The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Malankara Church and the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous church based in Kerala, India. Part of Oriental Orthodoxy, it is one of the oldest Christian communities in Asia. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52. At least from the fourth century, the Indian Church entered into a close
relationship with the Persian or East Syrian Church. From the Persians, the Indians inherited The East Syrian language and liturgies, and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians. In the sixteenth century Roman Catholic missionaries came to Kerala. They tried to unite the Syrian Christians to the Roman Catholic Church and this led to a split in the community. Those who accepted Roman Catholicism are the present Syro-Malabar Catholics. Later, Western Protestant missionaries came to Kerala and worked among The Syrian Christians. This also created certain divisions in the community. In the seventeenth century, the Church came into relationship with the Antiochene Church, which again caused splits. As a result of this relationship, the Church received West Syrian liturgies and practices. The Church entered into a new phase of its history by the establishment of the Catholicate in 1912. At present, the Church is using the West Syrian liturgy. The faith of the Church is that which was established by the three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (A.D. 325), Constantinople (A.D. 381) and Ephesus (A.D. 431). The Church is in communion with the other Oriental Orthodox Churches namely, Syriac, Alexandrian, Armenian, Eritrean and Ethiopian Orthodox Churches. The Church is in good ecumenical relationship with the Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic and Protestant Churches. This Church now consists of about 2.5 million members, who are spread all over the world, though the majority reside in The state of Kerala in South West India. The Supreme Head of the Church and the present Catholicos is H.H. Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II. H.H:s residence and the Head-quarters of the Church is in Kottayam in the Kerala State of the South-West India. The Church as a whole is divided into 30 ecclesial units called dioceses and each diocese is served by a bishop, administratively and spiritually. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Minnesota is a parish under the Diocese of Southwest America. The diocesan headquarters is located in Beasley, Texas a suburban city, 40 miles from downtown Houston, Texas. The Southwest Diocese covers several churches in the U.S. states, and Canada. Considering the spiritual life, sacramental needs and pastoral guidance of Malankara Orthodox families in Minnesota and the neighborhood, with the permission and blessings of His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan who is also the Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America, His Grace Dr. Zacharias Mar Aprem, the Assistant Metropolitan of the diocese declared St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church of Minnesota, as a parish of the Diocese of South-West America effective from the day of the Feast of Holy Apostles St. Peter & St. Paul (June 29), 2020 as per the Kalpana No. 38/202. The spiritual and temporal matters of this parish shall be governed as per the Canon and constitution (1934) of the Malankara Orthodox Church under the supervision of the Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America. Bijoy Sakhariah (Urshlem Aramana, 3101 Hopkins Road, Beasley, TX 77417) was appointed as the first Vicar of the Parish. On July 23rd, 2020 during the clergy meeting, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan who is also the Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America, publicly announced the formation of our parish.
