The St. Thomas Christians trace their origin from St. Thomas, one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ. India at the time of the Christ's ministry was already famous for its ancient civilization, philosophy and culture. It is also had trade relations with the West Asian countries. When St. Thomas landed in Cranganore one of the important trade centre in the south he was received kindly by the enlightened rulers with whose patronage he formed the nucleus of an indigenous church in the first century. A.D.

However, this ancient church remained isolated without expansion to the others parts of the country. It was recently that the people of the Land of palms began their Gregorian pursuit to the various parts of India and abroad. Bombay, a cosmopolitan city described as the commercial capital of India, attracted many of the enterprising people who gradually came and settled down here. From humble beginning they grew in to a community of High, Social, Cultural and economic standing.

For this the Diocese owes a great debt to the late, lamented Alexios Mar Theodosius of Bethany Ashram, Metropolitan of Quilon. Even though the parishes were not yet organized, Mar Theodosius was instrumental in starting the outside kerala mission ugh which he trained a group of educated Priest appointed them to important cities in India and outside. His Grace Mar Athanasius succeeded him as Metropolitan of the outside Kerala Diocese. !after His grace Mar Makarios was appointed as Bishop of Bombay Diocese which then included the Gulf countries and North America.

The orthodox Syrian service was held for the first time in Bombay, nearly a century ago by the late His Grace Mar Gregorios of Parumala the saint of the Malankara church. The need for a place of their own to worship was felt as early as 1940. Bombay parish was formed in year 1943 and it came to bear the fruit in 1951 when the late catholicose Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II ally consecrated the St. Mary's Orthodox Syrian church in Dadar. Subsequently in many parts of Bombay parishes were formed and churches were built.

The Dicoese of Bombay was carved out of the outside Keralal dicoese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in the year 1976. His grace Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios was the first Metropolitan with the headquarters as St.Mary’s Church, Dadar. The diocese made rapid strides during the tenure if His grace Late Lamented Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus who took over from Mar Makarios who moved to then newly formed Diocese in the year 1979. Mar Theophilus initially established his headquarters near St. Gregorios Church ,Chembur before moving out in the year 1988 to the present headquarters at the orthodox church centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.

Thepresent Metroploitan HisGrace Geevarghese Mar Coortilos took over the reins of the Bombay Dicosee spread over the staqtes of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa a tail portain of Karnataka, Bahrain, Qatar and Suadi Arabisa in the year 2002, Mar Coorilos had the good fortune of serving along with Mar Theophilus as the assistant Metropolitan of the diocese from 1991 onwards. Today the Dicose hads grown to be a gaint among the rest of the dicoeses in many ways and more than 70 churches, schools, clinics, hostels etc are efficently managed by about 50 sincere and dedicated priests along with the lay represerntaives opportunally. 

The year 2006-07 the Diocese as a whole under the able leadership of the His Grace Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Coorilos is celebrating the pearl years of the diocese.

The pearl celebration

The diocese chose its most appropriate 'to celebrate its 30" year of existence in a big way by having a series of activities throughout the year by arranging a pilgrimage to Parumala by chartered train, accorded a grand reception to HH. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Didimos- I, the Catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.

Spiritual Awakening Programme

Introduce regional languages in Church services "Conventions" to attract the younger generation "JeevanDhara" services as extended "Parish mission".

conduct "Night Vigil" services

Gregorian Community

The dream of His Grace Mar Coorilos Metropolitan is taking shape with the establishment of the Gregorian Community-at Roha, about 120 kms from Mumbai.  The vision is to create a caring, sharing, and loving community of individuals rooted in the love of God and having a zest for serving its neighbours. The motto of the community is worship, study and service. It is indeed a religious community to work under the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the Patron being the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, the Supreme Head of the Orthodox Syrian Church in India.

The community is named after St. Gregorios of Parumala. About 77 acres if land has already been purchase at Roha and project work and infrastructure are under progress. A Community Chapel is constructed on the Gregorian Hill and temporary structures are made to accommodate people. An Old Age Home has been started on 7th February 2006 and 3 inmates are already admitted. An Orphanage and Primary-School are going to be opened soon.

The Gregorian Community stands to promote value system by treating everyone made in the image of God helping and serving to build up the community and rejuvenating the talents and strengths in each individual It nurtures facilities for families to come together, serve each other irrespective of age, sex, caste, or creed. The Community wants to usher in spiritual awakening among professionals and also to foster inter religious dialogue thereby further tolerance and communal harmony.

Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos Metropolitan

Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilose Metropolitan was born on 9 May 1911 as the sixth son of Korah and Mariamma of Kallupurakkal, Puthanangadi, Kottayam.  He took his B.A degree from Cochin Maharaja’s College. He studied M.A in St.Augustine of Canterbury in England, T.H.M in Cardiff University, UK, and D.D from Harward University in Chicago, USA.

 He became as a deacon in 1929, received from Vattasseril mar Dionysius Metropolitan and anointed as a priest in 1944 by His Holiness Baselios Geevarghese II, the Catholicos of the East.

On 24 August 1966, at Kolencherry His Holiness Baselios Ougen Catholicose consecrated Philipose Mar Theophilos as Metropolitan. Then he was appointed as the head of the Ankamali Diocese. Many new schools, orphanages, hospitals etc. were started by him. He laid stones for hospitals at Kothamangalam, Chalad, and Pothanicad. Self employment projects for poor and School for blind at Alwaye were some of his ambitious projects in Ankamali.

 On 1979 February 1 he took over the charge of Mumbai Diocese too. He initially established his headquarters near St. Gregorios Church, Chembur in Mumbai before moving out in the year 1988 to the present headquarters at the Orthodox Church Centre, Vashi, Navi Mumbai.  This Dicocese spread over the states of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Goa, a tail portain of Karnataka, Bahrain, Qatar and Suadi Arabia.

 At the same year on October 5 he  translated the Holy Relics of Blessed Alvares mar Julius Metropolitan from the secluded corner of St. Inez Cemetery to the St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Ribander in Goa.

 Philipose Mar Theophilos was known as the Ambassador of the Malankara Orthodox Church during his life time. He served as the Principal of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam (Old Seminary). And he was the architect of the revamped Seminary.

 The Metropolitan ministered among university students as the  President of the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Students Movement (MGOCSM).

 Mar Theophilos was one of the one of the associated with the founding of the World Christian Council (WCC). He worked as Secretary of Faith and Order division and central committee member of the WCC. He was the first person from the rank and file of WCC to visit eastern orthodox churches, which bore fruit when those churches took WCC’s membership.

Theophilos was highly honored by Eastern Orthodox churches. He was the only one special invitee to attend the selection of His Holiness Peeman Patriarch of Russian Orthodox Church. He was given a grand honor when he was invited to attend the Republic day parade of Romania as chief guest along with Romanian President and Romanian Patriarch.

 Philipose mar Theophilos passed away on 28 September 1997 and was laid to rest in Thrikunnath Seminary, Aluva in Kerala.

History of the Diocese

formed in 1976. HG.Dr.Thomas Mar Makarios was the first Bishop(1976-1979)
HG.Dr.Philipos Mar Theophilus(1979-1997)
churches:52,chappel:13,priests:42