| St.
Gregorios Orthodox Church of India, Bronx, New York
was started on November 6, 1988 with the approval of
then Diocesan Metropolitan H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios.
His Grace Mathews Mar Ephiphanios, Metropolitan of the
Kollam Diocese, inaugurated the church and celebrated
the first Holy Eucharist. Rev. Fr. George Daniel was
appointed as the first Vicar of the parish. He was later
replaced by Rev. Fr. Raju Varghese who was the Vicar
from December 1989 to August 1997. Rev. Fr. Benjamin
Stephen was the Vicar for a brief period from September
1997 to June 1998. During this time the Holy Eucharist
and other church activities were being conducted at
Mercy College in Bronx, New York until September 1998.
In
June 1998, the Very Rev. Varughese Plamthottam, Cor
Episcopa, was appointed Vicar. The church has grown
spiritually under his excellent and dynamic leadership.
In October 1998 we moved to the parish hall of St Paul's
Episcopal Church in Yonkers, New York. H.B. Thomas Mar
Themothios, the Catholicos Designate, consecrated our
new location on October 4, 1998 and celebrated the first
Holy Eucharist there. Since then the Holy Eucharist
and other church activities have been conducted there.
The
Church celebrated its 10th Anniversary in November 1998.
H.B. Thomas Mar Themothios, the Catholicos Designate,
and H.G. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios, Senior Metropolitan
of the American Diocese, along with the Vicar and other
priests gave the leadership for the week long celebration.
His
Holiness Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, the Catholicos
of the Malankara Church, visited the church and celebrated
Holy Eucharist on both occasions when His Holiness visited
the American Diocese in 1992-93 and 1999. The Senior
Metropolitan and Metropolitan of the American Diocese,
H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas, pays regular visits and enlightens
the church with his spiritual messages. The church has
a present membership of 43 families and conducts Sunday
School activities, Martha Mariam Samajam meetings, and
Youth Group meetings regularly. The church also runs
the St. Gregorios Study Center which offers classes
in Malayalam, Indian Dance, Indian Classical Music,
and Piano.
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