H G Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios Senior  Metropolitan

His Grace Dr.Thomas Mar Makarios, Senior Metropolitan of America and Metropolitan of Canada and Europe, a native of Kerala, India, was born on May 26, 1926, the son of Mr.Chacko and Mrs. Mariamma Kuttikandathil. After attending schools and colleges, he completed theological studies at the Orthodox Theological Seminary at Kottayam. He was ordained a priest in 1952 by His Holiness Catholicos GeeVarghese Baselios II. He came to New Delhi, the capital city of India, and organized congregations inNorth Indian cities. He became the first vicar of Orthodox Church in New Delhi. 


It was during the time of the litigationof the Church that Mar Makarios showed his ingenuity as leaderand scholar in Church History. He helped the lawyers of thechurch understand the history, traditions and Canons of theChurch. This was instrumental in seeking an historic verdict bythe Supreme Court of India in favor of the Church in 1958. MarMakarios has studied in various religious institutions inEngland, Germany, Switzerland and France. He has been in the U.Ssince 1963 and earned a Bachelor of Divinity degree from NashotaHouse in Wisconsin, a Master's of Sacred Theology from VirginiaTheological Seminary, and a Doctorate in Theology from UnionTheological Seminary in Richmond. He returned back to India andworked as a professor of Church History at Orthodox TheologicalSeminary in India. In 1975, Mar Makarios was consecrated as aMetropolitan by His Holiness Catholicos Eugen I. In the same yearThe Catholicos appointed Mar Makarios the first metropolitan ofDiocese of Bombay.



In 1979 MarMakarios was installed as the first metropolitan of the Dioceseof America of Indian Orthodox Church. Since 1985, Mar Makarioshas been teaching religion at Alma College in Michigan. Althoughhe is busy year around as senior metropolitan of his church inwestern hemisphere, he sets aside the time to come to AlmaCollege. He believes that he can help give students a deeperinsight into the `mysterious' insight of the Eastern Church. Inrecognition of Makarios's achievements and contributions tochurch and society, the college awarded him the degree of Doctorof Divinity Honorees Causa in 1990. In 1994 Mar Makarios wasappointed as the first metropolitan of the newly created dioceseof Canada and Europe.

In 1995, MarMakarios was appointed as senior metropolitan of the MalankaraOrthodox Church in America. Mar Makarios is a great teacher anddefender of Orthodox faith. In guiding the Church in the westernworld into the third millennium, Mar Makarios has superblyevincing a rare and high order of vision, courage and foresight.
 
St.Gregorios Mission Center

LOCATION: Route 202 and Mayer Drive, Montebello, County of Rockland, New York 

Montebello means beautiful mountains, and the location of the Center is blessed with a scenic view perfected by lines of mountains on all sides. It is away from the hustle and bustle of the New York City, but within the New York metropolitan area, just 30 miles from Manhattan and 12 miles from the Hudson River. The Center is accessible through three major highways; it is at the meeting point of Routes 87, 17 and 202. 

DESCRIPTION OF THE PROPERTY 

A covetable 5.5 acre parcel of land, on the mountainous countryside of Montebello, surrounded by a soft-flowing river and a rich vegetation rendering a pleasantly cool weather in summer, and an awesome climate in the winter. It has a spacious building with two floors large enough to accommodate 400 persons in each. The second floor can be converted into a large chapel for religious services; and the first floor, with its kitchen and many side rooms, can be used as a conference hall, or a wedding reception hall, or a public gathering hall, or for any major public function of our community. 

PROPOSED PROGRAMS AND ACTIVITIES 

Youth Activities 

This unique facility was acquired mainly for the benefit of the younger generation of our community and all those who associate with them, and the Church of the 3rd millennium in the U.S. This will be a center for the youth, and of the youth. 

Conference Center 

The two-story building and the 5.5 acre surroundings are an ideal place for one-day conferences, weekend retreats and week-long conferences. The hotels within walking and driveable distances will provide adequate living accommodations for those who desire to stay overnight. 

Counseling Center 

The young people of our generation need guidance in many areas of their life. They need trustworthy professionals to share their problems with, to communicate their feelings with and to unload their burdens. Problems such as drug abuse, alcoholism and the like are seriously affecting our young people. This facility will provide trained, experienced and mature leadership for our youth in need of counseling. 

Theological Study Center 

This will be a study house for anyone who has the desire to learn more about orthodoxy and its apostolic roots and history. 

For young people who feel having a vocation for the orthodox priesthood this place will be a training ground in the areas of general theology, liturgics and church leadership. Many internationally acclaimed scholars have already promised their services at this center. In addition, our church also possesses highly competent scholars in various fields of professional theology to realize the dream of a theological institute in America. 

Ecumenical Center 

The St. Gregorios Mission Center will initiate dialogues between churches of various backgrounds, will be a meeting place for leaders of different religious persuasions. It will also highlight the place of orthodoxy as the apostolic continuation of the Church of Christ. 

Members of other denomination also have generously contributed towards the acquisition of this property, and therefore this center will remain open for them and their children, regardless of religious or ethnic backgrounds, as a facility where they could come and plan activities of ecumenical importance. Steps have already been taken to form an ecumenical committee under the auspices of the center. 

Medical Clinic 

Many contributors and associates of the center are members of the medical profession. A good number of our younger generation are also preparing for various medical professions. Their free time will be utilized to provide medical services free of charge for the poor and needy of the community. 

A HOLISTIC SPIRITUAL CENTER 

The St. Gregorios Mission Center thus promises itself as a holistic spiritual center concerned about the mental, intellectual, physical and spiritual well being of the people of God. It will also try to engender positive ethical and religious values necessary for responsible citizenship within a democracy emphasizing the enhancement of a Christian person in every individual, as intended by Christ, that the Center is striving after. 

WHAT WE NEED 

We request your valuable prayers for the completion of this center. It is because of the prayers of many that we could purchase this beautiful property. Acquisition of a property is only the beginning. In addition to many remodeling works, this center also requires the construction of additional facilities within this 5.5 acre property. But our primary task is to pay off the mortgage on the property; and we need additional funds for this. We also need funds to expand the facility further for many of its activities as proposed in this brochure. We will achieve them stage by stage as donations come in. Without your generous and magnanimous support we cannot realize our dreams. We solicit your monetary help as an immediate support. Please also talk to your friends and relatives positively about this venture. THIS IS THE INSTITUTION OF YOUR CHILDREN FOR THE 21ST CENTURY AND IT WILL BE THE CENTER OF YOUR CHURCH IN THE THIRD MILLENNIUM. Therefore, please invest in the future of your children and the continuation of your heritage, and the future of the next generation. Also please continue to pray for our center. 

Please Email your views & articles to fr@indianchristianity.org 

or by post 

Rev.Fr.Johnson Punchakonam
St.Mary's Orthodox Church
Nalanchira Post
Trivandrum-695014
Ph:+91-471-2541515
Mobile:-9447151515