AD 52 to Today
From St. Thomas the Apostle to the shores of New Jersey — two thousand years of an unbroken tradition of faith, reformation, and witness.
AD 52
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church traces its origin to the apostolic mission of St. Thomas the Apostle, who is believed to have arrived on the Malabar Coast of South India in AD 52. Landing at Cranganore (Kodungallur), he preached the Gospel to Brahmin families and established seven churches across Kerala before his martyrdom near Chennai in AD 72.
These early believers — the ancient Syrian Christians of Kerala — maintained their faith through centuries of isolation, connecting with the Patriarchate of Antioch for episcopal succession and liturgical tradition. The Syriac (West Syrian Antiochean) liturgy, still used in the Mar Thoma Church today, is a living testimony to this unbroken heritage.
"Thomas, called the Twin, said to his fellow disciples, 'Let us also go, that we may die with him.'"
John 11:16 — the Apostle whose boldness carried the Gospel to IndiaTwo Millennia of Faith
The Apostle Thomas lands at Cranganore and preaches the Gospel, establishing seven churches at Kodungallur, Palayoor, Kottakkavu, Kokkamangalam, Niranam, Chayal, and Kollam — the founding communities of Indian Christianity.
The church in Kerala maintained communion with the Patriarchate of Antioch, using the West Syrian liturgy (Anaphora of St. James). Trade contacts with Persia, Mesopotamia, and later Rome shaped its multi-layered identity as an Eastern church deeply embedded in Indian culture.
Portuguese colonial authorities forced the Synod of Udayamperoor (Diamper), imposing Roman Catholic doctrine and liturgical changes on the Kerala church. This remains a contested episode — a suppression of the ancient native tradition under colonial pressure.
At Mattancherry, the majority of Kerala Christians took a dramatic oath holding a rope tied to the Koonan Cross, swearing to break from Roman authority. This act of independence marks the decisive moment of self-determination in the history of the St. Thomas Christians.
Church Missionary Society (CMS) missionaries arrived in Kerala, and their partnership with Bishop Palakunnath Abraham Malpan (1796–1845) sparked a movement of biblical and evangelical reform. Malpan translated and reformed the liturgy, removing prayers for the dead and to saints, restoring the centrality of Scripture and the atoning work of Christ.
Abraham Malpan sent his nephew Deacon Mathews to the Patriarch of Antioch in 1836. After extended deliberation, Mathews was consecrated as Bishop Mathews Mar Athanasius in 1843, receiving episcopal succession for the reformed church and establishing its apostolic continuity.
Legal disputes and internal strife led to the formal separation of the reformed church (the Mar Thoma Church) from the Jacobite Orthodox communion. The Privy Council of India upheld the Mar Thoma Church's right to its properties in 1889, confirming its distinct identity.
The Mar Thoma Church grew rapidly through the 20th century, establishing the Ecumenical Missionary Fellowship, expanding missions across India and abroad, and entering into full communion with the Church of South India (CSI), the Church of North India (CNI), and the Church of Pakistan.
As Mar Thoma families emigrated to the United States, Canada, and Europe, the Diocese of North America and Europe was established, providing episcopal oversight to the growing diaspora communities and empowering them to plant new parishes.
Following a first gathering in Teaneck in October 1980, the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey was constituted as a full parish on April 5, 1981 — one node in a global network of communities tracing their faith to the Apostle Thomas, now bearing witness in the Garden State.
Faith and Order
The Mar Thoma Church occupies a unique position in world Christianity — catholic in order, evangelical in faith, and missionary in calling.
The Mar Thoma Church maintains the historic episcopate — bishops in the succession of the Apostles, providing continuity with the ancient church. Yet the church is governed democratically, with lay representatives elected at every level from local parish to general body.
The Reformation of Abraham Malpan grounded the church firmly in the authority of Scripture and the sufficiency of Christ's atoning work. The Mar Thoma Church is evangelical — believing in the necessity of personal faith and the transformation of the heart — while honouring the richness of the ancient liturgical tradition.
In full communion with the Church of South India, Church of North India, the Church of Pakistan, and the Philippine Independent Church, the Mar Thoma Church is committed to Christian unity. Its motto "Lighted to Lighten" calls every member to be a bearer of the Gospel light to the world.
Ancient Worship
The Holy Qurbana (the Eucharistic liturgy) of the Mar Thoma Church is celebrated in the tradition of the Anaphora of St. James, one of the oldest liturgical rites in Christendom. Rooted in the West Syrian Antiochean tradition, this service has been shaped over centuries — and reformed in the 19th century to reflect evangelical theology while preserving its ancient poetic beauty.
At the Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey, the Holy Qurbana is celebrated in both Malayalam and English, honoring the heritage of the mother church while welcoming all generations into the mystery of Christ's presence at the Table.
The Mar Thoma Church Today
The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, headquartered in Tiruvalla, Kerala, has grown to over 1.6 million members in more than 1,200 congregations across India and the world. The church is led by the Metropolitan, who serves as the chief pastor and spiritual head, supported by several bishops.
The Mar Thoma Church operates schools, colleges, hospitals, and social service institutions across India, embodying its commitment to holistic ministry — proclaiming the Kingdom of God in word and deed.
Established in 1974, the Diocese of North America and Europe oversees Mar Thoma congregations across the United States, Canada, and Europe. The Diocese holds an annual conference that gathers clergy and lay representatives from across North America for worship, fellowship, and governance.
The Mar Thoma Church of New Jersey is one of the parishes under this Diocese, fulfilling its calling to be "Lighted to Lighten" in the greater New York–New Jersey metropolitan area.