Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America

The Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America, sometimes referred to as the Southwest Diocese or DS-WA is a diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The diocesan headquarter is located in Beasley, Texas[6] a suburban city, 40 miles from downtown Houston, Texas. The Southwest Diocese covers several churches in the U.S. states, and Canada.[7]

Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Southwest America
AbbreviationDS-WA
PrimateHis Holiness Moran Mor Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II[1]
MetropolitanHis Grace Dr. Zacharias Mar Aprem[2]
LanguageMalayalam, English, Syriac, Hindi, Greek, Latin
LiturgyMalankara Rite
HeadquartersBeasley, Texas[3]
TerritorySouth West America
FounderHis Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I
Origin1 April 2009.[4]
RecognitionIndian Orthodox Church
Branched fromAmerican Diocese
Church buildings63
Tax status[501(c)(3)][5]
Official websitehttp://www.ds-wa.org/
Slogan"Let your deeds glorify your Father in Heaven"
The Diocesan headquarter is located in Beasley, TX
Jesus Christ Icon
Theotokos Icon
Forerunner St. John the Baptist

History

American Diocese

The American Diocese was established in 1979 by His Grace Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios. In 1991, after the death of H.G Makarios, His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas was enthroned as Metropolitan in 1993. In 2002, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was appointed as the assistant Metropolitan.

Formation of the Southwest Diocese

The Diocese was formed by order number 145/2009 signed by the then Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan, His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymus I on 1 April 2009.[8] His Grace Mar Barnabas and His Grace Mar Nicholovos were appointed to the Northeast American Diocese and His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius was appointed the Southwest Diocese.

According to order number 01/2017,[9] His Grace Eusebius was relinquished of his administrative duties. The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church regained control over the diocese and His Grace Zacharias Mar Aprem was appointed as Assistant Metropolitan.

Today

As of April 2020, there are currently 63 churches in the Southwest Diocese.[10]

Diocesan Metropolitan
Zacharias Mar Aprem
Assistant metropolitan
His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II
Malankara metropolitan
List of Diocesan Metropolitan
Name Start End Notes
American Diocese Formed
His Grace Thomas Mar Makarios 1979 1991 Founder and first Metropolitan of American Diocese [11]
His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas 1993 2011 Enthroned as the Second metropolitan of the American Diocese. The American Diocese split into the Northeast American Diocese and Southwest American Diocese in 2009[11]
Southwest Diocese Formed
His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius 2009 2017 First Metropolitan of the current Southwest American Diocese. Relinquished of duties in 2017
His Grace Zacharias Mar Aprem 2017 Present Acting Assistant Metropolitan of Southwest American Diocese as of 20 September 2017.[12]

Current List of Churches

The Diocese of South-West America is zoned into five regions.[13]

Midwest

Northwest

South

Southeast

West

Liturgical Resource Development
Saint Ephrem the Syrian

Leaders

Director: Fr. Joel Mathew

Project Manager: Mr. Jobby Jacob

Treasurer: Mr. Jason Abraham

Other: Dn. Saju Varghese, Fr. Jake Kurian, Dn, Pradeep Hatcher[14]

Origin (2015)

The Ministry of Liturgical Resource Development was created by His Grace Alexios Mar Eusebius, Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-West America (Kalpana) in July 2015 to promote the translation, versification, and publication of vital English liturgical resources.[15] As of 12 September 2017, His Grace Zacharias Mar Aprem has been the acting Assistant Metropolitan

2016

Shehimo - Book of Common Prayer - On the Feast of Theophany in 2016, the Liturgical Resource Development released a hard cover common prayer book.

2017

Service Book of the Holy Qurbono- On February 17, 2018, during the Holy Lent, it was announced that LRD begun printing and shipping the new multilingual Holy Qurbana Book (English, Malayalam and Malayalam transliteration) [16]

2018

2019

2020

LRD Mobile App - On 4 April 2020, the Liturgical Resource Development released a mobile app for people to download during the COVID-19 Pandemic. The app will be available in the Apple and Google Play stores.

Current Projects

There are developments to produce a new English Festal Breviary Book, English Sacrament Breviary Book, English Funeral Service Book for Men, Women and Children, LRD App and Audio Recordings

MGOCSM

Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement is one of the most dynamic spiritual organizations of our Church and it plays a crucial role in the nurturing of our youth for them to live in Christ our Lord.[17]

Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement

Leaders

Council Members

East Region – Atlanta area: Ms. Sheba Mathew

East Region – Florida area: Ms. Deepthi Varghese

Midwest Region – Chicago area: Mr. Roshen Samuel

Midwest Region – Detroit area: Mr. Alan Sam Jose

Northwest Region: Ms. Sneha Philip

South Region – Dallas area: Mr. Nimal Zachariah

South Region – Houston area: Ms. Deepti Kuriakose

West Region: Ms. Laveena Joy[19]

Campus Ministry

On August 16, 2029, His Grace Aprem announced the formation of a new Diocesan-wide Campus Ministry Project.

