Ancient churches in Persia

The city of Urmia (Urmiyeh), in northwest of Iran, is considered one of the ancient cities of the country and a Cradle of christian civilization.

Mart Maryam Church - Urmia - 1st c.

Since establishing the Assyro-Chaldian Catholic patriarchy in Urmia and during the patriarchy of Mar Shimun 12th 1556-1662, faithful Assyrian Chaldian would worship together at the old St Mary Church, the only church in the city of Urmia at that time.

After Mar Shimun 12th death, Mar Shimun 13th separated from Eastern Assyro Chaldian (Catholic) church and returned to the old Eastern Church and moved his Patriarch seat to Ghochanos in the mountain of Hakkary. These changes in leadership and the increased number of parishioners in a small church belonging to Lazarian missionaries whom had arrived in Urmia 1841, urged the faithful parishioners to follow through their plans of building a new church.

This was the beginning of the history for the “St Mary the Mother of God” parish.

According to Fars Lazarian missionaries, chapter 3 Page. 429, written by Fr. Chautalier, the following is a brief history of the beginning of construction of the Catholic Church of Urmia. Highly ambitioned His Excellency Bishop Augustine Clozel, special ambassador of His Holiness Pope, started the prime construction of the Catholic Church of Urmia on (September 8th 1874- August 12th 1882).

After completion of the church, His Excellency’s next ambitious plan was to build grand Cathedral of Urmi. His objective was to build a structure as beautiful as grand Cathedral of St Givargis (St Georg) of Salamas known as pearl of Salamas Valley that was mesmerized by every visitor, even local Muslims.

The bloody civil war, which was in 1918 forced Christians to leave Urmia, many were hidden at the homes of their Muslim friends and neighbors and about 3000 Christians took refuge at St Mary Catholic Church of Urmia. Unfortunately, barbaric acts of rebels resulted in the massacre of women, children, young and old in the Church, including His Holiness Pope' representative Sontag on 31st of July,1918.

The Catholic Church of Urmia was consecrated on Jun 4th of 1954by His Excellency Mar Joseph Shaikhu, Tehran’s Archbishop Mar Zaia Dashtu, His Holiness Pope ambassador Forni and a huge enthusiastic Christian crowd from all over the city.

This church structure is considered to be the oldest existing church building in the world(with minor renovations).

The people of urmi is famous for their deep devotion to marth mariyam, Marthoma , St. Cyriacus (Mar Kuryakus).

List of other important churches

Holy Mary (Mart Maryam) Church - Urmia - 1st c.
St. Cyriacus (Mar Kuryakus) Church - Urmia - 18th c.
Holy Mary (Mart Maryam) Church - Urmia - CharBakhsh - 5th c.
St. Sarkis (Mar Sargiz) Church - 5 km SW of Urmia - Seir - 5th c.
Holy Mary (Mart Maryam) Church - 8 km E of Urmia - Golpashan.
Holy Mary (Mart Maryam) Church - 32 km E of Urmia - Mavana.
St. Daniel (Mar Danial) Church - 25 km N of Urmia - Nazlu River - 5th c. - destroyed in World War I, rebuilt
St. John (Mar Yokhnah) Church - 45 km N of Urmia - Jamalabad - 5th c.
St. John (Mar Yokhnah) Church - 40 km N of Urmia - Gavilan - 5th c.
St. Thomas (Mar Toma) Church - 30 km W of Urmia - Balulan - 7th c.
St. Cyriacus (Mar Kuryakus) Church - Salmas - Kohneshahr - 12th c.
Vank - 2 km S of Salmas - Khosrowabad - 5th c. - The Holy Cross of Jerusalem was kept here for a while.
St. George (Mar Gevargiz) Church - 2 km S of Salmas - Khosrowabad - 1845
Holy Mary (Mart Maryam) Church - Sehna
St. Thomas (Mar Toma) Church - Teheran (Amirabad) - 1967

സിറോ മലബാര്‍ സുറിയാനി സഭയുടെ(മാര്‍ത്തോമ നസ്രാണി സഭ ) മിഷന്‍ രൂപതകള്‍

A Rite which has no possibility for to evangelical work is not worth preserving.

The ever-vibrant Syro-Malabar Church.

It should not be forgotten that more than 70 per cent of the total missionaries, working m different parts of India, is from the Syro-Malabar Church..

