H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius, hails from the Thekkil Kandathil family of Valanjavattom, Thiruvalla, and was born as the youngest son of late T.V.Mathai and Annamma Mathai on 11 Nov 1955. His home parish is St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Valanjavattom of the Niranam Diocese. He was barely 16 years of age when he accepted membership in the Society of Sacred Transfiguration, Mount Tabor Dayara, Pathanapuram, from the late lamented Thoma Mar Dionysius Metropolitan.

A brilliant student, Fr. Markose Joseph graduated from Madras University in 1979 and took his post-graduation (1981) in Science faculty with first class and first rank. In recognition of his outstanding performance he was honoured with the Chithness Gold Medal and Certificate of Merit in 1981. He took his M. Phil in 1988 and Ph. D in 1995 from the Kerala University. He also has a B. D. from the Serampore University. He also obtained a Certificate Advanced Christian leadership from the Haggai International Institute, Singapore. Last of all, in September 2008, he was honoured with the prestigious Berchmans� Award for the best energy teacher of Kerala.

He was ordained deacon in 1980 and priest in 1995 by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimitheos Metropolitan (the present Catholicos). Till date, he has served as Vicar, Asst. Vicar in 9 parishes under the Thumpamon Diocese. Currently he is the Secretary of St. Thomas Orthodox Clergy Association, Diocese of Thumpamon.

In 1981, he joined St. Stephens College, Pathanapuram as Lecturer in Zoology. He became Reader in 1995 and the Director of the Zoology Research Centre in 2000. He is a member of more than a dozen academic bodies and organizations. He has published more than 25 papers in National/International academic journals. His most well-read book is �Paristhithy Adyatemeekata� (Environmental Spirituality) which elucidates Christian humanism and the orthodox theological vision of the environment.

H.G. Joseph Mar Dionysius is an outstanding orator, retreat father, eco-theologian and multi-disciplinary resource person. In 2003, he was honoured by the Board of International Research, American Biographical Institute with the �man of the year� awards

March 1st 2009 onwards he assumed as Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese.


History of the Diocese

The Calcutta Diocese was created in 1979. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius is its first Metropolitan. There are in it 40 Churches, 15 congregations, 31 priests, 2 deacons, 10 Seminarians. There are 15 Mission Centers functioning in the following places: Bhilai, Macodia, Bagdona, Bhopal, Devaz, Peethbur, Raj Nandagon, Raipur, Korba, Bokaro, Bhimapur, Jabalpur and Jagdalpur.
There are in the diocese one College, 7Junior Colleges, 1 High School, 12 U.P Schools, 22 Balavadis for village students, 8 tailoring schools, 1 Typewriting Institute and 4 Hospitals. It also publishes a journal called 'The Light'.St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai is the Metropolitan headquarters.

Churches:40 Chappel:15 Priests:31


Priests of the Diocese


Diocesan Council


Diocesan Secretary

Rev.George Mathew
St.Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary,
Bhramani (PO),Kalmeshwar
Nagpur -440551
Phone: 07118-71696
Council Members:

Rev.Fr.Samuel John M.G.M.H.S,Balco Town SWP Post, Korba-Chhattisgarh. Pin:495689
Phone: 07759-42276

Rev.Fr. Abraham Thomas, Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church,Raipur Road,Near Tifra Rly Crosing,Bilaspur,Chhattisgarh

Mr.C K.Varghese,Plot No:89/433,Jadgha-Jirpani-Post,Rourkela-42,Orissa.
Phone: 0661-572688

