Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America
The Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America, sometimes referred to as the Southwest Diocese or DS-WA is a diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The diocesan headquarter is located in Beasley, Texas[6] a suburban city in Texas 40 miles from downtown Houston. The Southwest Diocese covers several churches in the U.S. states, and Canada.[7]
Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America | |
---|---|
Abbreviation | DS-WA |
Primate | Paulose II[1] |
Metropolitan | Zacharias Mar Aprem[2] |
Language | Malayalam, English, Syriac, Hindi, Greek, Latin |
Liturgy | Malankara Rite |
Headquarters | Beasley, Texas[3] |
Territory | South West America |
Origin | 1 April 2009.[4] |
Recognition | Indian Orthodox Church |
Branched from | American Diocese |
Church buildings | 63 |
Tax status | [501(c)(3)][5] |
Official website | http://www.ds-wa.org/ |
Slogan | "Let your deeds glorify your Father in Heaven" |
![]() The Diocesan headquarter is located in Beasley, TX ![]() Jesus Christ Icon ![]() Theotokos Icon ![]() Forerunner St. John the Baptist |
History
American Diocese
The American Diocese was established in 1979 by Thomas Mar Makarios. In 1991, after the death of Makarios, Mathews Mar Barnabas was enthroned as metropolitan in 1993. In 2002 Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was appointed as the assistant metropolitan.
Formation of the Southwest Diocese
The Diocese was formed by order number 145/2009 signed by the then Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan, Didymus I on 1 April 2009.[8] [9] Mathews Mar Barnabas and Zachariah Mar Nicholovos were appointed to the Northeast American Diocese and Alexios Mar Eusebius was appointed the Southwest Diocese.
According to order number 01/2017,[10] Eusebius was relinquished of his administrative duties. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church regained control over the diocese and Zacharias Mar Aprem was appointed as assistant metropolitan.
Today
As of April 2020, there are currently 63 churches in the Southwest Diocese.[11]
Diocesan Metropolitan
Assistant metropolitan
Malankara metropolitan
List of Diocesan Metropolitan | |||
---|---|---|---|
Name | Start | End | Notes |
American Diocese Formed | |||
Thomas Mar Makarios | 1979 | 1991 | Founder and first Metropolitan of American Diocese [12] |
Mathews Mar Barnabas | 1993 | 2011 | Enthroned as the Second metropolitan of the American Diocese. The American Diocese split into the Northeast American Diocese and Southwest American Diocese in 2009[12] |
Southwest Diocese Formed | |||
Alexios Mar Eusebius | 2009 | 2017 | First Metropolitan of the current Southwest American Diocese. Relinquished of duties in 2017 |
Zacharias Mar Aprem | 2017 | Present | Acting Assistant Metropolitan of Southwest American Diocese as of 20 September 2017.[13] |
Current List of Churches
The Diocese of South-West America is zoned into five regions.[14]
Midwest
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Chicago (Elmhurst)
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Chicago(Bellwood)
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Chicago
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Chicago
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Detroit
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Detroit
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Detroit
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Saint Louis
- St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Cleveland
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Kansas City
- St. Thomas Orthodox Congregation, Iowa
- St. Mary's Congregation, Memphis
- St. Eprem's Indian Orthodox Congregation of Columbus
- St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Minnesota
Northwest
South
- St.Thomas Orthodox Church of India, Houston
- St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Houston
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Houston
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Houston
- St. Peter's and St.Paul's Orthodox Church, Houston
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church of India, Dallas (Carrollton)
- St. George Orthodox Church, Dallas
- St. Mary's Orthodox Valiyapally, Dallas
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Dallas
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Dallas
- St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Dallas
- St. James Orthodox Mission Church of Dallas
- St. George Orthodox Church, San Antonio
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, San Antonio
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Austin
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Lufkin
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, New Orleans
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Oklahoma City
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Denver
- St.Gregorios Orthodox Church, McAllen
Southeast
- St.Thomas Orthodox Church, Atlanta
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Atlanta
- St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Atlanta
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church South Florida (Oakland Park)
- St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Tampa
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of India, South Florida
- St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Orlando
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, South Florida (Hollywood)
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tampa (Wesley Chapel)
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Jacksonville
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Orlando
- St. Mary's Indian Orthodox Congregation of Southwest Florida
- St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Augusta
- St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Chattanooga
- St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Congregation, Charlotte
West
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Seattle
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Los Angeles
- St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Los Angeles
- St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, San Francisco
- St. Mary's Indian Orthodox Congregation, Santa Cruz
- St. George Orthodox Church, Sacramento
- St. Gregorios Orthodox, Church (Bellflower)
- St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Phoenix
- St. Mary's Orthodox Congregation, Las Vegas
- St. Mary's Orthodox Congregation, Santa Cruz
- St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Chapel (St.Thomas Los Angeles)
Liturgical Resource Development
![](../I/Mor_Ephrem_icon.jpg.webp)
Leaders
Director: Fr. Joel Mathew
Project Manager: Mr. Jobby Jacob
Treasurer: Mr. Jason Abraham
Other: Dn. Saju Varghese, Fr. Jake Kurian, Dn, Pradeep Hatcher[15]
Origin (2015)
The Ministry of Liturgical Resource Development was created by Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America (Kalpana) in July 2015 to promote the translation, versification, and publication of vital English liturgical resources.[16] As of 12 September 2017, Zacharias Mar Aprem has been the acting Assistant Metropolitan
2016
Shehimo - Book of Common Prayer - On the Feast of Theophany in 2016, the Liturgical Resource Development released a hard cover common prayer book.