ഭാരതത്തിലെ പ്രേഷിത പ്രവര്‍ത്തനം മാര്‍ത്തോമ നസ്രാണികളുടെ ജന്മാവകാശം ആണ് കാരണം കടല്‍ കടന്നു ഏറ്റവും വിദൂര ദേശത്ത് പോയി വിശ്വാസം പ്രക്യപിച്ച ക്രിസ്തു ശിഷ്യന്‍ ആയ മാര്‍ത്തോമ സ്ലീഹയില്‍ നിന്നും വിശ്വാസം സ്വീകരിച്ചവരാണ് നമ്മള്‍!!.10 നൂടാണ്ടോട് സത്യാ വേദപുസ്ഥകള്‍ ആയുധം ആക്കി ലോകത്തിന്റെ അതിര്‍ത്തികള്‍ വരെ പോയി വിശ്വാസം പ്രക്യപിച്ച പൌരസ്ത്യ സുറിയാനി സഭയുടെ ഭാഗം ആണ് നമ്മള്‍!!

മാര്‍ത്തോമ നസ്രാണി സഭയുടെ (സിറോ ചാല്‍ഡിയന്‍) ഭാരതത്തിലെ മിഷന്‍ രൂപതകളെ ഈ ഒരു ലേഖനത്തിലൂടെ പരിചയപ്പെടാം .

Eparchy of Jagadalpur

Bastar, was the southernmost district of Madhya Pradesh till 2000 which covered an area of about 39,171 sq. kms. Presently Bastar comes under Chattisgarh state. Bastar was made a separate ecclesiastical unit named Jagdalpur in 1972 and was entrusted to St. Joseph’s province, Kottayam. Mar. Paulinus Jeerakath CMl was appointed Exarch and later in 1977 he was ordained the first Bishop of the diocese. His excellency Mar. Simon Stock Palathara CMI, the present bishop, succeeded Bp. Jeerakath in 1993.

The CMI region of Jagdalpur was erected in 1976 and the XXX General Chapter in 1978 raised it to the status of a vice-province and the XXXV General Chapter in 2002 rasied it to the status of a Province which is called Nirmal Province, Jagdalpur. The inspiring and efficient leadership of the first fathers made the way clear to achieve remarkable progress in various activities in the Diocese.

Patron Saint :Mar Joseph

Eparchy of Kalyan

The history of the Diocese of Kalyan is very much intertwined with the history of the Syro - Malabar Church itself in India. Having it s roots in the Apostolic Ministry of St. Thomas the Apostle himself who established seven communities of the Christian Church in Kerala in the first century itself. These Christians migrated to different parts of India. They concentrated mainly in the big cities of India. In Bombay, Pune and Nasik regions, they are found in large numbers. The spiritual care of these regions are assisted by lay association like Kerala Catholic Association (Bombay). St. Thomas Christians of India (Pune), etc.

On September 8, 1978 Pope John Paul II appointed His Eminence Antony Cardinal Padiyara, the then Archbishop of Changanacherry as the Apostolic Visitor to study the situation. The visit of Pope John Paul II to India in 1986 gave him a first hand experience of the living faith of the Syro - Malabar Christians of India.

Syro-Malabar Catholics:100,000 C

Eparchy of Rajkot

The Diocese of Rajkot stretches over the northwestern part of India, which is the peninsula of Saurashtra and Kutch; it has an area of 1, 09,990 sq. kms. and a population of 16 million. By the Papal Bull “De Recta Fidelium” of Pope Paul VI the Catholic Diocese of Rajkot came into being on 25 Feb, 1977. It comprises the civil districts of Amreli, Bhavnagar, Jamnagar, Junagadh, Porbandar, Rajkot and Surendranagar, jointly known popularly as Saurashtra and the district of Kutch in Gujarat State.

Faced with the shortage of priests the Jesuits invited the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI), the first indigenous religious congregation for men in India, to work and develop this mission territory in Saurashtra and Kutch. In 1972 the then Superior General Rev. Fr Theobald Pothanikat CMI accepted the invitation and sent a few pioneering missionaries.

