About St.Thomas Orthodox Valiyapally,Kalyan in St.Thomas Orthodox Valiapally, Karnik Road, Kalyan West. Kalyan, Kalyan

KALYAN – The place where St. Thomas the Apostle of India landed in AD 52 (as per history revealed by the late lamented Philipos Mar Theophilus) and we are blessed with his footprints.

In 1950, orthodox people who were living in and around Kalyan depended upon the mother parish St. Marys Orthodox Syrian Church Dadar to meet their spiritual needs. Considering the difficulties in reaching Dadar from Kalyan, the then Vicar of St. Marys Church Dadar Rev. Fr. Punnoose(The Late Lamented Stephanos Mar Theodosios) decided to conduct Holy Qurbana in Kalyan and accordingly the first Holy Qurbana was celebrated in December 1957 at St. Christopher Church at Kalyan which belongs to CNI Church.

With the intention to build a church and school in Kalyan, purchased a plot at Thangewadi in 1964 and a cross was placed in that plot. The Bishops who visits Dadar used to come to Kalyan and offer Prayer too. People of Kalyan started their efforts to start a school in Kalyan with the guidance of the then Vicar of St Mary’s church, Dadar,fr C.V. John in 1968. As soon as construction of the ground floor got completed, started Holy Qurbana at this new place instead of St. Christopher Church, KG classes were also started at the new premises in the name of St. Thomas school.Two services in a month were conducted till 1978.

Considering the increase in orthodox members in Kalyan and the repeated requests to H.G. Philipose Mar Theophilus,His Gracious declared St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church,Kalyan as an independent Parish with effect from April 1980. A Kalpana was issued in this respect and declared Kalyan Parish as independenton 6th April 1980. Rev Fr. Thomas Kurian was the first Vicar of the independent Church. People residing at Ambernath,Ulhasnagar,Dombivili were members of Kalyan Church and by the grace of god now there are Churches at Ambernath,Ulhasnagar and Dombivili.

Now we have 340 subscribed members. Very Rev N.S Geevargis Cor Episcopa and Fr. George Abraham are the members of our church.

The 17th Vicar of the Church Fr. Shaji Chacko is serving as Vicar since JUNE 2015 onwards.

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