INDIAN ORTHODOX CHURCH,UK

St.Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church,UK
A Church of Holy Scripture And Sacred Tradition

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PARISH NEWS:
Greetings to dear brothers and sisters From Vicar Rev. Fr. Abraham Thomas

Dearly beloved brothers and sisters in Christ,

"Grace and peace be yours in abundance!

Prayers and good wishes

Address: Cranfield Road, Brockley, London SE4 1UF Tel:02086919456

OVBS -JULY 12-13

FAMILY CONFERENCE-AUGUST 22-24

REGULAR SUNDAY SERVICES IN LONDON

St.Gregorios Church, Cranfield Road, London SE4 1UF

St. Andrew- by- the- Wardrobe Church, London EC4

Christopher Wren (1685-95) rebuilt this beautiful church, following the great fire of London. Late Rev Fr. K.A. George by his relentless effort secured this Anglican Church from the generous Lord Bishop of London and H.H. Baselios Marthoma Mathews I sanctified and celebrated Holy Liturgy in July 1978.

Photo Gallery http://picasaweb.google.com/st.gregorios.ioc.uk

PLEASE SEE MORE MOVING PICTURES OF THE SERVICE IN ALBUM

http://picasaweb.google.com/st.gregorios.ioc.uk/FarewellToHGMarMakarios/photo#s5173261739046588498

http://picasaweb.google.com/st.gregorios.ioc.uk/IntermentOfHGDrThomasMarMakariosPartI

http://picasaweb.google.com:80/st.gregorios.ioc.uk/TributeToHGMarMakarios

http://picasaweb.google.co.uk:80/svargis/HGMakariosFuneralPart1FromLondon

Scenes from PERUNAL2007

Scenes OVBS 2007

SCENES OF THE CONSECRATION

Dedication

Christmas Carols 2007

H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios & Catholic Archbishop Kevin McDonald in St.Gregorios Church, London on the 22nd December2007

activities

CHARITY PROJECT FOR 2006.

St. John's Orthodox Church , Moolankav, Sultan Bathery, Wayanad, Kerala .

We have sponsored the complete construction coast of the Church, which is a very backward, underdeveloped part of Wayanad, Malabar. Kerala.

Please log on to the link see IOC Summer Ball

http://groups.msn.com/StGregoriosIndianOrthodoxChurch.

to see the Brockley development in pictures and join the discussion group.

SUNDAY SCHOOL

For the benefit of our young children please give them the chance to participate and enjoy the regular interaction that the Sunday school provides.

CHURCH MEMBERSHIP:

Have you filled in the membership forms? If not, make it a point to see or contact the Hon. Secretary Mr. Sabu Koshy , who will be pleased to hear from you.

Then keep a breast of all the activities and latest updates via our web site.

GOOD NEWS:

Congratulations on the birth of:

Baby girl to Anil & Reshma on 1st July 2008

Baby girl to Siby & Tincy June 2008

Baby girl to Shiju & Savitha June 2008

Baby boy (Mat) to Sijy Mathew & Bency on 23 may 2008

Baby girl ( Lara) to Harsh and Marina on 31st January 2008

Babyboy ( Joel) to Simon & Lisha on 30th November 2007

Baby girl to Abraham Kurien(Manu) & Preena on 19th October2007

Baby girl (Amelia) to Jaiku & Tina on the 10th August 2007

Wedding bells ;Congratulations to:

Sunil Easho & Jency 14th May 2007

Varghese Mathew (Sibi) & Tincy Abraham 5th Feb. 07

Dr. Philip Alexander & Chinnu Abraham 1st Jan. 07

OBITUARY

Our parish member Mrs. Annamma Mathai ((Leelamma,70 yrs.) W/o late Mr. PV Mathai has been called to the eternal abode. Funeral took place on the 29th April 2008, at The Holy Angel's Church, 34 High Street, Cranford, followed by interment service at Hounslow Cemetery, 631 Hanworth Road, Midd'x, TW4 5NH
Leelamma is survived by four sons (Babu, Sabu, Soman and Biju). Her family has always been associated with this parish since inception and we have lost a valuable member and a ever welcoming host. The members of the parish conveys condolences to the bereaved family..

Please keep the family in your prayers that they may find consolation in Christ. May the departed soul find eternal peace.

"May she stand on Thy right side
On that day Thy grace shall dawn."

ST MARY'S LEAGUE

Now that our membership is increasing it is definitely becoming a challenge each week for the St Mary's League to cater for the refreshments each week. in both places.