Coordinators- Fr. Diju Skariah, Mr. Manoj Thomas and Mr. Selby Thomas[20]

Sunday School
Chirst

Resources

Resources for Sunday school students and teachers can be found here

Mar Barnabas Educational Reward

The Mar Barnabas Educational Award was instituted by our diocese in 2011 to encourage youth to excel in their academic achievement with a commitment to the church, diocese and the mission of the church.[21]

Award Committee:

1. Rev. Fr. Mathew Alexander (Dallas Area Youth Minister)

2. Mr. George Geevarughese (Association Managing Committee Member)

3. Mr. Roy V. Thomas (Diocesan Council Member)[21]

Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam

Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam, abbreviated MMVS, was founded in 1928 in India. It was started under the patronage of the Late Very Rev. Fr. M.C. Kuriakose

Ramban and with the leadership of K.M Annamma and co-workers.[22]

The motto of the organization is “Prarthikkuka, Pravarthikkuka, Prakasikkuka” (Pray, Act, Shine).[23]

2020 Diocesan Office Bearers

Orthodox Christian Youth Movement

Orthodox Christian Youth Movement, abbreviated OCYM, was founded in 1938 in India. It serves as a ministry to contribute to the goodness and progress of the Church and community in the three-fold path of worship, study and service[26]

Leaders

Vice President: Rev. Fr. Mathews George

Secretary: Mr. Varghese A. Panicker [26]

References
  1. http://directory.mosc.in/bishops/?the-holy-synod=the-primate
  2. https://www.manoramaonline.com/news/latest-news/2017/09/19/orthodox-church-two-metropolitans.html#
  3. https://alma.app/charities/270960951-malankara-orthodox-syrian-church-diocese-of-south-west-america#28a7003c947cf1f76b2d26cc61114b71
  4. http://www.ds-wa.org/diocesan-admin/
  5. https://projects.propublica.org/nonprofits/organizations/270960951
  6. "Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Diocese of South-West American". guidestar.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  7. "Parishes." Diocese of South-West America. Retrieved on 27 October 2011.
  8. "AboutUS". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  9. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (28 September 2017). "Kalpana No.01/2017" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 26 April 2020.
  10. http://directory.mosc.in/parishes/?diocese=1272
  11. "Malankara Orthodox Diocese of Northeast America", Wikipedia, 10 October 2019, retrieved 26 April 2020
  12. http://www.ds-wa.org/metropolitan/
  13. http://www.ds-wa.org/aboutus/
  14. Mar Eusebius, Alexios (24 July 2015). "DSWA/C/10/2015" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  15. http://www.ds-wa.org/about-liturgical-resource-development.html
  16. http://www.ds-wa.org/images/stories/kalpana/diocese/2018/No.%2020%202018%20LRD.pdf
  17. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (7 October 2017). "No.03/2017" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  18. "MGOCSM". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  19. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (25 April 2019). "No. 29/2019" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  20. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (16 August 2019). "No.59/2019" (PDF). DS-WA. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  21. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (24 August 2019). "No. 61 /2019" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.
  22. "About Marth Mariam Samajam". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  23. http://stmarysorthodoxchurchny.org/ministries
  24. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (28 December 2018). "No. 197/2018" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  25. Mar Aprem, Zacharias (8 February 2020). "No.19/2020" (PDF). DS-WA.org. Retrieved 27 April 2020.
  26. "About OCYM". ds-wa.org. Retrieved 28 April 2020.

Further reading

Shehimo: Book of Common Prayer. (n.d.). (n.p.): Liturgical Resource Development.

Konat, J. A. (n.d.). Service Book of the Holy Qurbono: English with Commentary & Malayalam with Transliteration. (n.p.): Malankara Orthodox Church Publications.

Y. M. A., Irenaios, Y. M. (2017). A Study of the Experience of the Unspeakable and Its Manifestations in Selected Mystic Saints and Holy Persons in the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. India: SFS Publications.

The Book of Common Prayer of the Syrian Church. (2005). United States: Gorgias Press.

Krikorian, M. K. (2010). Christology of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: Christology in the Tradition of the Armenian Apostolic Church. Austria: Peter Lang.

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