A brief history of  Diocese of South West America

The Diocese was formed by order number 145/2009 signed by the then Catholicos of the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas and Malankara Metropolitan, His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Didymos I on April 1, 2009. The head quarters of the Diocese is in Houston, Texas.

 

Diocese of South West America

The Diocese is constituted of the parishes located in the southern and western states of the United States of America and the western provinces of Canada. The head of the Diocese is the Diocesan Metropolitan also known as the Diocesan Bishop, canonically elected, installed, and recognized by order of the Catholicos.

The Diocese is governed according to Holy Tradition, practices, and the Constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church adopted in 1934 and subsequent amendments, (hereafter the Constitution). The Diocese is not an independent church in matters of ecclesiastical discipline or faith, but a part of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and always will remain as such, unless otherwise decided by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The purpose of the Diocese is to function as the Central Administrative Body of the individual parishes within its functional jurisdiction and to provide leadership to bring administrative and functional consistency, spiritual harmony, ecclesiastical spread and discipline among the faithful members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of the Diocese.

The Diocese may engage in various religious, educational, charitable, social, and mission activities allowed to any religious charitable organizations in the United States of America and Canada under applicable law.

By virtue of his office, the Diocesan Metropolitan is the chief administrative officer of the Diocese. All decisions and actions of any diocesan committee, official body or organization shall be executed with the approval of the Diocesan Metropolitan.

Subject to the Constitution, the decisions of the Diocesan Assembly should be executed by the Diocesan Council with the approval of the Diocesan Metropolitan.

In accordance with Section 3(c) Article 65 of the Constitution, matters concerning faith, order and discipline shall, subject to the decisions of the Holy Episcopal Synod, be under the control of the Diocesan Metropolitan.

“Let them extol Him also in the congregation of the people, And praise Him at the seat of the elders”
— Psalm 107:32

Regions under the Diocese Of South West America

Diocese of South West America

Metropolitan

H.G. Alexios Mar Eusebius I

Midwest

  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Chicago (Bellwood)
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Chicago (Elmhurst)
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Chicago
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Chicago
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Detroit
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Detroit
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Detroit
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Saint Louis
  • St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church , Cleveland
  • Orthodox Congregation, Kansas City, KS
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Congregation, Iowa

West

  • St.Thomas Orthodox Church,Seattle
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Los Angeles
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, LA
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, San Francisco
  • St. George Orthodox Church, Sacramento
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox, Church (Bellflower)
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Phoenix
  • St. Marys Orthodox Congregation, Las Vegas
  • St.Marys Orthodox Congregation,Santa Cruz, CA

Northwest

  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Edmonton, Canada
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Calgary, AB Canada
  • St. George Malankara Orthodox Church, Vancouver, BC Canada
  • St Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Church, Spokane, WA

South

  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church of India, Houston 
  • St. Stephen's Orthodox Church, Houston
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Houston
  • St.Marys Orthodox Church, Houston
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church of India, Dallas (Carrollton)
  • St. George Orthodox Church, Dallas
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Valiyapally, Dallas
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Dallas 
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Dallas
  • St. Pauls Orthodox Church, Dallas
  • St. George Orthodox Church, San Antonio 
  • St.Mary's Orthodox Church, San Antonio 
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Austin
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Lufkin
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, New Orleans
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Oklahoma
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Denver
  • St.Gregorios Orthodox Church, McAllen

Southeast

  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Atlanta
  • St.Mary's Orthodox Church, Atlanta
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church South Florida (Oakland Park)
  • St. Gregorios Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Tampa.
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church of India, South Florida
  • St. Paul's Orthodox Church, Orlando
  • St. Thomas Orthodox Church, South Florida (Hollywood)
  • St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Tampa(Wesley Chapel)
  • St. Gregorios Orthodox Church, Jacksonville
  • St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Augusta
  • St. Pauls Orthodox Church, Chattanooga