Mr.G.Baby,MIG-1033, Hudco,Bhilai,Chhattisgarh.
Phone; 0788-329637

Mr.P.Varghese,A/2 96,Sukhlia,Indore-MP.Phone: 0771-552950

Mr.P G Koshy,P-14,Mitra Colony,Calcutta-700034
033-4583238


Parishes of the Diocese

1. Ahamadi Orthodox Church
2. Becheli Biladilla Congregation
3. Bhandara St.Mary’s
4. Bhilai Mar Gregorios
5. Bilaspur Mar Gregorios
6. Bhopal St.Thomas
7. Bokkaro St.Mary’s
8. Bhuvaneshwar St.George
9. Calcutta St.Thomas Cathedral
10. Chandrapur Mar Gregorios
11. Cuttack St.George
12. Chirimuri St.George Congregation
13. Dimapur Mar Gregorios
14. Dhanbad Mar Gregorios
15. Dhanpuri Mar Gregorios
16. Durgapur St.George
17. Houshangabad St.George
18. Guwahati Mar Gregorios Church
19. Ittarsi St.John’s
20. Jabalpur St.George
21. Jabalpur Mar Gregorios (Hathital)
22. Jagadalpur St.Thomas
23. Jamshedpur Mar Gregorios
24. Katini St.Mary's
25. Kirandal Orthodox Congregation
26. Korba Mar Gregorios
27. Kohima Congregation
28. Kuwait Mar Gregorios
29. Nagpur St.George Cathedral
30. Patna Mar Gregorios
31. Panna Orthodox Congregation
32. Punasa Orthodox
33. Raipur St.Mary’s
34. Rajhara St.Stephen’s
35. Rajanandgaon St.Mary’s
36. Ranchi St.Stephen’s
37. Raigarah Mar Gregorios
38. Rewa St.Thomas
39. Rourkela St.Paul’s
40. Satna St, Gregorios
41. Shadole Mar Gregorios
42. Nagpur Seminary
43. Nandini St. Gregorios
44. Kharagpur Orthodox Congregation
45. Kandagaon Christian Congregation
46. Paradeep Congregation
47. Ambazad Chapel
48. Kampta Chapel
49. Nagada Congrigaion
50. Baikundpur Congretagion
51. Sagar Mar Gregorios
52. Ambikapur Orthdox Church
53. Sindri St. Thomas
54. Damdhari Congregation
55. Mukkodiya Mission Congregation
56. Kolar Mar Gregirios Orthodox Church
57. Bhilai St. Thomas Ashram Chapel
58. Sarni St.Thomas


Bhilai Mission
(Activities at a Glance)

The first North Indian Mission of the Church was established on July 3, 1972, in memorial of the blessed memory of the martyrdom of St. Thomas the apostle, the founder of our Church.
Founder:
H. G. Mathews Mar Athanasios, the then Diocesan Metropolitan of the Diocese of the outside Kerala

later H.H. The Catholicos Marthoma Mathews I)
Director:
Rev. Fr. K. K. Punnose (later, H. G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius of the Diocese of Calcutta)
The Mission center at Bhilai consists of:
1.St. Thomas Ashram
2.St. Thomas Convent
3.St. Thomas Blalagram
4.Diocesan Center
5.Bishops House
6.Printing press (Traddle and Mini off-set)
7.JeevanJyothi Balawadi
8.Agricultural Farm
9.Dairy Farm
10.Fish Farm
11.Staff Quarters
12. Labor Quarters
13.Garage
14.Chapel
15.Christian College of Engineering and Technology Complex
16.Hostel
17.Women�s Hostel

Educational Institutions

1.M. P. Christian College of Engineering and Technology
(started in 1998)
Course available at present:
Computer Engineering
Electronics and Communication
Electrical
Mechanical
I. T. and Industrial Electronics will be introduced next year (2001)

2.St. Thomas College
(Bhilai established in 1984)

Under Graduate Courses

B.Sc (Computer, Physics, Math)
B.Sc. (Electronics, Physics, Math)
B. Sc (Physics, Chemistry, Math)
B. Sc. (Botany, Zoology, Chemistry)
B.Sc. (Microbiology, Botany, Chemistry)
B.Com
B.A (English Literature, Economics, Psychology)
B.B.A.
B. Com with Computer Applications
Post Graduate Courses

M. A. English
M. A. Economics
M. Com
M. Sc. Microbiology
M. Sc. Maths
P. G. Diploma Courses

P.G.D.C.A./P.G.D.B.M

D.M.L.T (Diploma in medical Lab technology � 2 year course)

