Recent Visit

Rev Aby M Thomas Tharakan has joined the Student Ministry in Chennai to work with Rev. Ranji Varghese. Aby achen is staying at Sriprermbattur. His cell no: 09940226274. He is covering the areas from Sri Prumbattur to North Madars, reaching out institutions like Rajiv Gandhi Eng college , Alpha Eng college, Alpha arts and Science College, W C C and Madras School of Social work.

The Prathinithi Sabha Mandalam of the Mar Thoma Church( Highest Representative Body) met at Tiruvalla from August 28th to 30th . It was the annual meeting of the Church and transacted Annual Report, Accounts and the budget for the New Year. A special meeting considered the amendments in the Sabha Constitution. For details please visit the Church Web Site.

Holy Communion service was conducted on August 29th by his Lordship the Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragon Metropolitan whose Birthday was also celebrated by the Church on the same day. Achens who retired from active service during the years were also honoured.

It came as a surprise and shock when our Metropolitan Chrysostom Tirumeni announced in the Mandalam after his presidential address that he is retiring form active service form October 1, 2007. The Episcopal Synod and the Sabha Council considered the decision of the Metropolitan and requested the Senior Suffragon Metropolitan Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Ireneus to take charge. The installation service will take place at Tiruvalla on October 2nd . The present Metropolitan will become the Valia Metropolitan and Will stay at the Jubilee Home, Maramon. The new phone number at Maramaon is 0468-2211210.

New Achen to the Diocese

Rev . Santhosh Joseph and Jeena have joined as the Madras Mar Thoma Church Chetpet to work with Rev. Dr. G Varghese in place of Rev. Aby M Thomas Tharakan. The mobile No: 09962338812. Achen is a graduate from Leonard Theological College, Jabalpur. Hearty Welcome.

The Episcopal Synod has considered the request of our members and approved the following Worshipping Communities as Parishes.

Foundation Stone was laid by the Diocesan Episcopa to construct facilities for women empowerment programme in Kolar District, particularly the widows in and around Sidhilaghatta. This is a programme launched by the Karnataka Navajeevana Samithi jointly with the Mar Thoma Parishes. A Boys’ hostel will also be constructed to render educational assistance for children not supported by the parents and relatives.

20 Clergy from all the parishes and mission fields in Bangalore region extending up to Mysore and Harihar assembled for one day conference at Marathahalli, Bangalore. Rev. John Geevarghese led the devotion and the Diocesan Episcopa presided over the sessions. St Thomas Mar Thoma parish Marathahalli made all the arrangements.

A mission tour was organized by the diocesan Seviaka Sangham to Hoobli and Mundugodu Mission fields. The Diocesan Episcopa and Rev. C. K. Titus, Hebbal gave leadership. The group participated in the Independence Day celebration with the children in Mundugod. This was followed by a one day conference for the members of the church at the Mar Thoma Parish Mundugodu. The team then visited different regions of the mission area and concluded with an evening service at Mar Thoma parish, Koppam. The Mar Thoma Congregation Hubli was helpful in arranging the food and local transportation for the team.

Port Blair & Rangat, two T-Sunami hit areas of Andaman nickobar islands saw the resurrection of two worship places consecrated by the Diocesan Episcopa in the first week of March 2007. The members of the church rose to the occasion to construct two beautiful worship places.

Hutbay is a mission field of the diocese were we have an evangelist and a very few members. The place of worship was brought down by the tidal waves of Tsunami. They need the help of all the philanthropists to complete a new place of worship before March 2008.

Bishop Mar Theodosius visited the Marthoma parish, Doha. The youth group there is planning to support one student’s Chaplain in Chennai – Bangalore Diocese. At present there are 12 chaplains in the diocese.

The Marthoma parish Hunslow, England did not forget to review their sponsorship to support an evangelist of the Diocese. Hope all the sponsors will continue their support this year. The Diocese will add at least 4 more this year. We need new sponsors.

Mar Theodosius renewed his friendship by visiting his old parishes of Toronto, Canada in the month of March, were he was the Vicar formerly.

Mar Theodosius visited Calcutta parish on Easter Sunday. They enjoyed the love and fellowship of their former Vicar. Friendship is a gift of God.

Mar Theodosius celebrated Holy Communion on Maundy Thursday at Pondicherry and Avadi in the Diocese. Think of the privilege of Avadi Parish to have the Diocesan Episcopa sipping Kanji on Good Friday

The e-ministry of Chennai Bangalore diocese is moving on to more action oriented programs. Bangalore came up with Darshan - 2007 on 15^th April 2007. Koinonia in Tumkur is following the Good news is that both the groups of Chennai - Bangalore raised an amount for the education of less privileged children. Let right vision lead them to Good works.

