St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian Church , Ahmed Nagar

A Brief History of St Mary’s Orthodox Church, Ahmed Nagar On 22nd July 1978- Members of Kerala Christian Community formed a congregation in the name of St. Mary and conducted separate worship in the CNI Church, Ahmednagar . On 10th September 1978- Orthodox Christians separately conducted a General body meeting under the Presidentship of Rev. Fr. Thomas Kurian and he celebrated the first Holy Qurbana in St John’s Roman Catholic Church, Ahmendnagar. From 1978 to 1988 regular services of the Orthodox and Marthoma rites had been conducted alternatively and members of both Churches were participated the services. On 2nd October 1998, the constituents’ partners of the St Mary’s Christian Congregation decided to have their own independent Churches and separated and hence dissolved the St Mary’s Christian Congregation and continued to conduct their worship separately. A plot was jointly owned by Mr. Peter Kurian and Mr. Thomas Mammen sold, and the amount got utilized for purchasing a plot for Orthodox Church at Bhingar, Ahmed Nagar. The construction of an independent Church was a milestone in the history of the Orthodox Christians in Ahmed Nagar. This dream came to completion when the foundation stone was blessed by H.G. Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus the then Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese on 15th August 1995 and the same stone were handed over to Rev. Fr.Jacob Koshy. The construction of the Church was completed within two years under the leadership of the then vicar Fr. Jacob Koshy. With the blessings and consent of H.G. H.G.Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus, Rev. Fr.Jacob Koshy, visited different parishes of Mumbai Diocese and collected a substantial fund for the Church construction. On 29th and 30th November 1997, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos Metropolitan, consecrated the new Church. So far there were 12 priests served this Church as vicars from 1978- 2012. From 2012 Rev. Fr. Yohannan K. STOTS, Nagapur, is serving as the vicar of this parish. This Parish is having 11 families, covering the area of 80 kilometres and having Sunday service once in a month. Parish Feast is conducting on every year August 15. We the Managing Committee and Members of the Parish are grateful to these shepherds who strived hard for upbringing of our parish. (updated by Achen)