St. George Orthodox Syrian Church , Nashik

Nasik is one of the most important cities of Northern Maharashtra. Nasik is known as the City of Pilgrimage, situated at a distance of 200 km from Mumbai (Bombay) as well as Pune. Nasik has a personality of its own due to its mythological, historical, social and cultural importance. Nasik is the grape city of India. A congregation was formed in 1953 at Deolali for Nasik, Ojhar and Deolali Malayalee Christians. As the strength of the Orthodox Christians increased, the "Holy Qurbana" was conducted on possible occasions. In the year 1983 some of the Orthodox believers took initiative to meet the Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese H. G. Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus, for the establishment of a parish at Nasik. The request was approved by the Metropolitan, and ordered under Kalpana No.32/83 on 30th September, 1983, declared the parish as "St. George Orthodox Church, Nasik”, and gave all recognition of a parish and appointed Rev. Fr. N. S. Varghese as the first Vicar of the parish. After a long period of almost 9 years, the dream of constructing a Church came true, when a plot of land of 602 sq. meters was purchased at Indira Nagar, Nasik. The foundation stone was laid on 22nd August 1993 by H.G. Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus, the then Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese, in the presence of H. G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos. It took about four years to complete the construction. With the persistent hard work, the consecration ceremony was conducted on 7th & 8th of September 1996 by His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathew II, assisted by Late Lamented H. G. Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus and H. G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos. A "Cross Voult", in the name of Mother Mary was consecrated by H. G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos on 7th September 1998. The hall and guest room were constructed on the first floor and consecrated on 1st May 2004 by H. G. Yuhanon Mar Militheos Metropolitan of Trichur Diocese. The Silver Jubilee of the Church was celebrated in year 2007-08, inaugurated by H. G Paulose Mar Milithius (Present H.H Catholicos of the East) on 29th April 2007. Various Jubilee Programmes were carried out, including Medical camp for the poor, marriage aid for the girls of poverty line, housing aid for the poor, pilgrimage to the tomb of Late Lamented Alvares Mar Julius at Goa, cultural events and Silver Jubilee Souvenir. Jubilee closing ceremony was led by Metropolitan H. G Thomas Mar Athanasius of the Diocese of Chenganoor. In 2012-1 3, the Church is celebrated its 30th year ( Pearl Jubilee) of establishment. The pearl Jubilee celebration of the Church was officially inaugurated by H. G. Geevarghese Mar Cooriloss, the Diocesan Metropolitan on 1st May 2010.Various activities including Marriage Aid for two poor girls, Educational scholarship for the poor and the needy students, blood donation and Medical Camps, Charitable Medical Clinic for the poor at Church premises, Publication of Church Directory, Public function with the cooperation of other sister churches at Nasik were conducted as part of Pearl Jubilee Celebrations. The Church took the initiative and purchased a flat as priest residence in the year 2016. At present the Parish is having 119 members. The Deolali St. Mary's Orthodox Church which was initially formed as a congregation in 1953 has now been merged with our Church on 2nd September 2017. Rev. Fr. N. S. Varghese, Rev. Fr. Jesudasan, Rev. Fr. Varghese Yohannan, Rev. Fr. P. C.Thomas, Rev. Fr. Jiji K. Thomas, Rev. Fr. Jose Chemmun. Rev. Fr. Dr. Shaji P. John, Rev. Fr. Thomas Myalil, Rev. Fr. Shaji Chacko, Rev. Fr. John Thomas, Rev. Fr. Thomas Philipose and Rev. Fr. Paul Mathew have served as vicars. Rev. Fr. Jose Issac is the present Vicar of this Parish.