The Mar Thoma Students' Conference was held at Charalmount, Kerala from 16th to 19th May 2007. The Metropolitan Tirumeni, Other Bishops of the Church, Rev. Dr. Valsan Thampu and Rev. A. T. Zachariah gave leadership on the theme "Life: For What?"

This was hosted by Chengannoor Centre. 150 delegates attended. The next Conference is proposed at Bombay. The centenary year of the Students' Conference will begin in 2009 with the year’s conference at Eranakulam and culminating in the Conference at Tiruvalla in 2010. The proposed centenary project is strengthening the ministry among Students by capacity building and providing necessary accessories, so as to spread the ministry among students in various regions, particularly in cities and towns of India.

Rev. V. M. Mathew got transferred to Baderi, Wayanad on May 1st 2007. He played a great role in having a Youth Centre for our church at Bangalore. Rev. George John from Adoor has joined the Youth Centre as the Asst. Secretary of the M.T. Yuvajana Sakhyam. Let us remember him in our prayers. Rev. & Mrs. John Geevarghese are staying at Youth Centre along wih Rev. George John

Mar Thoma Church organized a felicitation meeting to celebrate the birthday of our Metropolitan who turned to 90 years on April 27th. It was well organized and well attended. Chennai – Bangalore Diocese will organize felicitation meetings in the Diocesan area during the year. The year-long felicitation will be marked by the construction of 1500 houses in the Church. Our diocese will be attempting 85 houses by spending at least Rs.60,000/- each

Navathy Programmes to honor our Metropolitan were held at Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia, May 27 and Singapore on June 3rd, 2007. It gave an opportunity for other Church and secular leaders to meet Tirumeni and facilitate them. Dr. Robert Solomon, Bishop of the Methodist Church in Singapore and a former Speaker at the Maramon Convention invited Tirumeni and Diocesan Episcopa for Tea and expressed his love towards the Church leaders and the possibility of working together for a common cause. Metropolitan Tirumeni returned to Poolatheen, Tiruvalla after 12 days visit to both the countries

The Diocesan Youth conference of the year was organized by the Mysore Youth Group on the last week of April. Our bishop, Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos the Diocesan Episcopa and Rev. Dr. Joe Joseph gave leadership. About 250 youth from different parishes of the Diocese participated. The student’s Chaplains were also present to lead and guide the delegates. The next conference in 2008 will be in Chennai Centre.

Karnataka Mission Board (KMB) of the Diocese organized a training conference for the evangelists in Karnataka State. 125 evangelists attended the conference conducted at Ecumenical Christian Centre (ECC), Bangalore. The Diocesan Episcopa inaugurated the conference, Rev. Dr. Mani Chacko, Director of ECC, gave the Key-note address as the Theme: “Life in Christ”

Rev. K. E. Geevarghese took the Bible Study Classes. All these evangelists had their basic training at our Institute at Hoskote and Kompadi (Tiruvalla). They are now supported by the Diocese and the Evangelic Association. The evangelists are also given in-service course every year. This year the KMB organized to print and release Sunday School Books in Kannada. Each book costs Rs.30/-. These books made available for 2000 Children. It will be helpful if well-wishers come forward to meet the expenses. Please contact for details.

Attended the Board meeting of the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Whitefield in June. Decided to have the Annual day and Rev. M. A. Thomas memorial lecture on 21st July 2007, beginning with a Holy Qurbana Service (Mar Thoma Service). Swami Agnivesh will be Chief Guest to deliver the memorial lecture.

Attended the Council meeting of the Christian Medical College, Velloore on the last week of June. CMC is in the process of buying 100 acres of land near the 4 lane highway to have all the speciality centres at the new site. Mar Thoma Church has expressed the desire to open another Guidance Centre in vicinity of the new area. The already existing Guidance Centre is well known to the public and has a good reputation. Rev. Santhosh Thomas is in charge of this ministry.

The Mar Thoma parishes in Bangalore Centre met on 1st July and considered the possibility of expanding the facilities at the Mar Thoma Centre, Beersandra. This is a place near the new Air Port of Bangalore at Devanahally. The project is to make the centre a camp site and a place for organising community activities in the neighbourhood. Friends and well wishers are requested to visit this place.

Visited the Dhrama Jyothi Institute, Faridabad near Delhi to deliver the Easow Mar Timotheos Memorial Lecture on 4th July 2007. The first batch of students from the institute will come out for the Mission Work in 2008. Rev. Dr. V. S. Varghese is the Principal.

