alyan – the place which is blessed by the footprint of St. Thomas, the holy disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ is located at the suburbs of Maharashtra. The city is divided between Kalyan East and Kalyan West and is inhabited by the orthodox Christians since more than last eight decades.
The orthodox Christians from Kalyan and its surrounding area had to rely on St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Dadar, the only Orthodox Church in Mumbai. Later on, with the establishment of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kalyan (West) was a great relief not only for the people of Kalyan but also for the people residing from Mumbai to Ambernath. More than the financial benefit and ease of travel, it was the drive of the earlier generation to have a place of worship in their own locality for the benefit of their children and youngsters. The strong desire of the people led to establishment of churches in Dombivali, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath. The latest of this chain is St. George Orthodox Church, Kalyan -East.
Mumbai Diocesan Metropolitan the late lamented H. G Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus, was always eager to establish more and more churches in the diocese. The zeal for establishing another church led to issue of the decree in April 1993 through Fr.N. S Varghese, the then Vicar of St. Thomas Orthodox Church Kalyan. The decree was on the announcement of the establishment of St. George Orthodox Sunday School, Kalyan (E). His grace gave his consent to conduct Holy Qurbana on the third Sunday of every month.