The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC) also known as the Indian Orthodox Church (IOC) or simply as the Malankara Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church headquartered in Devalokam, near Kottayam, India. The church serves India's Saint Thomas Christian (also known as Nasrani) population. According to tradition, these communities originated in the missions of Thomas the Apostle in the 1st century (circa 52 AD).The Encyclopedia of Christianity, Volume 5 by Erwin Fahlbusch. Wm. B. Eerdmans Publishing – 2008. p. 285. . It employs the Malankara Rite, an Indian form of the West Syriac liturgical rite.
The MOSC descends from the Malankara Church and its affiliation with the Syriac Orthodox Church. However, between 1909 and 1912, a schism over the authority of the Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch's authority resulted in the dissolution of the unified Malankara Church and establishment of the overlapping and conflicting MOSC and Jacobite Syrian Christian Church (JSCC). Since 1912, the MOSC has maintained a catholicate, the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan–presently Baselios Marthoma Mathews III–who is the primate of the church. The MOSC drafted and formally adopted a constitution in 1934, wherein the church formally declared the Malankara Metropolitan and the Catholicos of the East as one. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church asserts communion with the other Oriental Orthodox churches. However, regular legal and occasional physical confrontations between the MOSC and the Syriac Orthodox JSCC have continued despite multiple efforts to reconcile the churches.
List of presidents and managers of Malankara Orthodox Church
This is the list of appointments of new presidents and managers of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church as follows, in place of the outgoing presidents and managers of various organizations of our Holy Church, as determined by the Holy Episcopal Synod held at the Catholicate Aramana, Devalokam - Kottayam.
Sl. No Name Position Links1 H.G Thomas Mar Athanasius Governing Board Member, OTS Kottayam 2 H.G Yuhanon Mar Meletius Representative to UTC, Bangalore 3 H.G Geevarghese Mar Coorilose President, The Servants of the Cross, President, Ministry of Human Empowerment & Representative to CMC Ludhiana 4 H.G Zachariah Mar Nicholovos Vice President, Inter-Church Relations Department & President, Rule Committee 5 H.G Dr. Yakob Mar Irenios President, MOC Publications, President, Divyabodhanam & Representative to CASA 6 H.G Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios Manager, Catholicate & MD Corporate Schools & President, Mission Board 7 H.G Dr. Yuhanon Mar Chrysostamos Secretary, Holy Episcopal Synod, Representative to Working Committee & President, MDCC Sub Committee 8 H.G Yuhanon Mar Policarpos President, Marriage Assistance Scheme & President, Church Finance Committee 9 H.G Mathews Mar Theodosius President, Akhila Malankara Prayer Group Association 10 H.G Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius President, Sunday School-Bala Samajam & President, Ecological Commission 11 H.G Abraham Mar Epiphanios President, House Building Assistance Scheme 12 H.G Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios Vice President, OTS Kottayam, President, Vaidika Sanghom - Baskiyomo Association & Vice President, Ecumenical Relations Department 13 H.G Alexios Mar Eusebios Vice President, STOTS Nagpur 14 H.G Dr. Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros President, Marth Mariam Samajam-Navjyothi MOMS, President, Malankara Sabha Monthly, President, PR Department-Media Wing Manager, MMC Schools & Representative to CMC Vellore 15 H.G Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios President, Ecumenical Relations Department, President, Sunday school OKR & Representative to CMC Ludhiana 16 H.G Dr. Yuhanon Mar Thevodoros President, Akhila Malankara Orthodox Shusrushaka Sangham (AMOSS) & Vice President, Mission Board 17 H.G Yakob Mar Elias Vice President, Mission Board 18 H.G Dr. Joshua Mar Nicodemos President, Church Accounts Committee 19 H.G Dr. Zacharias Mar Aprem Manager, MOC Corporate Colleges & Vice President, MGOCSM 20 H.G Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios President, OCYM & Vice President, Ecumenical Relations Department 21 H.G Dr. Abraham Mar Seraphim President, MGOCSM, President, ARDRA Charitable Society, President, NARSOC, President, Land Protection Committee & Representative to ECC Bangalore 22 H.G Dr. Geevarghese Mar Barnabas Manager, CBSE Public Schools
