MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH

The Malankara Orthodox Church in India is an ancient church in the world, whose history is traced back to the first century of Christian era. It is traditionally believed that the Malankara Orthodox Church in India was founded in 52 AD by St.Thomas, one of the twelve Apostles of Christ, in the South Western parts of the Indian sub-continent. Historians testify that, while the light of Christianity was not dawned in some of the countries in western hemisphere, India had witnessed the origin and spread of Christianity in its soil. The Malankara Orthodox Church in India is one among the family of the ‘Five Oriental Orthodox Churches’ - Armenian, Coptic, Ethiopian, Syrian and Indian Orthodox Churches. The Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, Antiochian, Alexandrian, Armenian and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches all of which uphold the pre-Chalcedonic Christology. The Church is in good ecumenical relationship with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches.

The supreme head of the Malankara Orthodox Church in India is Catholicos who is also entrusted with the title of Malankara Metropolitan having authority over the churches and property. The current Catholicos cum Malankara Metropolitan is His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II. Currently there are 30 dioceses including the American Dioceses(2) altogether for the Malankara Orthodox Church in India.

The Malankara Orthodox Church in India has its headquarters located at the Catholicate Palace, Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala, India, which is the Central Secretariat of the Church. Catholicos and the assistant Catholicos reside here and the central administrative offices are in function from the Catholicate Palace. Office of the Holy Episcopal Synod, Office of the Corporate Management of Church Institutions, Offices of the Church Publications, Office of the Orthodox Syrian Sunday School Association and Catholicate Press are situated in premises of Devalokam. The mortal remains of three of the former Catholicoses are entombed here in the Catholicate Chapel, His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II, His Holiness Baselios Augen I and His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews I. A portion of the sacred relics of Apostle St. Thomas is also consecrated here.

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OUR CHURCH

CONTENTS

                                  1. Malankara Orthodox Church

                                  2. St. Mary Mother Of God

                                  3. Apostle Of India

                                  4. Origin of Christianity in India By: V. Rev. K. Mathai Cor-Episcopa

                                  5. Catholicose