Mar Diascoros dream of having an Orthodox church at St Thomas Mount to be a reality soon

CHENNAI, India: A long-felt need of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox church faithful will soon be realized with the completion of the new Orthodox Church at St Thomas Mount. The construction of the church is presently in its final stages.

For the faithful of Indian (Malankara) Orthodox Church who are the apostolic successors of St Thomas, the founder of the Indian church, this will be the realisation of a long felt dream.

St Thomas Mount is the place where the Apostle St Thomas was martyred and in Mylapore his body is entombed. St Thomas Mount or Parangimalai is a small hillock located in Chennai, Tamil Nadu. Orthodox Christians of India trace the origin of their church to the Apostle, understood to have attained martyrdom in Chennai.

The new church at St Thomas Mount after completion will be consecrated by HH Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.

HG Dr Yuhanon Mar Diascoros, Metropolitan, Chennai Diocese, says after the consecration of the St Thomas Mount Church, we are also planning to purchase a plot of land at Mylapore and construct a church there later. Mylapore presently has the San Thome Basilica, which is a major pilgrimage center for Christians in India.

The St Thomas Mount project is a pet one for Dr Mar Diascoros as Madras Diocese Metropolitan. It was the Metropolitan’s vision to have an Orthodox church and a center completed during his tenure.

Dr Mar Diascoros says St Thomas Mount being the site where the apostle attained martyrdom it was necessary to have a church of our own. The Orthodox faithful from India and abroad who visited this national shrine had felt the urgent need to have a place of worship. This long time necessity will soon be realized with the completion and consecration of the church.

Presently, the faithful visit the Roman Catholic national shrine and offer their prayers. But with the completion of an Orthodox church, it will be long felt realisation of dreams, said Dr Mar Diascoros, during his recent visit to Muscat Mar Gregorios Maha Edavaka as the chief celebrant for the Holy Passion Week. The construction is fully sponsored by Madras Saint Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Broadway.

The faithful willing to help regarding the St Thomas Mount church and other Chennai Diocese projects may contact:

HG Dr Yuhanon Mar Diascoros directly on his mobile at
91-979-102-0730
Payments may be sent in the name of Dr Mar Diascoros to:
Madras Federal Bank A/C # 12330100138897
IFSC FDRL 0001233
Chennai, Ram Nagar Branch
Chennai