List of metropolitans of Holy Episcopal Synod
This is a list of present metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Name Date of birth Date of ordination Notes Links Baselios Marthoma Mathews III12-Feb-194930-Apr-1991 15-Oct-2021 (as Catholicos) 9th Catholicos of East & 22nd Malankara Metropolitan, Metropolitan of Kottayam Central Diocese, Kandanad West Diocese Canada Diocese, Asia - Pacific Diocese & Thiruvananthapuram Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Thomas Mar Athanasius28-Jun-195203-May-1990 Metropolitan of Kandanad East Diocese Yuhanon Mar Meletius04-Jul-195423-Dec-1990 Metropolitan of Thrissur Diocese Kuriakose Mar Clemis Valiya Metropolita26-Jul-193630-Apr-1991 Retired from 16-Aug-2023 Geevarghese Mar Coorilose07-Oct-194930-Apr-1991 Metropolitan of Mumbai Diocese Zachariah Mar Nicholovos13-Aug-195915-Aug-1993 Metropolitan of Northeast American Diocese & Asst. Metropolitan of Canada Diocese from 05-11-2024 Yakob Mar Irenios15-Aug-194916-Aug-1993 Metropolitan of Kochi Diocese Gabriel Mar Gregorios10-Feb-194805-Mar-2005 Retired from 09-Oct-2025 Yuhanon Mar Chrysostamos07-Jan-195405-Mar-2005 Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese Yuhanon Mar Policarpos30-Mar-195519-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Angamaly Diocese Mathews Mar Theodosius15-Sep-195519-Feb-2009 On Leave from 03-Nov-2022 Joseph Mar Dionysius15-Jun-195619-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Kollam Diocese Abraham Mar Epiphanios17-Sep-196019-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Mavelikara Diocese Mathews Mar Thimothios03-May-196319-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Chenganoor Diocese Alexios Mar Eusebios25-May-196419-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese Yuhanon Mar Dioscoros28-May-196419-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese & Asst. Metropolitan of Kottayam Central from 15-July-2024 and Asia Pacific Diocese from 05-Nov-2024 Youhanon Mar Demetrios18-Dec-195212-May-2010 Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese Yuhanon Mar Thevodoros10-Feb-195312-May-2010 Metropolitan of Kottarakkara - Punaloor Diocese Yakob Mar Elias24-Feb-195312-May-2010 Metropolitan of Brahmavar Diocese Joshua Mar Nicodemos08-Oct-196212-May-2010 Metropolitan of Nilackal Diocese Zacharias Mar Aprem11-Mar-196612-May-2010 Metropolitan of Adoor - Kadampanadu Diocese Relieved from his administrative duties and responsibilities on 23 May 2025 by the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Geevarghese Mar Yulios17-May-196712-May-2010 Metropolitan of Kunnamkulam Diocese Abraham Mar Seraphim28-Dec-196912-May-2010 Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese Abraham Mar Stephanos15-Aug-196928-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of UK - Europe - Africa Diocese Thomas Mar Ivanios13-Dec-196928-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Southwest America Diocese Geevarghese Mar Theophilos08-Aug-197128-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Ahmedabad Diocese & Asst. Metropolitan of Mumbai Diocese from 05-Jan-2023 Geevarghese Mar Philexinos30-May-197228-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Madras Diocese & Asst. Metropolitan of Bangalore Diocese from 27-Sep-2023 Geevarghese Mar Pachomios06-Mar-197328-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese Geevarghese Mar Barnabas10-Apr-197328-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Sulthan Bathery Diocese 19-Aug-197828-Jul-2022 Metropolitan of Idukki Diocese & Asst. Metropolitan of Kandanad West from 15-July-2024
List of past metropolitans
This is a list of past metropolitan who served the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of Malankara Church after and before the establishment of the Catholicate in India.
