About
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was established by St. Thomas in A.D. 52 and has since grown close with the Persian or East Syrian Church, taking on their language and liturgy. When Roman Catholic missionaries arrived in Kerala in the 16th century, it led to division among the community as some chose Catholicism while others remained true to their faith. Protestant Western missionaries also caused divisions amongst them, but a link with the Antiochene Church allowed them to adopt West Syrian rituals and practises; this connection eventually led to the creation of a Catholicate in 1912 which still stands today. The Church is now connected ecumenically with Eastern Orthodox, Roman Catholic, and Protestant Churches worldwide and has over 2 million adherents across 30 dioceses
Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the current Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, is its primate. He was born on February 12, 1949. In St. Peter and St. Paul's Church in Parumala, he was installed as the 9th Catholicos on October 15, 2021, replacing Baselios Marthoma Paulose II as the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan on October 14, 2021.
His Grace The Diocese of South-West America has chosen Thomas Mar Ivanios Metropolitan to serve as its new Diocesan Metropolitan. Please remember His Grace in your prayers.