Are you willing to provide refreshments one Sunday after Holy Qurbana ?��then please contact Mrs. Mary Wilson would be pleased to hear from you.

if you would like to be included in the mailing list

Brief History of the Parish

The roots of this parish could be traced back to the 1930s. Abu Alexios of the Bethany monastery (later Bishop Mar Theodosius) was the first priest of our church ever to visit UK. This visit was made possible by the tireless efforts of Prof. A. M. Varki of Alwaye, as a member of the 'mission of fellowship to England and Ireland' sponsored by the National Christian Council of India. With the help and cooperation of people like Dr.William Paton, Cannon John Douglas and others, formed an association called 'The Friends of the Syrian Church' to render help to this ancient church in India by offering higher theological training. The first candidate thus chosen was Abu Alxios, participated in the Jubilee celebrations of the Community of Resurrection, Mirfield and made connections with several religious communities in UK.

The second priest who came to UK under this program was Rev.Fr.T.V.John of UC College Alwaye in 1934. He conducted Holy Qurbana in Malayalam in Kings College chapel and several others came to UK under this program.

The important milestone in the history was the visit of H.H The Catholicos Baselios Mar Geverghese II in 1937, accompanied the very Rev.Rambans C.M.Thoma (later Metropolitan Mar Dionysius) and Abu Alexios to participate in the second "Faith and Order Conference" of World Council of Churches in Edinburgh. After the conference Ramban C.M.Thoma stayed with the Cowley fathers for studies in Oxford and conducted services.

In the 1950s and 60s the Malayalee Christian community had grown gradually, however, services were held only occasionally by visiting priests and prelates. They include Metropolitan Mathews Mar Coorilos (present catholicos H.H.Moran Mar Baselios Marthomma Mathews II) Rev.Fr.K Philipose ( late metropolitan Mar Theophilus) Rev.Fr.Dr.C.T.Eapen, Rev.Fr.P.S.Samuel, and others.

Rev.Fr.P.V.Joseph (late Mar Pachomios), Rev.Fr.Yohannan (late metropolitan Mar Athanasius) came to UK for higher studies and served the community. Rev.Fr. Philipose visited the congregation on several occasions during his trips to Europe in connection with the various programs of the World Council of Churches. Even after his enthronement as bishop Mar Theophilus, his grace continued his adorable interest in the community.

Rev.Dn. K.G.George (now bishop Geverghese Mar Ivanios) followed the footsteps and stayed with Cawley Fathers in Oxford for six years giving invaluable service to the community. All these years services were conducted in Indian YMCA chapel, Fitzroy Square, London and all the Malayalee Christians participated irrespective of their denominational differences.

In early 1970s H.G. Geverghese Mar Osthathios organized the St. Gregorios fellowship during one his pastoral visits.

It is one of life's little ironies that when the community grew in size with the arrival of more migrants, in 1974, the inevitable segregation on denominational basis happened. Members of Orthodox Syrian Church and Marthoma Church formed separate congregations and commenced worshiping separately.

The year 1976 is another important milestone in the history of the church. When the diocese outside Kerala was re-organized, this church was under Bombay diocese and the then diocesan metropolitan H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios visited us and declared as a parish: -St.Gregorios of Parumala as our patron saint. Rev. Fr. Abraham Aluckal (now bishop Mar Severios) was appointed as the first vicar of the parish. In the 1979 re-organization of the dioceses, London parish came under the diocese of Delhi and had the privilege of pastoral care of eminent scholar late H. G. Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios who visited the parish on a regular basis. This prelude of the history of the parish can not be complete with out the names of Rev. Fr. Mathews M. Daniel, H. G. Philipose Mar Eusebius, Late Ver. Rev. Kuriakose Cor-Episcopa, Rev. Fr. O. Thomas, H. G. Geverghese Mar Coorilose, Rev. Fr. V. M. James, Rev. Fr. Thomas Yohannan, Rev. Fr. M.S.Skariah, who served in succession as vicars of the parish, bringing new life and vitality. When the new diocese of Europe, UK and Canada was formed in 1993, this parish came under the jurisdiction of an elite in the Malankara Orthodox Church, H. G. DR. THOMAS MAR MAKSRIOS.

It can only be a gift of Grace that this parish greatly privileged by getting the services of the outstanding priests who rose to higher ecclesiastical positions. We have been fortunate to have our service in the heart of the great city Of London since 1978 on all Sundays in the beautiful St. Andrew-by-the- wardrobe Church by the generosity of Church of England.

We are fostering a culture of excellence within our church and ever since the parish was formed we had a dream of having our own church which we achieved in 2002. We have now our own property and we are proud that this is the first church in UK and all Europe.

The dedication and consecration ceremony was conducted by H. G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios , the diocesan bishop on the 1st January 2005.