Women�s Hostel is provided in the campus

3.M. G. M. Senior Secondary School, Bhilai
4.M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Bokaro
5.M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Rourkela
6.M. G. M. Higher Secondary School, Hathilal, Jabalpur
7.M. G. M. English Higher Secondary School, Korba
8.M. G. M. Hindi Higher Secondary School, Korba
9.M. G. M. High School, Dimapur, Nagaland
10.M. G. M. High School, Raipur
11. M. G. M. High School, Itarsi
12.M. G. M. Middle School, Bhopal
13.M. G. M. Middle School, Dewas
14.M. G. M. Middle School, Bagdona
15.M. G. M. Middle School, Indore
16.M. G. M. Middle School, Dhawakala
17.M. G. M. Primary
18.M. G. M. Nursery , Nagpur
19.Mar Baselios Vidya Bhavan High School, Bhilai
20.St. Mary�s Hindi Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur
21.St. Mary�s English Higher Secondary School, Jabalpur
22.St. Mary�s Nursery, Bokaro

Among these institutions only two have enough infrastructure facilities. Huge amounts are being spent every year for the development of the other institutions. The mission, therefore, is now under heavy liabilities. We believe and trust in our good Lord that he will help us in clearing our liabilities and change these institutions as bases from where we could penetrate into the undeveloped rural areas for effective village mission for uplifting of the poorest of the poor in many villages. We are providing full fee concession to a large number of students from poor families. All institutions are maintaining good discipline and results.

Village Mission

More than three-fourths of the Indianpopulation live in villages. Mahatma Gandhi said, �To see India, one should go the Indian villages.�Even-after half a century of the Indian independence, villages have not made much improvement. Government of India is spending millions of rupees through the N.G.O. organizations for the development of the poor villages. Unfortunately very little portion of the funds go to the intended villages. The Christian churches and organizations especially the oldest church in India-The Malankara Orthodox Church could do tremendous voluntary services in this situation for the upliftment of the villages. With this intention, Bhilai mission started its village mission in 1984 at Makodia Village in Hoshangabad District of M. P.

Makkodia Mission:

Health Projects

Regular health professional visits
Working in partnership with Christian Medical Association of India (CMAI) and CARE INDIA

Literacy and Vocational Training

Balawadi, Typewriting and Tailoring Institutes

Primary education in rural Institutes

Adult Education

Economic Upliftment

Forming a women group (WG)

Self Help Group (SHG)

Goat Farming, Picklemaking Units, etc..

Networking with Government Organization and Broadcasting Ministry.

Jabalpur Earthquake Relief Work

In intensity Jabalpur earthquake was almost equal to the earthquake that occurred in Lathoor,Maha Rashtra. In Jabalpur death toll was comparatively less, but the destruction of houses and damage to the crops and animals were high. Bhilai Mission sponsored the rebuilding of one village and constructed sixty new houses. One community center, and a dispensary. Fr. Mathai Alakot, a member of the mission from Houston did a splendid job in this connection.

St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary

Bhilai seminary was established in 1995 at the Bhilai Mission center,as per the decision of the Holy Episcopal synod of the Malankara Orthodox Church. After completing 4 years in Bhilai, the seminary has shifted to Nagpur in July 1999. Only one wing of the seminary building is completed and the construction work is still going on. As the future of the church in outside Kerala depends upon the new seminary the church has to consider in priority the completion of the construction of the seminary project. The co-operation and assistance of the members of the church in this respect is earnestly solicited. Prayers and assistance are requested from the church members and well wishes in the Herculean task of making the Malankara Sabha a Bharatha Sabha through the North Indian Mission and the new seminary providing true Christian good Samaritan service to the millions living below the poverty line in our country.

Address:

St. Thomas Ashram
Post Box 24
Kailas Nagar, Bhilai, Durg
Madya Pradesh State, India

Phone: 011-91-788-381309 or 011-91-788-381949

Fax: 011-91-788-383266

Email: M.P.C.C.E&T@mantraonline.com



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