The Chennai – Bangalore Diocesan Assembly met at the Madras Mar Thoma Church on 11th July 2007. The meeting considered the possibility of starting a Students’ Centre at Padi in Chennai. It further resolved to develop the mission centre at Mydakur in Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh.

Rev. Dr. M. A. Thomas Memorial Lecture was conducted at the Ecumenical Christian Centre, Whitefield on Saturday, July 21, ‘07. The day started with a Holy Qurbana according to the Mar Thoma Order (St. James Liturgy), celebrated by the Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Thoedosius. The memorial lecture of the year was given by Swami Agnivesh on the topic ‘Religion and Challenges for Social Transformation’.

This was followed by the Annual General Body meeting, where the Executive Committee members were elected.

The Diocesan Annual Clergy Conference was conducted at EUSI Camp Centre, Kotagiri near Ootty from July 24th to 26th. 60 members of the clergy from all the three language areas of Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Tamilnadu attended the conference. ‘Ministry and Mission in the changing world’ was the theme. The leaders were mainly Dr. George Zachariah and the Diocesan Bishop. (Visit the Photo gallery)

Along with the visit to the Mission Centres two new places of worship were consecrated in the Rayalseema region of Andhra Pradesh by the Diocesan Episcopa. One was at Bethvel for the believers of the Chagalamari Mission. And the other was at Gajulappally of the Gajulappally Mission. Church members from three parishes in Trivandrum attended the functions and visited the Mission Fields. Tirumeni visited the mission centres at Mydakoor, Yerraguntala, Chagalamari, Narasapur and Gajulappally. This being the rainy season in India, Tirumeni took initiatives in planting trees at different places. The clergy in Rayalseema area came together for a meeting at Narasapur.

A two day conference was held at Nalloore, Pollachi on August 7 and 8 for all the evangelists working in different areas of Tamil Nadu from Dindigal to Pondichery. The Dicoesan Episcopa gave leadership. 35 evangelists and 6 missionary Achans found time to come for a fellowship, study and evaluate the mission work. Mrs. Shirly Thomas took classes on AIDS Awareness programme and discussed the possibilities of starting a Day Care Centres or Rehabilitation Centres for infected or affected children in Tamil speaking areas.

As the Navathy Home Project is progressing in the Diocese 14 families are given 5 cents of land so that they too can house along with other deserving families. This is in an area called Karivamkulam near Palani in Tamilnadu. The foundation stone for one of such houses was laid by the Diocesan Episcopa on August 8, ’07.

There is a tribal group at Thamampathi near Pollachi, Tamilnadu. The Diocese is engaged in teaching the children. Pollachi Mission is carrying out medical camp for the Tribals. The Diocesan Bishop laid the foundation stone to have a resource centre to conduct various projects aimed at the welfare and development of the people.

The Bangalore Centre Mar Thoma Convention was held from 24th to 27th January 2008. The Diocesan Episcopa inaugurated the annual convention on Thursday 24th January at the Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church, Hebbal. There were meetings on Friday and Saturday evenings at the Bangalore East Mar Thoma Church and Primrose Road Mar Thoma Church respectively. The concluding session of the convention was held at the Bangalore Mar Thoma Centre, Beerasandra on Sunday 27th January 2008. The day’s programme commenced with the Holy Communion led by the Diocesan Episcopa. Achens and believers from all parishes in Bangalore and mission centers attended the same. Mr. John Raju was the main speaker at this year’s convention.

The 11th Anniversary of the Bangalore Mar Thoma Centre was held at Beerasandra on 27th January 2008. The celebrations started with the Holy Communion service led by the Diocesan Episcopa. The twin quarters constructed by the Bangalore East Mar Thoma Church was dedicated on the same day. Also on the occasion, Tirumeni laid the foundation stone for another set of twin quarters, to be built by Mar Thoma Church, Jalahalli.

The anniversary meeting was presided over by the Diocesan Episcopa. Rev. K. Y. Jacob welcomed the gathering and Rev. Shibu Kurian extended vote of thanks. Secretary Mr. Varghese George presented the annual report. In his presidential address, Tirumeni declared 2008 – 2009 as the Mar Thoma Centre year for the Bangalore parishes. The anniversary programme was well attended by Achens and believers from Bangalore and mission centers of the region.

The Diocesan Episcopa dedicated the newly constructed place of worship place at Beerasandra on 27th January 2008. This was constructed by the Karnataka Nava Jeevana Samithi of Chennai – Bangalore Diocese.