The Diocese of Madras is one of the 32 dioceses of the Indian Orthodox Church with its headquarters at Chennai.
History H.G Kayalath Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius was the first Diocesan Metropolitan. He became the Metropolitan of the newly formed Calcutta diocese in 1979 which was bifurcated from the diocese.
Today The present diocese was formed on 1979 and the Diocesan Metropolitan was the late H.G. Zachariah Mar Dionysius. Diocese of Madras includes the territorial area of Tamil Nadu, and Andaman Islands in India, and Sri Lanka
Since the demise of H.G. Mar Dionysius in 1997, H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaios Metropolitan led the diocese. The Diocese celebrated its Silver Jubilee in 2004 and launched several charitable and social development programmes. Territorial and institutional growth caused the Diocese to be divided into three Madras, Bangalore and Brahmavar Dioceses. The diocese has 64 independent parishes and many more congregations including 9 cathedrals. Sixty-five priests serve the parishioners, including 6 Cor-episcopas, 1 Cor-episcopa ramban, 4 rambans, and 4 retirees.
The diocese has a charitable institution called Snehabhavan, which is a guidance centre for patients undergoing treatment in Christian Medical College, Vellore.
This diocese includes non-Malayalee communities consisting of Tamil Christians with Tamil Priests, worshiping in Tamil language in Salem, Dindigul and Sri Lanka. The diocese also runs 2 guesthouses in Chennai city for youngsters who came to study as well as work.
Diocesan Metropolitan Diocesan Metropolitan From Until Metropolitan Notes 1979 1997 H.G. Zachariah Mar Dionysius Entombed at Mount Tabor Chapel, Pathanapuram 1997 2009 H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenaios Transferred to Kochi Diocese 2009 2022 H.G. Dr. Yuhanon Mar DioscorosTransferred to Kottayam Diocese 2022 PresentH.G Geevarghese Mar Philexinos
List of parishes in India Andaman Nicobar St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Port Blair, Andamans, India St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Bettapur, Andamans, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Diglipur, Andamans, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Mannarghat, Andamans, India St. George Orthodox Church, Mayabunder, Andamans, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Rangat, Andamans, India St. Dionysius Orthodox Church, Kadamthala, Andamans, India
Tamilnadu St. Mary's Orthodox Cathedral, Coimbatore, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Coonoor, India St. George Orthodox Church, Avadi, Chennai, India St. George Orthodox Church, Ramalingapuram, Chennai, India St. Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Broadway, Chennai, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Chetpet, Chennai, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Injambakkam, Chennai, India St. Peter's & St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Koyembedu, Chennai, India St. George Orthodox Church, Padi, Chennai, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Perambur, Chennai, India St. Thomas Mount Orthodox Church, Puzhuthivakkam, Chennai, India Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church, Tambaram, Chennai, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tiruvottiyur, Chennai, India St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Madurai, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Mettupalayam, India St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Neyveli, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Pollachi, India St. Antony's Orthodox Church, Pondichery, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Salem, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tirupur, India St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Tiruchirapalli, India St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Thiruvarambur, India St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Tuticorin, India St. Peter's Orthodox Church, Valparai, India St. Luke's Orthodox Church, Vellore, India Alvarez Mar Julius Orthodox center, Dindigul St John's Orthodox Tamil Church, Erode
Parishes in Srilanka St Thomas Orthodox Church, Jayapurm North, Kilinochi
External links Official website of Malankara Orthodox Church Official website of Madras Diocese