St. John's Orthodox Syrian Church , Andheri

Malankara Orthodox Syrian

Andheri, Maharashtra, India

St. John's Orthodox Syrian Church , Andheri


To fulfill the long cherished ambition of the members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church residing in and around Andheri, a congregation was formed by Kalpana No.T/M/88/78 of the then Metropolitan of Bombay H G Thomas Mar Makarios. Rev.Fr. K T Thomas celebrated Holy Qurbana in July 1978, for the first time in Andheri at the Industrial Gala of Shri Daniel Fernandes. In October 1979, the congregation was registered under Public Trust Act and Society's Act. The congregation was declared as a full-fledged Parish of Bombay Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church with effect from 18th Dec 1979 by the then Metropolitan of the Bombay Diocese H. G. Philipose Mar Theophilus by Kalpana No.48/79 and Rev. Fr. Thomas Kurien was appointed as the first vicar of the newly constituted Parish. In Feb 1980, Rev. Fr.M T Easow took charge as vicar and served the parish for a long period of 8 years. During his tenure, the membership swelled substantially, and this gave rise to the necessity of owning a church building.The parish had the privilege of the services of the vicars Rev.Fr.C J Varghese, Rev.Fr.P A Kuriakose, Rev.Fr.Skaria Varghese, Rev.Fr.Mathew Thannimoottil, Rev.Fr.Koshy Alex, Rev.Fr.Jacob Koshy, Rev.Fr.M S Geevarghese, Very Rev. Koshy Plammottil, Rev.Fr.Jacob Thomas, Rev Fr. Varghese Yohannan, Rev.Fr. Joemon Thomas is the present vicar. They all made ceaseless efforts to raise the funds for the purchase of a plot of land and to build a four floor church building at Kondivita, Andheri(E). In 1988, a residential flat was purchased at Marol for the use as parsonage.By the Grace of God, a land ad measuring, 11000 sq ft was purchased at Kondivitta in Feb 2002. The foundation stone for the church building was laid by H G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan of Bombay on 9th Jan, 2005. H G Thomas Mar Athanasius, Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese assisted by H G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Metroploitan of Bombay Diocese and a large of priests consecrated the newly build church on 5th and 6th June 2009. The Parish excels in its charitable activities to the society at large.The Parish runs a free Medical Centre which caters medical assistance to the economically weak and needy. The services of Dr. Phillip John MD and the staff members of the clinic are praiseworthy. All the Spiritual Organizations are well functioning in the Parish.