OUR CHURCH HISTORY.
Our church started as a prayer group and congregation of Christian
immigrant families who migrated to South Florida in the 1970s and
1980s. The American Diocese was established in 1978. H.G. late Dr.
Thomas Mar Makarios was the first Diocesan Metropolitan of
North America.
In November 1983, the first Holy Eucharist according to
Malankara Orthodox Liturgy was conducted by the visiting priest
Rev. Fr. M.T. Kurian of Washington D.C. On Saturday, December 17, 1983,
Rev. Fr. Joy Pyngolil, visiting priest from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
conducted the second Holy Eucharist service at the
Episcopal Church in Hollywood, Florida.
Later in December 1983, the congregation members met at the residence
of Mohan and Mary Mathen to discuss the formation of a congregation
and prayer group in the presence of H.G. late Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios
and late Rev. Fr. P.C. Geevarghese from Tampa, Florida. The congregation
was formed ecumenical in nature. H.G. late Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios
appointed Rev. Fr. Johnny George as the first vicar and services were
conducted at the residences of the congregation members and in school
auditoriums. The first official address of the church was the residence
address of Mr. Paul Eapen in Hollywood, Florida.
Subsequently, late. H.G Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios contacted the bishop
of the Russian Orthodox Church in Oakland Park, Florida and got
permission for us to be able to conduct service at that church.
Later Rev. Fr. Yesudasan Pappan was appointed as the vicar. St. Thomas
Malankara Orthodox Church of India was incorporated in the state of
Florida on August 27, 1987. Services were conducted at the Russian
Orthodox Church until 1995. Rev. Fr. Yesudasan Pappan vicar,
Rev. Fr. Daniel Chacko (vicar in charge), and Rev. Fr. George John
vicar served during this time period.
Later in 1995, we were able to acquire our own church building in
Oakland Park with the leadership of Rev. Fr. George John and the financial
support from all members. Subsequently, Rev. Fr. P.M. Zacharia,
Rev. Fr. George Daniel, Rev. Fr. Johnson Punchakonam (vicar in charge),
and Rev. Fr. Joseph Kalapurayil served in the church as vicars.
With the grace of God, the guidance of vicar Rev. Fr. Joseph
Kalapurayil, and the prayers and financial support from all members,
we were blessed with a new church in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2015
and consecrated on 1st and 2nd April 2016. The chief celebrant was
H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the South-West American
Diocese, and co-celebrants were H.G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos and
H.G Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios.
Later Rev. Fr. Bobby Varghese (vicar in charge), Rev.Fr.Bejoy Zakariah
and Rev. Fr. Eldo Elias (vicar)conducted service at this parish.
Since January 2022, Rev. Fr. Abey Abraham has been serving as the
vicar of this church.
We are extremely grateful for the spiritual guidance of the vicars
appointed by Diocesan Metropolitans who served at this parish, the
valuable contributions of late H.G Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, late H.G
Mathews Mar Barnabas, H.G Alexios Mar Eusebius, H.G. Zacharias Mar
Aprem, our current bishop H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Ivanios, our Catholicose
of the East His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Matthews III, and
blessed by the wholehearted support of all the well-wishers and members
of this parish.
immigrant families who migrated to South Florida in the 1970s and
1980s. The American Diocese was established in 1978. H.G. late Dr.
Thomas Mar Makarios was the first Diocesan Metropolitan of
North America.
In November 1983, the first Holy Eucharist according to
Malankara Orthodox Liturgy was conducted by the visiting priest
Rev. Fr. M.T. Kurian of Washington D.C. On Saturday, December 17, 1983,
Rev. Fr. Joy Pyngolil, visiting priest from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania,
conducted the second Holy Eucharist service at the
Episcopal Church in Hollywood, Florida.
Later in December 1983, the congregation members met at the residence
of Mohan and Mary Mathen to discuss the formation of a congregation
and prayer group in the presence of H.G. late Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios
and late Rev. Fr. P.C. Geevarghese from Tampa, Florida. The congregation
was formed ecumenical in nature. H.G. late Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios
appointed Rev. Fr. Johnny George as the first vicar and services were
conducted at the residences of the congregation members and in school
auditoriums. The first official address of the church was the residence
address of Mr. Paul Eapen in Hollywood, Florida.
Subsequently, late. H.G Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios contacted the bishop
of the Russian Orthodox Church in Oakland Park, Florida and got
permission for us to be able to conduct service at that church.
Later Rev. Fr. Yesudasan Pappan was appointed as the vicar. St. Thomas
Malankara Orthodox Church of India was incorporated in the state of
Florida on August 27, 1987. Services were conducted at the Russian
Orthodox Church until 1995. Rev. Fr. Yesudasan Pappan vicar,
Rev. Fr. Daniel Chacko (vicar in charge), and Rev. Fr. George John
vicar served during this time period.
Later in 1995, we were able to acquire our own church building in
Oakland Park with the leadership of Rev. Fr. George John and the financial
support from all members. Subsequently, Rev. Fr. P.M. Zacharia,
Rev. Fr. George Daniel, Rev. Fr. Johnson Punchakonam (vicar in charge),
and Rev. Fr. Joseph Kalapurayil served in the church as vicars.
With the grace of God, the guidance of vicar Rev. Fr. Joseph
Kalapurayil, and the prayers and financial support from all members,
we were blessed with a new church in Pompano Beach, Florida in 2015
and consecrated on 1st and 2nd April 2016. The chief celebrant was
H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the South-West American
Diocese, and co-celebrants were H.G Geevarghese Mar Coorilos and
H.G Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios.
Later Rev. Fr. Bobby Varghese (vicar in charge), Rev.Fr.Bejoy Zakariah
and Rev. Fr. Eldo Elias (vicar)conducted service at this parish.
Since January 2022, Rev. Fr. Abey Abraham has been serving as the
vicar of this church.
We are extremely grateful for the spiritual guidance of the vicars
appointed by Diocesan Metropolitans who served at this parish, the
valuable contributions of late H.G Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, late H.G
Mathews Mar Barnabas, H.G Alexios Mar Eusebius, H.G. Zacharias Mar
Aprem, our current bishop H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Ivanios, our Catholicose
of the East His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Matthews III, and
blessed by the wholehearted support of all the well-wishers and members
of this parish.