History

The Malankara MarThoma Syrian Church, according to strong tradition, was set up by St.Thomas, an Apostle of Christ on his visit in India in AD 52 . The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is Apostolic in origin, Universal in nature, Biblical in faith, Evangelical in principle, Ecumenical in outlook, Oriental in worship, Democratic in function and Episcopal in character. Some of its salient features are the strong Biblical emphasis, evangelical outlook, missionary zeal, theological concerns, and social commitments. Being an indigenous national church it is autonomous, self-supporting and self-propagating.Thus, our church rightly derived its name, The Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar with such a rich legacy behind it. Later the name Malabar was substituted by Malankara, meaning Kerala, to encompass the whole of the State. The motto of the Church is “Lighted To Lighten”. The Mar Thoma Church has a global Church having its presence. It is present in every continent through its 13 Diocese which include 1237 parishes and congregations. The church is served by about 1176 clergymen who minister to the needs, spiritual and otherwise, of the laity which number approximately 1.6 million members. The Church has its headquarter at Thiruvalla in Kerala, India. We are led by 9 Bishops under the leadership of the Most Rev. Dr. Theodosius Mar Thoma Metropolitan who is the 22nd Malankara Metropolitan to occupy the Holy Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas. The Malankara Sabha Tharaka serves as the official organ of the Mar Thoma Church. The faithful community natured and nourished with through various organizations like the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (set up in 1888),the Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam (1905) , The Mar Thoma Suvishesha Sevika Sanghom (1919), The Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association(1924), The Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam (1933) The Mar Thoma Students conference (1910) and the Department of Sacred Music and Communications(1969) are among the prominent organs of the Church. The Maramon Convention, the annual spiritual meet organized by the Mar Thoma Church on the banks of the River Pamba, Kozhencherry near the Church’s headquarters is acclaimed as one of the largest Christian gatherings in the world. Through the centuries, the Mar Thoma church has always engaged in social, political, and religious issues which affects the people, and has overcome great trials and tribulations, since its infancy, while staying true to its calling, faith and heritage, ever upholding, its Motto: Lighted To Lighten.