Madras Orthodox Diocese

Diocese of Madras
Orthodox
Catholicate Emblem
Location
Country	India
Territory	Tamilnadu, Andaman Nicobar and Sri Lanka
Metropolitan	H. G. Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos
Headquarters	Rajeswari Street, Mehta Nagar, Chennai - 600 029
Information
First holder	Zachariah Mar Dionysius
Rite	Malankara Rite
Established	1979
Diocese	Madras Diocese
Parent church	Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
Website
Madras Diocese

The Diocese of Madras is one of the 32 dioceses of the Indian Orthodox Church with its headquarters at Chennai .

History

H.G Kayalath Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was the first Diocesan Metropolitan. He became the Metropolitan of the newly formed Calcutta diocese in 1979 which was bifurcated from the diocese.

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, and Andaman islands in India, and Sri Lanka

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.

This diocese includes non-Malayalee communities consisting of Tamil Christians with Tamil Priests, worshiping in Tamil language in Salem, Dindigul and Sri Lanka. The diocese also runs 2 guesthouses in Chennai city for youngsters who came to study as well as work.

Diocesan Metropolitan

Diocesan Metropolitan
From	Until	Metropolitan	Notes
1979	1997	H.G. Zachariah Mar Dionysius	Entombed at Mount Tabor Chapel, Pathanapuram
1997	2009	H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaios	Transferred to Kochi Diocese
2009	2022	H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros	Transferred to Kottayam Diocese
2022	Present	H.G Geevarghese Mar Philexinos

List of parishes in India

Andaman Nicobar

• St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Port Blair, Andamans, India
• St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Bettapur, Andamans, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Diglipur, Andamans, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Mannarghat, Andamans, India
• St. George Orthodox Church, Mayabunder, Andamans, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Rangat, Andamans, India
• St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, Kadamthala, Andamans, India

Tamilnadu

• St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Coimbatore, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Coonoor, India
• St. George Orthodox Church, Avadi, Chennai, India
• St. George Orthodox Church, Ramalingapuram, Chennai, India
• St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Broadway, Chennai, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Chetpet, Chennai, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Injambakkam, Chennai, India
• St. Peter's & St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Koyembedu, Chennai, India
• St. George Orthodox Church, Padi, Chennai, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Perambur, Chennai, India
• St. Thomas Mount Orthodox Church, Puzhuthivakkam, Chennai, India
• Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Tambaram, Chennai, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, India
• St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Madurai, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Mettupalayam, India
• St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Neyveli, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pollachi, India
• St. Antony's Orthodox Church, Pondichery, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Salem, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tirupur, India
• St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Tiruchirapalli, India
• St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Thiruvarambur, India
• St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Tuticorin, India
• St. Peter's Orthodox Church, Valparai, India
• St. Luke's Orthodox Church, Vellore, India
• Alvarez Mar Julius Orthodox center, Dindigul
• St John's Orthodox Tamil Church, Erode

Parishes in Srilanka

• St Thomas Orthodox Church, Jayapurm North,Kilinochi

External links

• Official website of Malankara Orthodox Church
• Official website of Madras Diocese