Orthodox Cathedral in Twin Cities

Kerala Christians belonging to different denominations established a number of churches in the city during the past 50 years.

These denominations are Orthodox, Jacobite, Mar Thoma, Malankara Catholic and Evangelical to count a few of them.

Members of these churches have been settling down in this region, particularly Hyderabad, during that period.

Most of them have come here on business ventures and the rest on employment, both Government and private sectors. Once a few Keralite Christians settle in one place somewhat comfortably, they immediately think of a place of worship.

All these denominations of Christians, who claim to be the descendents of St.

Thomas, one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, have established their own churches in Hyderabad.

It is believed that St. Thomas came to Kerala coast in 52 A.D. and he converted members of five reputed Brahmin families into Christianity.

They used to be called St. Thomas Christians or Nazrani Christians. They were also known as Syrian Christians as they used Syriac as their liturgical or worship language at that time.

Orthodox Christians and Jacobite Christians even today use Syriac terms in their liturgy. They also had links with Syrian church.

Desi church
The Orthodox Church is next only to the Catholic Church in the world in terms of membership.

Its origin dates back to the 1st century A.D. when disciples of Christ were sent to various continents and countries for establishing the church.

Hyderabad Orthodox Christians have flourished and have built four churches in and around the twin cities.

St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral at Gandhinagar in Mushirabad stands tall in the peaceful thickly populated colony.

It was built and consecrated in 1969. The efforts and untiring work of the first settlers here have made it possible for them to build this beautiful somewhat Gothic style church.

Named after the 19th century saint, Gregorios, it was made a Cathedral by the then Catholicos of the East His Holiness Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews II, the Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Church (also known as Malankara Orthodox Church) in 1994 when the church celebrated its Silver Jubilee.

The holy relics of St. Gregorios, patron saint of the cathedral were also installed during the ceremony. The Cathedral is nearing its Golden Jubilee year.

The cathedral takes care of the spiritual needs of its members besides conducting various ceremonies like baptism of infants, marriages of its members, funeral of the dead apart from regular Sunday and Friday Mass.

On occasions like Christmas, Good Friday, Easter and Feasts of its Patron-Saint (St. Gregorios) and other Saints special Mass and other services are conducted at the cathedral.

Sunday School for children is held every Sunday after Holy Mass. Sunday School helps in the overall spiritual development and good behavioural pattern of children.

Youth and women members too actively participate in various cathedral activities, according to the Vicar (priest-in- charge), Rev Fr Thomas Oommen, who is a first generation Hyderabadi Orthodox Christian. His parents had come to Hyderabad in the late forties.

Democratic set-up
The Cathedral is led by the Vicar in his capacity as both spiritual and temporal head.

However, the day-to-day administrative affairs are taken care of by a Managing Committee with a Trustee and Secretary and nine members, who are all elected by the General Body, which consists of all Cathedral members.

The trustee is the custodian of cathedral properties, including its finances, and the Secretary is responsible for holding meetings of Managing Committee and general body and keeping the records and overseeing other activities.

The Vicar presides over the meetings. Malankara Orthodox Church is democratic to the core that its Supreme Head and bishops are elected by representatives from the churches, which number more than 1200, according to the Secretary, PK Kurien.

The entire church finances are received from members by way of contribution. No outside funds, including that from abroad, are received by the Cathedral, according to the Trustee, P George Sakhariah.

Recently, a parsonage complex was constructed in the premises with funds contributed by members and well-wishers.

Service in the fields of education and healthcare has been a fort for the Orthodox Church. St. Gregorios had set up schools for English education in the 19th century.

Following the footsteps of the saint, the Hyderabad cathedral is also running a High School in Chilkanagar, a lower middle class colony.

It is a service to society and there is no profit motive for the cathedral. The cathedral conducts occasional health camps either at the school or in the Cathedral premises.

The Orthodox Church in India has 30 bishops led by the Supreme Head, the Catholicos and Malankara Metropolitan.

Its members exceed 25 lakh, with more than 2,000 priests, spread over the entire world. The church never indulges in conversion, but serves all irrespective of caste, creed or colour with the aim of glorifying God almighty.