Name Date of birth Date of ordination Date of death Diocese Entombed at Links Attumalil Varambathu 19-Jul-194630-Apr-199120-Aug-2023 Metropolitan of Kollam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mount Horeb Sasthamcotta Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Paulose Mar Milithios30-Aug-194615-May-1985 01-Nov-2010 (as Catholicos)12-Jul-2021 8th Catholicos of East & 21st Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Catholicate Aramana Chapel, Devalokam, Kottayam Kizhakkethalackal Thomas Mar Athanasios03-Apr-193815-May-198524-Aug-2018 Metropolitan of Chengannur Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. George Dayara, Othera (Othara Dayara) Manjanamkuzhiyil Zachariah Mar Theophilos16-Sep-195205-Mar-200522-Oct-2017 Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Thadakam Dayara, Coimbatore Baselios Marthoma Didymos I Thomas Mor Thimotheos29-Sep-192124-Aug-1966 31-Oct-2005 (as Catholicos)26-May-2014 7th Catholicos of East & 20th Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram Keeyath Geevarghese Mar Ivanios14-Nov-194015-May-198512-Apr-2013 Metropolitan of Kottayam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mar Baselios Dayara, Kottayam Mathews Mar Barnabas09-Aug-192415-May-197809-Dec-2012 Metropolitan of Northeast America Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St Peter's and St Paul's Orthodox Syrian Church, Valayanchirangara, Perumbavoor Poulose Mar Pachomios OIC26-Jan-194616-Aug-199301-Aug-2012 Metropolitan of Mavelikara Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Bethany Ashram, Perunad, Ranni Geevarghese Mar Osthathios09-Dec-191716-Feb-197516-Feb-2012 Metropolitan of Niranam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. Paul's Mission Chapel, Mavelikkara Kanianthra Job Mar Philoxenos08-May-193930-Apr-199120-Nov-2011 Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram Koottarazhikathu Mathews Mar Epiphanios25-Nov-192815-May-198509-Feb-2009 Metropolitan of Kollam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. Thomas Cathedral, Kollam Philipos Mar Eusebius16-Jun-193115-May-198521-Jan-2009 Metropolitan of Thumpamon Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta Thomas Mar Makarios26-May-192616-Feb-197523-Feb-2008 Metropolitan of Diocese of UK, Europe and Africa Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Catholicate Aramana Chapel, Devalokam, Kottayam Kayyalathu Stephanos Mar Theodosius02-Oct-192416-Feb-197505-Nov-2007 Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai Thazhamon Augen Mar Dionysius01-Jul-195505-Mar-200506-Jun-2007 Metropolitan of Idukki Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Vallikkattu Dayara, Vakathanam Baselios Marthoma Mathews II Mathews Mar Coorilose30-Jan-191515-May-1953 29-Apr-1991 (as Catholicos)26-Jan-2006 6th Catholicos of East & 19th Malankara Metropolitan of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mount Horeb Sasthamcotta Geevarghese Mar Diascoros12-Oct-192615-May-197823-Jul-1999 Metropolitan of Thiruvananthapuram Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Holy Trinity Ashram, Ranni Kallupurakkal Philipose Mar Theophilos09-May-191124-Aug-196628-Sep-1997 Metropolitan of Angamaly Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church St. Mary's Church Thrikkunnathu Mulamootil Zachariah Mar Dionysius06-Aug-192415-May-197807-Jul-1997 Metropolitan of Madras Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram Paulos Mar Gregorios09-Aug-192216-Feb-197524-Nov-1996 Metropolitan of Delhi Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Old Seminary Chappel, Kottayam Baselios Marthoma Mathews I Mathews Mar Athanasius27-Mar-190715-May-1953