Ecumenical Witness Of The Mar Thoma Church

Dear friends in Christ,

Greetings to you all in the precious name of our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ.

I bring you greetings from Valiya Metropolitan Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom and Metropolitan the Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma. The Bishops of the Mar Thoma Church join me in greeting you on this occasion. Bishop Dr. Zachariahs Mar Theophilos Suffragan Metropolitan and Bp. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa join me as my predecessor–bishops in this Diocese and Bishop Zachariahs Mar Theophilus and Bishop Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos as former students of Boston University. This is an honor and privilege for me and the Mar Thoma Church to be invited to the Massachusetts Council of Churches and I thank all of you who are present here, for this warm fellowship. Today I represent the Mar Thoma Church and the Mar Thoma Diocese of North America and Europe. We have membership in the World Council of Churches and enjoy the Communion relationship with the world- wide Anglican Church. The Church through the various dioceses has membership in the National Council of Churches in various geographical areas. The Diocese of North America and Europe enjoys the membership in the National Council Churches of Christ in USA, Canadian Council of Churches, Churches Together in England and Churches Together in Britain and Ireland. As a church, we encourage the local parishes to enter into the regional ecumenical bodies to have meaningful participation in ecumenical It is worth remembering now that the Most Rev. Dr. Youhannon Mar Thoma was one of the Presidents of the WCC and played a vital role in organizing its meeting in New Delhi in 1961. Later Dr. M.M. Thomas of the Mar Thoma Church was one of the Presidents in the 80’s. Dr. Zechariahs Mar Theophilos was in the central committee of the WCC for two terms in the 90’s and now Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos is serving as a member of the Central Committee. There are other members the Church who are on the staff of the central office. These are indicative of the active interest of the Mar Thoma Church has in the world wide Ecumenical Body. A Brief History of the Mar Thoma Church. The St. Thomas (Mar Thoma) Christian community has a large concentration of its members in Kerala, the south west region of the Indian sub continent. It maintained its relation with churches of Persia, Syria, and other Oriental Churches prior to the arrival of European Missionaries in the 15th Century. It was through the writings of the western scholars that St. Thomas Christians became known widely to the world outside.