In 1977 Bishop Jonas Thaliath CMI was appointed the first Bishop of the newly created diocese of Rajkot. With a dream of integral development, he led the diocese for four years. He was called to his eternal rest on November 7, 1981. On April 24, 1983, Mar Gregory Karotemprel CMI was ordained Bishop to succeed Bishop Jonas and he has been guiding the destinies of the Diocese ever since.

Syro Malabar catholics:13,000

Eparchy of Sagar

The Catholic Exarchate of Sagar was created in 1968 bifurcating parts from the dioceses of Bhopal, Ajmer and Jaipur. It became a diocese in 1977. Msgr. Clemens Thottungal, cmi was its first bishop. Msgr. Joseph Pastor Neelankavil, cmi then succeeded him. Msgr. Anthony Chirayath is the present bishop, who is also the first diocesan priest of the diocese. He became bishop on 25th March 2006, Feast of the Annunciation. He is also the first Diocesan Bishop of North Indian Syro-Malabar Dioceses.

Syro Malabar catholics :7,000

Eparchy of Satna

The history of the diocese of Satna speaks volumes on the missionary enterprise of the Syro-Malabar Church in North India. It is the result of the stern and bold step taken by the Holy See to give the ever-vibrant Syro-Malabar Church an opportunity for mission work, as a Church. It should not be forgotten that more than 70 per cent of the total missionaries, working m different parts of India, is from the Syro-Malabar Church.

On 26 February, 1977 by the Papal Bull Ecclesiarum Orientalium of Pope Paul VI, the Exarchate was raised to the status of an Eparchy. Mar Abraham D. Mattam was appointed as the first Bishop of Satna. On 30 April, 1977, in the presence of bishops, priests, religious and a large number of faithful, Mar Abraham D. Mattam was consecrated bishop. His Grace Eugene D'Souza, Arch Bishop of Bhopal was the main celebrant, who was assisted by His Grace Leobard D'souza, Arch Bishop of Nagpur and Right Rev. Theophine, Bishop of Jabalpur. After the consecration and the concelebrated Qurbana, a small congregation of the faithful gathered to felicitate the newly consecrated bishop. Installation and /the erection of the Diocese of Satna took place on 31 July, 1977. At the beginning of the concelebrated Mass, Right Rev. Theophine read the Papal Bull, appointing Mar Abraham D. Mattam, V.C. the first bishop of the diocese of Satna.

Eparchy of Thuckalay

The Diocese of Thuckalay was erected by the papal Bull “Apud Indorum” on November 11, 1996. It was created separating the area of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry that extended over to the state of Tamilnadu. Fr. George Alencherry was appointed the first bishop of the new Eparchy. He was the Vicar General of the Archdiocese of Changanacherry at that time. The establishment of the diocese and the appointment of the first Bishop were promulgated on December 18, 1996. Very Rev. Fr. George Alencherry was ordained Bishop on February 2, 1997. The total number of the catholic faithful in the diocese is 30,000.

HISTORY OF KANYAKUMARI MISSION

On April 29, 1955 the Holy Father Pius XII by the Bull “Multorum Fidelium” extended the territory of the Diocese of Changanacherry beyond the river Pamba in Kerala up to Kanyakumari, the southernmost boundary of India. Then onwards the Bishop of Changanacherry sent priests to be pastors of the Syro-Malabar faithful who has settled in different parts of the extended area. Among the parishes and mission stations instituted by these priests, there were the five Catholic communities of Arukani, Pathukani, Netta, Penu and Anamukham in the district of Kanyakumari. The faithful of these communities were mainly Syro-Malabar Catholics who had migrated from Central Keralam. From 1960 onwards priests from the Archdiocese of Changanacherry started mission work in the area of the Kanyakumari District. As a result of this missionary work people by and large got converted to Catholic faith. The missionaries trained them in Syro-Malabar Liturgy and spirituality and by and by these developed into parishes and mission stations mainly in the Vilavancode and Kalkulam Taluks in Kanyakumari District. From 1967 onwards the priests from the Congregation of Mary Immaculate (C.M.I.) also joined the Syro-Malabar mission work in Kanyakumari District.

The Bishops who have contributed to the mission work in Kanyakumari District up to the formation of the diocese are Archbishop Mar Mathew Kavukatt, Archbishop Mar Antony Padiyara and Archbishop Mar Joseph Powathil.

Patroness: Holy Mary, Mother of Christ and Image of the Church Second Patron: St. Geevarghese Sahada

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