About Our Congregation
With Bangalore becoming one of the destinations due to the attractive living conditions here and the good job opportunities, there has been a heavy inflow of Malayalees from across the country. This has contributed to the growth of the Mar Thoma community in Bangalore over the years.Around the year 2013 – 2014, the parishioners from the J P NAGAR / JAYANAGAR prayer group of the “Marthoma Syrian Church, Primrose Road, Bangalore” felt that since there was a sizeable population in this prayer group it was time to think of forming a new parish in south Bangalore. This thought went through multiple stages of discussions during the prayer meetings and the members continued to pray for God’s direction in this mission.
At the area prayer meeting held during the year 2014. in the presence of Rev M O Ommenachen, Rev Ajuachen and Rev Sajuachen, it was decided to hold a communion service in this area. Accordingly the management of HolySprit school agreed to provide their hall to conduct service.The first Holy Communion worship was held during 2013 at Holy Sprit school on Bannerghatta Roadlead by Rev M O OMMEN achen and around 125 members in attendance , the prayer group members decided to conduct Holy Communion service on one Sunday of every month.
In the year 2014 to strengthen the spiritual needs of the members of the prayer group in and around J P Nagar /JayanagarRev SujitMammenAchen was stationed at VIJAYA BANK COLONY. Regular holy Communion was held at Aradhana Academy every Sunday at 10 am.As per the decision taken at a meeting held on 3 February 2018, an application was forwarded (with 50 signatures) to the vicar Rev Sham P Thomas of our mother parish , The Mar Thoma Church Primrose Road, Bangalore, to press the case for the formation of a new parish. The KaisthanaSamithi and the general body of the mother parish approved the request and forwarded the same to the Diocesan Bishop. The Diocese and the Synod of the church approved the same and andMarthoma Congregation J P NAGAR was formed. The Kalpana was issued by the Metropolitan of the Marthoma Church on 1st June 2018 posting Rev. Abraham P Abraham theassistant vicar of the mother parish with the additional charge as the vicar of the new parish. The first worship of the new parish was held on 3 June 2018, by Rev. Abraham P Abraham.
The Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathews Mar MakariousEpiscopa visited our congregation 12 August 2018.The Holy Communion was conducted by the Bishop at 9:00 am followed by a meeting.The Sunday school, Youth league, Choir, SevikaSangham and Edavaka Mission organizations were formed with the formation of the congregation. Sunday cottage prayer meetings are being conducted in the residences of our members every first Sunday of the month.Gradually, our membership grew to 50 families and presently 65, taking into account the transfer of some of our members.
When the parish was formed, the average strength during a worship service was 100. Now, the average attendance is around 300.Many Achens have helped us by visiting us and, conducting worships and prayer meetings in the early days of the congregation.
Rt. Rev. Dr. Mathews Mar MakariosThirumeni( Rev. Dr. Varghese Mathai) was born on 25th February 1953 as the son of KalayilKannanpoikayil Sri. K.E. Mathew and Smt. KunjammaMathai of Thumpamon North Immanuel Parish. Varghese Mathai completed education from Thumpamon EALP, MG High School and Pandalam NSS College. He took his degree in Physics. He joined postal services in Mumbai.
On being called for divine service he left the job and joined Kottayam Mar ThomaTheological Seminary for a Theological degree in 1975. On completion of his studies brilliantly he was ordained as Semmas on 22ndApril 1978 at the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Kozhencherry by Joseph Mar IraneausEpiscopa and as Kaseessa on 22nd May 1978 at the St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Thiruvalla by Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan. He served as Vicar in RanniValiakavu, Karimpanamkuzhy, Kumaly, Anakkara, Vandanmed, Kolkatta, Nattassery, Australia, New Zealand and Othera Ebenezer. He got MTh from Kottayam FFRRC in 1985 and doctorate from Bangalore SATRI in 1994 based on New Testament. He successfully completed research on the subject ‘Christ Vision and Holy Spirit in the Gospel of St. John’. He taught New Testament in Leonard Theological College of Madyapradesh from 1987 to 1996 and in Kottayam Mar Thoma Theological Seminary during 1996-2003 and 2006-2008. He served during this period as member of the Research Committee of Serampore University and as Dean of the Doctoral studies of FFRRC. He has published explanatory books on Hebrews and 1. Corinthians. The other books published are Paraclitos the experience of the Holy spirit, Jesus the Good shephered, Sishyathavum, Viliyum, Niyogavum and Fragrance of Christ. He is able to publish outstanding articles in the periodicals of the Church and International Theological periodicals.
He was consecrated Ramban along with Rev. K.V. Varkey and Rev. Dr.Oommen George by Geevarghese Mar Theodosius Episcopa on 7th May 2011 at the specially constructed Holy Madbaha at Ernakulam St. Alberts College Grounds. With the other two Rambans he was consecrated as Episcopa by Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan on 13th August 2011 at the specially prepared Holy Madbaha at Thiruvalla SCS Ground with the name Mathews Mar MakariosEpiscopa.His endearing behaviour, deep insights of Theology and noble experience of teaching ministry increase the quality of Thirumeni’s ministry.