The Diocese

The Delhi Diocese, spread over eighteen states, has completed three years of its mission in the northern part of India. There are 64 Parishes and 26 Congregations in the Diocese, which are actively involved in various social projects and mission outreach programmes. The help and support of the Parishes and Congregations enriched the Diocesan activities. However, the Diocese which covers nearly the length and breadth of Northern India faces many challenges.

Mar Thoma Centre / Diocesan Office

The establishment of the Mar Thoma Centre at New Delhi was a landmark in the history of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. It was for the first time that a Diocesan Headquarters of the Mar Thoma Church was set up outside the geographical limits of Kerala. It fulfilled the long felt need of having a suitable Headquarters to accommodate the office-cum- residence of the Diocesan Bishop and for carrying out effective administrative functions and coordinating the various ongoing spiritual, humanitarian and social action Projects undertaken by the Church and the various Parishes in the vast Northern and Central parts of the country. The Centre also has a Chapel/Conference Hall to facilitate Worship Services, Diocesan Assembly meetings, Clergy Conferences, Seminars, Inter-religious Dialogues, etc. The Centre serves as a focal point for religious and cultural exchanges and interaction with people of other religious faiths, thereby promoting social and communal harmony, secularism and national unity. Indeed, the Mar Thoma Church established a meaningful presence in the National Capital city of Delhi with the setting up of the Centre.

The Centre is located at 26, Bhai Vir Singh Marg, Gole Market in the central area, very near to Connaught Place. The land for construction of the Centre was obtained through the relentless efforts of the then Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Irenaeus and other lay leaders like, late Mr. M. M. Samuel and Mr. V. P. Thomas. The construction of the Centre was completed under the guidance of a Construction Committee with Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius as Chairman, Rev. John Mathew, the Secretary to the Bishop and Rev. T. P. Koshy, the then Vicar of the Karol Bagh Mar Thoma Church as the Convener. Mr. Tikkekar was the Architect who designed the Complex as per the approved lay out of all the buildings of the area and the overall supervision of the construction was looked after by late Mr. M. I. Philip. The Centre was dedicated by the Metropolitan of the Mar Thoma Church, Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma on March, 1992. A grand public function was held to mark the dedication ceremony which was attended by a distinguished gathering of heads of other Churches, the Lt. Governor of Delhi, etc.

The Mar Thoma Centre is dedicated to the memory of Dr. Mathews Mar Athanasius (1900- 1974), who was the first Missionary Bishop of the Mar Thoma Church. He was an eminent educationist and had contributed considerably to the infrastructural development of the church by founding a large number of educational institutions, hospitals, community centers, ashrams etc and had nurtured them with utmost devotion and personal care for rendering valuable service to the people, particularly to the poor and the needy. He had a genuine concern about the healing ministry to the rural poor and the marginalized sections of the society. He organized his missionary work in the full faith that God Almighty will provide for the dedicated cause and will reward the hard work of His committed people. The Mar Thoma Centre at New Delhi epitomizes the grand vision of the late Dr. Mathews Mar Athanasius Thirumeni and the phenomenal growth the Church has achieved outside Kerala, in the recent past.