Heritage
he Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, was founded by St. Thomas, the Apostle of India, in the year 52 A.D. It is a member of the Oriental Orthodox Churches in the Christian World. The St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church is part of the Diocese of Madras of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
We are among the ancient Christian churches worldwide. In earlier times, the Archdeacon was the ruler and the head of the St. Thomas Christians. The church had relationships with the Church of the East during this time. In 1599, the Portuguese Padroado subjugated the Malankara Church at the Udayamperoor Synod. However, in 1653, the church reclaimed its autonomy by taking the Great Oath of Bent Cross at the Mattancherry church. Since then, Malankara Metropolitans, known as Mar Thoma and later as Mar Dionysius, have steadfastly led the church into the 20th century. In 1912, the Malankara Church established a Catholicate in India, fortifying its identity. The church upholds its distinctive Eastern ethos, Syriac Worship and Oriental Orthodox faith. H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, enthroned on the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas, provides leadership to the church from its headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam. The church has approximately 3.5 million members worldwide, organised into 30 dioceses, each overseen by a metropolitan.
As the diaspora expanded, the church formed the Madras Diocese in 1979, with its spiritual authority encompassing Tamil Nadu, Andaman Nicobar Islands, Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, and Singapore. Based in Chennai city, sanctified by the martyrdom of St. Thomas the Apostle, Metropolitan H.G. Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos shepherds the diocese currently. With church members migrating to cities in Australia, including Melbourne and Sydney, a need for spiritual nourishment arose.
In its early days, members gathered for prayer meetings. These gatherings later evolved into churches. In Sydney, they convened at the Sydney Cathedral for traditional worship. As the community grew, the need emerged for pastoral care in North and North-West Sydney, which led to the establishment of a second community in Sydney. On August 1, 2011, by Kalpana No. 114/2/2011, the community in North and North-West Sydney was initiated as a congregation by Metropolitan H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros in the name of St. Mary. NSW Fair Trading formally incorporated the congregation on August 15, 2011. On 4th September 2011, the first Holy Qurbana was celebrated. Recognising its growth and significance, the metropolitan issued Kalpana No. 85/2012, elevating it to a Parish on July 1, 2012. The first Vicar appointed for the Parish was Rev. Fr. Ferdinand Pathrose. Subsequently, the Parish Assembly adopted its constitution on October 28, 2012, shaping the governance of the community. Since then, various vicars led worship at West Epping Public School and ministered to the church.
The members diligently explored various properties to establish their church. Taking the initial step, on November 17, 2017, the parish acquired a piece of land in Riverstone. Their vision finally became a reality when the church at 35 Mid Dural Road, Galston, was purchased on August 21, 2023, under the leadership of Vicar Rev. Fr. Nikhil Alex Tharakan. Remodelling of the church building commenced on September 4, 2023. The wholehearted support of the late Very Rev. Thomas Thekkil Cor-Episcopa was a blessing during this period. On November 11, the interim sanctification of the church was held, with Very Rev. Fr. Thomas Varghese Cor-Episcopa leading the service. The parish joyfully celebrated its first Holy Qurbana in the newly renovated church on November 12, 2023. The guidance of the founder Metropolitan of the church, H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, has been an inspiration throughout this journey. On March 1 & 2, 2024, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Philoxenos, the Diocesan Metropolitan, consecrated the church at Galston, realising a long cherished dream for the clergy and the faithful alike. Our parish began with just four members, yet day by day, the Lord blessed us by adding to our numbers.
Mission and Vision
Our mission is to remain strong in our faith and to seek salvation. We are called to be the living presence of Jesus Christ and His Kingdom. While maintaining continuity with the living traditions of the Church, we seek to understand and address the issues which Orthodox Christians in the Asia Pacific region face in their daily lives. Through this he tries to affirm the existence of the seed of revelation in Christian cultures. We strive to understand and live out the will of God in our everyday lives through prayer and worship and to apply the teachings of our forefathers in the modern day world. so that the mission and ministry we undertake in Jesus’ name can make a real difference to the way in which people live their lives.
H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews III
The Ninth Catholicos of the East in Malankara (2021-Present)
His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III was enthroned as the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan on October 15, 2021. He is the 92nd Primate on the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas. Born on February 12, 1949, he pursued education in Chemistry at Kerala University and later studied theology in Russia and Rome, earning his MTh and PhD. Ordained as a deacon in 1976 and a priest in 1978, he became an Episcopa in 1991 and a metropolitan in 1993. His Holiness is a distinguished teacher, faculty member of the Orthodox Seminary, Kottayam, and a philanthropist dedicated to uplifting the poor, particularly women. He has authored devotional books in Malayalam and served as the secretary of the Holy Episcopal Synod.