Archbishop & Patriarchal Vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America since 2004.
In the recent past, especially since the 1960s, a considerable number of people from India migrated and settled down in North America. Many of them were Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Christians. They followed the Syriac Orthodox faith, maintained their distinct identity and preserved the traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church. With the approval and spiritual guidance of the late Archbishop Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, the first Malankara Syriac Orthodox Parish in North America was formed in 1975 as Mar Gregorios Syriac Orthodox Church in Staten Island, New York. [2] Subsequently more parishes and spiritual organizations such as Sunday Schools for children, Youth Associations for young adults and St. Mary’s Women’s League were formed for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful.
For the smooth functioning of the parishes under the ecclesiastical hierarchy, a Malankara Council was constituted and became fully operational in 1987. From that time onwards the Malankara Parishes conducted annual conferences in different parts of North America. As the number of people professing the Syriac Orthodox faith and their spiritual needs increased, The Delegates’ Meeting held in 1992 in New York City, presided over by the Archbishop Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, decided to request The Patriarch of Antioch and All The East for a Metropolitan from Malankara to assist Mor Athanasius in administering the affairs of the Malankara Parishes. The Delegates’ Meeting held on December 5, 1992, at the St. Mark’s Syriac Orthodox Cathedral, Hackensack, New Jersey, proposed the name Fr. P.G. Cherian and requested the Patriarch to consecrate him Metropolitan to assist Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel.
According to the decision of the Archdiocesan Council, an official delegation, consisting of three clergymen and one lay member from the Council had an audience with the Patriarch, in Damascus, Syria, in June 1993 to address the spiritual needs of the Malankara faithful. Thereafter, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, established an independent Archdiocese directly under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch and All the East comprising all the Malankara (India) parishes in North America and named it "Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America". He consecrated and appointed P.G. Cherian as the then Mor Nicholovos Zachariah on August 15, 1993, and appointed him as Archbishop to administer the affairs of the Archdiocese. [2]
In December 2001, Nicholovos Zachariah was excommunicated by then Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. Subsequently Mor Julius Kuriakose and Mor Ivanios Mathews Metropolitans were appointed to this archdiocese. The present Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho was consecrated as the archbishop and patriarchal vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America on January 4, 2004.
His legacy can be seen in the rise of young men coming forward, through his example, to serve the church. He is a strong advocate for empowering the youth of this archdiocese in coming forward to accept leadership responsibilities to help thrust the church into the next millennium. The current administrative set-up of the archdiocese, the previous Archdiocesan headquarters at Pomona, New York and the present archdiocesan headquarters in Whippany, New Jersey, etc. are achievements among many others that procured during the immediate years of his tenure. A significant number of new parishes have also been initiated across the United States and Canada under his leadership.
In 2009, the Malankara Church decided to divide the American Diocese into two dioceses, the Northeast American Diocese and the Southwest American Diocese. [3] The Southwest American Dioceses is based in Texas. [4]
Church | City, State |
---|---|
St. Ephrem Cathedral | Whippany, New Jersey |
St. Simon's Syriac Orthodox Church | Edmonton, Alberta |
St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church | Edmonton, Alberta |
St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church | Calgary, Alberta |
St. Peter's Syrian Orthodox Church | Phoenix, Arizona |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Los Angeles, California |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | San Francisco, California |
St. Basil's Syrian Orthodox Church | Sacramento, California |
St. Ignatius Syrian Orthodox Church | San Diego, California |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Denver, Colorado |
Mar Gregorios Syrian Orthodox Church | Tampa, Florida |
St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church | Plantation, Florida |
St. Mary's Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church | Norcross, Georgia |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Augusta, Georgia |
St. George Syrian Orthodox Church | Chicago, Illinois |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Des Plaines, Illinois |
St. Peter’s Syrian Orthodox Church | Chicago, Illinois |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | College Park, Maryland |
St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church | Uniontown, Maryland |
St. Mary’s Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church | Southfield, Michigan |
St. George Syrian Orthodox Church | Charlotte, North Carolina |
St. George's Syrian Orthodox Church | Carteret, New Jersey |
St. James Syrian Orthodox Church | Wanaque, New Jersey |
St. Basil Syrian Orthodox Church | Albuquerque, New Mexico |
Mar Gregorios Syrian Orthodox Church | Staten Island, New York |
St. George Syrian Orthodox Church | Spring Valley, New York |
St. George Syrian Orthodox Church | New City, New York |
St. John's Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church | Staten Island, New York |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church (Malankara) | Lynbrook, New York |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | West Nyack, New York |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | White Plains, New York |
St. Peter's & St. Paul's Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church | Westbury, New York |
St. George's Syrian Orthodox Church | Bethany, Oklahoma |
St. George Syriac Orthodox Church | Brampton, Ontario |
St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church of Canada | Mississauga, Ontario |
St. Peter's Syriac Orthodox Church | Mississauga, Ontario |
St. Paul's Syrian Orthodox Church | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
St. Peter's Syrian Orthodox Church | Philadelphia, Pennsylvania |
St. Ignatius Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church | Carrollton, Texas |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Houston, Texas |
St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church | Carrollton, Texas |
St. Peter's Syriac Orthodox Church | Houston, Texas |
St. Thomas Syriac Orthodox Church | Austin, Texas |
St. Mary's Syriac Orthodox Church | San Francisco |
Mar. Gregorios Syriac Orthodox Church | Mesquite, Texas |
St. Ignatius Elias III Syrian Orthodox Church | Portland, Oregon |
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. The church serves India's Saint Thomas Christian population. According to tradition, these communities originated in the missions of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century. It employs the Malankara Rite, an Indian form of the West Syriac liturgical rite.
