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Malankara orthodox church members in
the city of Philadelphia were worshipping with other Christians from
Kerala. In 1976, in a meeting at the residence of Dr. M. Koshy, Orthodox
Christians in the city decided to start an independent congregation.
Rev. Fr. K. Mathai (presently Very Rev. K. Mathai Cor-Episcopa) was the
first vicar.
In 1979 Another Orthodox congregation namely, St. Mary's Orthodox Church
was formed. In 1979 services of Rev. Fr. T. A. Thomas was received by
the parish. In 1984 one more congregation with the name St. Gregorios
Orthodox Church came into existence. At that time St. Thomas
congregation received service from Rev. Dr. K. C. Mathews for a short
while. Afterwards series of priests served the parish namely Rev. Fr. K.
G. Philipose, Rev. Fr. M. T. Kurian, Rev. Dr. Joy Pyngolil, Rev. Fr.
Varghese Clery, Rev. Dr. M. K. Thomas, Rev. Dr. K. K. Kuriakose and Rev.
Fr. P. S. Samuel (presently Very Rev. P. S. Samuel Cor-Episcopa).
From 1984 Very Rev. P. S. Samuel Cor-Episcopa served the parish as
Vicar. During this time the parish received temporary assistance from
Rev. Fr. Alexander Kurian, Rev. Dr. John Mathews and Rev. Fr. P. M.
Cherian. During this period the parish collaborated with St. Thomas
Christian Center Inc. and worked together to build a church on Masher
Street. However, this collaboration did not live long.
In 1995 the parish left the collaboration as both the incorporations
could not survive side by side. Thus the parish moved out of the
premises on Mascher Street. On February 18, 1996 the parish started
worshipping at the Cardinal Dougherty High School chapel with Rev. Fr.
M. K. Kuriakose as the Vicar. Martha Mariam Samajam, Youth League, Mar
Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement, Sunday School and regular
weekly prayer meetings are functioning in the parish. Joint Orthodox
Convention, Joint Orthodox OVBS and Ecumenical Fellowship of Indian
Churches in Philadelphia are the local organizations in which the St.
Thomas Orthodox parish actively participates.
In 2004, on September 28th, the church purchased the facility, located
in Northeast Philadelphia, in which they now worship. |