2017
Service Book of the Holy Qurbono- On February 17, 2018, during the Holy Lent, it was announced that LRD begun printing and shipping the new multilingual Holy Qurbana Book (English, Malayalam and Malayalam transliteration) [17]
2018
2019
2020
LRD Mobile App - On 4 April 2020, the Liturgical Resource Development released a mobile app for people to download during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The app will be available in the Apple and Google Play stores.
New book covers - In August 2020, it was announced via email and Facebook that a new poly-cover replacement for the 16,000 LRD Service Book of the Holy Qurbono will be shipped out to parishes who previously ordered the books.
MGOCSM
Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement is one of the most dynamic spiritual organizations of our Church and it plays a crucial role in the nurturing of our youth for them to live in Christ our Lord.[18]
![](../I/MGOCSM_Logo.jpg.webp)
Leaders
- President: Zacharias Mar Aprem
- Director: Fr. James Cheriyan
- General Secretary: Mrs.Lijin Raju
- Joint Secretary: Ms.Christina Varghese
- Treasurer: Ms.Sophy Cherian[19]
Council Members
East Region – Atlanta area: Ms. Sheba Mathew
East Region – Florida area: Ms. Deepthi Varghese
Midwest Region – Chicago area: Mr. Roshen Samuel
Midwest Region – Detroit area: Mr. Alan Sam Jose
Northwest Region: Ms. Sneha Philip
South Region – Dallas area: Mr. Nimal Zachariah
South Region – Houston area: Ms. Deepti Kuriakose
West Region: Ms. Laveena Joy[20]
Campus ministry
On August 16, 2029, Aprem announced the formation of a new Diocesan-wide Campus Ministry Project.
Coordinators- Fr. Diju Skariah, Mr. Manoj Thomas and Mr. Selby Thomas[21]
Sunday school
![](../I/Christ_feeding_the_multitude.jpg.webp)
Mar Barnabas Educational Reward
The Mar Barnabas Educational Award was instituted by the diocese in 2011 for academic achievement with a commitment to the church.[22]
Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam
![](../I/Seattle_-_St._Paul's_Episcopal_-_icon_of_the_Virgin_Mary_(26003164963).jpg.webp)
Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam, abbreviated MMVS, was founded in 1928 in India. It was started under the patronage of Fr. M.C. Kuriakose Ramban and the leadership of K.M Annamma and co-workers.[23]
The motto of the organization is "Prarthikkuka, Pravarthikkuka, Prakasikkuka" (Pray, Act, Shine).[24]
2020 Diocesan Office Bearers
- Vice President: Rev. Fr. P.C. George
- General Secretary: Ms. Rupa Anna John
- Treasurer: Ms. Liz Philips
- Auditor: Ane Thomas[25]
- Regional Secretaries: Reena Varkey, Dr.Elizabeth John, Mariamma S. Thomas, Antu Reeba Sam, Elizabeth Tharakan, Robby Mathew, Viny Varghese, Litty Mathew[26]
Orthodox Christian Youth Movement
![](../I/By_the_hands_of_Christian_Tombiling_Christ_Emmanuel_Icon.jpg.webp)
Orthodox Christian Youth Movement, abbreviated OCYM, was founded in 1938 in India. It serves as a ministry to contribute to the goodness and progress of the Church and community in the three-fold path of worship, study and service[27]
References
- http://directory.mosc.in/bishops/?the-holy-synod=the-primate
- https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2017/09/19/orthodox-church-two-metropolitans.html#
- https://alma.app/charities/270960951-malankara-orthodox-syrian-church-diocese-of-south-west-america#28a7003c947cf1f76b2d26cc61114b71
- http://www.ds-wa.org/diocesan-admin/
- https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270960951
- "Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Diocese of South-West American". guidestar.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "Parishes." Diocese of South-West America. Retrieved on 27 October 2011.
- "AboutUS". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- "Diocese of South West America |". mosc.in. Retrieved 6 September 2020.
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (28 September 2017). "Kalpana No.01/2017" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
- http://directory.mosc.in/parishes/?diocese=1272
- "Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Northeast America", Wikipedia, 10 October 2019, retrieved 26 April 2020
- http://www.ds-wa.org/metropolitan/
- http://www.ds-wa.org/aboutus/
- Mar Eusebius, Alexios (24 July 2015). "DSWA/C/10/2015" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- http://www.ds-wa.org/about-liturgical-resource-development.html
- http://www.ds-wa.org/images/stories/kalpana/diocese/2018/No.%2020%202018%20LRD.pdf
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (7 October 2017). "No.03/2017" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "MGOCSM". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (25 April 2019). "No. 29/2019" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (16 August 2019). "No.59/2019" (PDF). DS-WA. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (24 August 2019). "No. 61 /2019" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
- "About Marth Mariam Samajam". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- http://stmarysorthodoxchurchny.org/ministries
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (28 December 2018). "No. 197/2018" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- Mar Aprem, Zacharias (8 February 2020). "No.19/2020" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
- "About OCYM". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
Further reading
Shehimo: Book of Common Prayer. (n.d.). (n.p.): Liturgical Resource Development.
Konat, J. A. (n.d.). Service Book of the Holy Qurbono: English with Commentary & Malayalam with Transliteration. (n.p.): Malankara Orthodox Church Publications.
Y. M. A., Irenaios, Y. M. (2017). A Study of the Experience of the Unspeakable and Its Manifestations in Selected Mystic Saints and Holy Persons in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. India: SFS Publications.
The Book of Common Prayer of the Syrian Church. (2005). United States: Gorgias Press.
Krikorian, M. K. (2010). Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: Christology in the Tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Austria: Peter Lang.