In 1975, the Diocese of Delhi was formed from the Outside Kerala Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Since its inception, the Diocese in the National Capital Region has served as the Church’s backbone. The Diocese was first entrusted to the late lamented Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios, of blessed memory, a pioneering thinker and world-renowned scholar whose tireless and courageous leadership was important in leaving his mark in the early stages of the Church. Mar Gregorios' tireless efforts had resulted in the Church's expansion, especially in terms of the vast number of parishes and institutions. What the Diocese now boasts of can be traced to the late lamented Job Mar Philoxenos, the second Metropolitan of the Diocese of Delhi. Today, there are thirteen parishes in and around Delhi alone – Hauz Khas, Janakpuri, Tughlaqabad, SaritaVihar, MayurVihar-I, MayurVihar-III, Rohini, Dwaraka, Dilshad Garden, Ghaziabad, Noida, Gurgaon and Faridabad. Overall, there are forty two parishes including some congregations looked after by forty eight priests, spread over Uttar Pradesh, Rajasthan, Madhya Pradesh, Haryana, Delhi and the United Arab Emirates.

Diocese At a Glance

CategoryDetail
MetropolitanHG Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios
SecretaryRev Fr. Saji Abraham
Parishes42
Congregations4
Cor Episcopoi1
Priests48
Mission ProjectMar Philoxenos Centre for Human and Social Development – Shantigram, Mandawar, Haryana
Retreat CentreSt. Dionysius Retreat Centre, Aravalli

Metropolitans

TitleNameTenure
First MetropolitanLL HG Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios1976 – 1996
Second MetropolitanLL HG Job Mar Philoxenos2002 – 2011
Third MetropolitanHG Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios2012 – Present

Assistant Metropolitans

NameTenure
LL HG Job Mar Philoxenos1991 – 2002
HG Dr. Joseph Mar Dionysius2008 – 2010
HG Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios2010 – 2012

Timeline

YearEvent
1942Congregation is formed and liturgical worship started by Fr. Mathews (later, HH Baselios MarThoma Mathews II)
1944Metropolitan of Outside Kerala Diocese Alexios Mar Theodosius visits Delhi
1952Appointment of First Vicar – Fr. K.C Thomas (later HG Dr Thomas Mar Makarios).
1961Registration of the Delhi Orthodox Syrian Church Society
1975The Holy Synod establishes the new Diocese of Delhi from the Outside Kerala Diocese.
1976Installation of First Metropolitan – HG Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios
1981Foundation stone laid for the Delhi Orthodox Centre – HG Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios (Diocesan Metropolitan)
1984Blessing of The Delhi Orthodox Centre – HH Baselios MarThoma Mathews I (Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan) and Inaugurated – R. Venkataraman (Vice President of the Republic of India)
1991Appointment of First Assistant Metropolitan – HG Job Mar Philoxenos
1996Metropolitan HG Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios enters into heavenly abode
2002Installation of HG Job Mar Philoxenos as Diocesan Metropolitan
2011Metropolitan HG Job Mar Philoxenos enters into heavenly abode
2012Installation of HG Dr Youhanon Mar Demetrios as Diocesan Metropolitan
2019Blessing of renovated Delhi Orthodox Centre – H.H. Baselios MarThoma Paulose II (Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan)
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