Places of Worship
Cathedral
Members of the parish continued to dream about having a place of worship of their own since its formal establishment in December 1952. A Society had to be registered for acquiring land from the government for religious and charitable purposes. Accordingly, The Delhi Orthodox Syrian Church Society was registered (No. S. 1758 of 1960-61) under the Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860, with the three-fold aim of establishing places of worship, educational institutions and health care facilities.
Proceeds from a Fete organized in February 1961, a few ad hoc donations, a transfer of Rs. 3000 from the parish funds, and the net receipts from two charity film shows arranged in Vigyan Bhawan on 8th April 1962 had in all helped to accumulate a balance of Rs. 11006.31 in the accounts of the Society at the end of 1963. And there was a resolution of the general body that every member would voluntarily contribute a month’s emoluments in easy installments. It was the small bank balance, but the abundant faith in the Almighty, that the small number of active members of the parish pushed ahead to achieve the objective of building a place of worship of their own.
Following the Supreme Court judgment of 1958, giving the quietus to half a century of litigation between the Patriarch and Catholicos supporters, peace had been established in the Church. Consequently, there was complete co-operation amongst the members of combined congregation to irrespective of differing loyalties. We pressed for urgent allotment of a plot of Land by the DDA to enable us to have the foundation stone of the Church building laid by His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Yacob Ill, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East on May 19, 1964.
The Construction work started on 13th April 1966 and the building with a covered area of 7870 sq. feet on a 0.32-acre (13941 sq.ft.) plot, costing Rs. 32004.13, using 202.85 tonnes of cement (costing Rs. 38284.40), and 35,15 tonnes of steel (costing Rs. 29096.65), involving a total construction cost of Rs. 2.46 lakhs, was completed in two years. The Church building was consecrated by H.G. Mathews Mar Athansaios, Metropolitan of the Diocese outside Kerala on April 6 & 7, 1968. Thus came into existence the ‘mother parish’, now St. Mary’s Orthodox Cathedral, in the Delhi Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church of India.
A generous timely donation of Rs. 50,000 from His Imperial Majesty Haile Selassie I, Emperor of Ethiopia helped us immensely in completion of the Parish hall. His Majesty inaugurated the Parish Hall on 30th April 1968.
Renovation of Cathedral: The Cathedral was renovated in 2011. It was dedicated for worship on October 21, 2011 by H H Baselios Marthoma Paulose II. The parish hall also renovated and re-dedicated on 24th May 2015, named as HAILE SELASSIE HALL.
Kurishumthotti
The foundation stone for this was laid by H.G. Job Mar Philoxenos on 18th July 1999, assisted by Very Rev. John V John Corepiscopa and Rev. Fr. Shaji Mathews. It was consecrated on 2nd May 2000 by H.G. Kuriakose Mar Clemis and H.G. Job Mar Philoxenos, assisted by Rev. Fr. P.K. Thomas, Rev. Fr. Philip M Samuel, Rev. Fr. M.C. Poulose, Rev. Fr. Paul Thomas, Rev. Fr. Koshy Thomas from the sister parishes, and Rev. Fr. Shaji Mathews and Rev. Fr. Ninan Philip, our Vicar and Assistant Vicar, respectively. This has been beautified with white marble trellis fencing and given a separate entrance, shifting the main entry to the church to centre of the compound wall.
Bishop’s Suite
A much-needed suite in the Cathedral for visiting Bishops was constructed during 2006-07. Along with this, a room for the Assistant Vicar was also provided.
Kodimaram (Flag Mast)
Another addition in the church premises was a newly built flag mast which was consecrated on 26th September 2009 by H.B. Paulose Mar Milithios assisted by H.G. Dr. Zacharia Mar Theophilos, H.G. Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius, priests from Delhi diocese and Kottayam Theological Seminary professor Rev. Fr. Dr. O Thomas.
The foundation stone for this complex was laid on 22nd April 2001 by H.G. Job Mar Philoxenos and was consecrated on 24 and 25 April 2002 by H.G. Job Mar Philoxenos.
St. John’s Chapel
SMOC
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