Ignatius Zakka I Iwas was the 122nd reigning Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and, as such, Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. Also known by his traditional episcopal name, Severios, he was enthroned as patriarch on 14 September 1980 in St. George's Patriarchal Cathedral in Damascus. He succeeded Ignatius Ya`qub III. As is traditional for the head of the church, Mor Severios adopted the name Ignatius.
Saint Geevarghese Mar Gregorios, popularly known as Parumala Thirumeni, was a Metropolitan of the Malankara Church. Parumala Thirumeni became the first person of Indian origin to be canonised as saint. In 1947, the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church declared Mar Gregorios as a saint, making him the first saint from India canonized by that church. In November 1987, the Syriac Orthodox Church canonized him as a saint.
Baselios Paulose II (born as Puthusseril Joseph Paulose was the second Maphrian of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Christian Church which is an integral part of Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch and all the East
Moran Mor Ignatius Jacob (Yaʿqub) III was the 121st Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch and head of the Syriac Orthodox Church 1957-1980. He was skilled in and knowledgeable in Syriac sacral music or Beth Gazo. He re-established the Maphrianate/Catholicate in the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.
Baselios Thomas I is a Syriac Orthodox Catholicos of India (Maphrian) and head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, the Syriac Orthodox Church in India. He was enthroned on 26 July 2002 by Syriac Orthodox Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East in a ceremony held in Damascus, Syria.
Mor Severios Abraham is a Syriac Orthodox bishop. As of 2013, he is the Metropolitan of Angamali region of the Angamali Diocese and Abbott of Mor Gabriel Dayro (Monastery). He is the most senior metropolitan in the Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church.
Mor Gregorios Joseph is a Syriac Orthodox archbishop and currently the Metropolitan trustee of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church.
The Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (JSCC), or the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in India or the Syriac Orthodox Church in India, is a Maphrianate of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch based in Kerala, India and part of the Oriental Orthodox Church. It recognizes the Syriac Orthodox patriarch of Antioch and All the East as supreme head of the church. It functions autonomously within the church as an Archdiocese, administered by the Metropolitan Trustee, under the authority of the Maphrian of India, Baselios Thomas I. Following schism with the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, is currently the only church in Malankara that is under the administrative supervision of Syriac Orthodox Church. The church employs the West Syriac Rite Liturgy of Saint James.
The Catholicos of India, is an ecclesiastical office in the Syriac Orthodox Church. He is the Catholicos, spiritual leader and regional head of the Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, an Indian archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, and functions at an ecclesiastical rank second to the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch within the Church, and his name is commemorated in liturgy throughout the Syriac Orthodox Archdioceses in India. The position was renamed as 'Catholicos of India' in 2002, in accordance with its actual jurisdiction.
Mathews Mor Aphrem is a Syriac Orthodox bishop and the Metropolitan of the Perumbavoor region of the Angamali diocese.
Karingachira St. George's Jacobite Syrian Church of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church, established in 722 AD, is one of the ancient churches of the Syriac Orthodox Church. St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ is the founder of the ancient church in India. Christian writers and historians from the 4th century refer to the evangelistic work of Apostle Thomas in India, and the Indian Christians ascribe the origin of their church to the labours of the apostle in the 1st century.
Saint Baselios Yeldo was the Maphrian of the East of the Syriac Orthodox Church from 1678 until his resignation in 1684. He is venerated as a saint in the Syriac Orthodox Church and Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and his feast day is 3 October.
Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II is a Syrian-American Christian prelate who is serving as the Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church since 29 May 2014.
E. A. E St. Mary's Soonoro Syriac Orthodox Church, Meenangadi, is a Marian Pilgrim center of the Syriac Orthodox Church located at Meenangadi in Kerala, India. The church is under E.A.E Arch Diocese, the first missionary association of Syriac Orthodox Patriarchate of Antioch and All the East, and is currently under the direct control of Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church. In 2006, the church was elevated to the status of "Marian Pilgrim Centre", and in 2018, it celebrated its diamond jubilee. It is the first church to adopt the 8 Day Lent in Malabar Region.
Dr. Geevarghese Mor Gregorios was a bishop of the Syriac Orthodox Church, President of the Episcopal Synod of the Church in India, President of the Synod of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church and the Metropolitan of Cochin, Kottayam, Kollam, Niranam and Thumpamon Dioceses.
Ayub Mor Silvanos is a Syriac Orthodox Metropolitan of America, Canada, and Europe region of the Knanaya Archdiocese. He was born on April 18, 1972. He received his first four orders of ordination on November 11, 1995, the fifth order on May 27, 1997, and became a full deacon on June 7, 1999. He was ordained as priest on August 6, 1999, by H. E. Mor Clemis Abraham, the Chief Metropolitan of the East.
Mor Clemis Abraham, the Great Metropolitan of the East was the senior metropolitan (1957–58) of Syriac Orthodox Church. He was in charge of Knanaya Syrian Archdiocese.
Saint Coorilos Paulose of Panampady, also known as Kochuparambil Thirumeni, or Panampady Thirumeni, was Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in India from 1911 until his death in 1917. He was canonized in 2008 by Ignatius Zakka I.
Mor Clemis Kuriakose, is the Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church. On August 24, 2008, Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka Iwas I Patriarch consecrated Metropolitan. Kuriakose Mor Clemis was appointed as the Metropolitan of Idukki Diocese. Since May, 2020 he is the Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese. Mor Clemis Kuriakose Metropolitan is also the former President of St. Paul's Mission of India. On December 26, 2019, Ignatius Aphrem II Patriarch appointed Bishop Clemis Kuriakose as Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese based on the synod of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church.