A Brief History
Kalyan – the place which is blessed by the footprint of St. Thomas, the holy disciple of our Lord Jesus Christ is located at the suburbs of Maharashtra. The city is divided between Kalyan East and Kalyan West and is inhabited by the orthodox Christians since more than last eight decades.
The orthodox Christians from Kalyan and its surrounding area had to rely on St. Mary’s Orthodox Syrian Church, Dadar, the only Orthodox Church in Mumbai. Later on, with the establishment of St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Kalyan (West) was a great relief not only for the people of Kalyan but also for the people residing from Mumbai to Ambernath. More than the financial benefit and ease of travel, it was the drive of the earlier generation to have a place of worship in their own locality for the benefit of their children and youngsters. The strong desire of the people led to establishment of churches in Dombivali, Ulhasnagar and Ambernath. The latest of this chain is St. George Orthodox Church, Kalyan -East.
Mumbai Diocesan Metropolitan the late lamented H. G Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus, was always eager to establish more and more churches in the diocese. The zeal for establishing another church led to issue of the decree in April 1993 through Fr.N. S Varghese, the then Vicar of St. Thomas Orthodox Church Kalyan. The decree was on the announcement of the establishment of St. George Orthodox Sunday School, Kalyan (E). His grace gave his consent to conduct Holy Qurbana on the third Sunday of every month.
Till the time an independent parish is established in Kalyan East, the parish Vicar of St. Thomas Church was assigned to be the president of Kalyan East Sunday school .And the managing committee was formed for the smooth functioning of the east Sunday school. The then Vicar followed the instructions and the result was well functioning of east Sunday school.
The desire for having an own parish became instrumental in purchasing of a working place in Tisgaon junction in 1998. We will always be grateful to Fr. Kuriakose Thannikott and Fr.Thomas Panikar for all their efforts. During this period H.G Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus entered into eternal life and his place was occupied by H.G. Geeverghese Mar Coorilos. The discipline and good administrative skill of His Grace.Geevarghese Mar Coorilos helped a lot in smooth functioning of east Sunday school.
We fondly remember the efforts of former Vicar Rev.Fr.P.A Daniel, very Rev.P.J James,Fr.Benjamin Philip, Very Rev.Fr. Koshy Plammoottian and Fr.M. E Joseph. Special thanks to Fr.Varghese Yohanan and Fr.Presquillas Peter for shifting the mass time from evening to morning. The formalities for registering the Sunday school as a charitable trust were initiated recently. It was in 2011 under the vicarship of Rev.Fr. Yohanan Mulamoottil, we started two holy Qurbana instead of one.
The Altar of St. George Orthodox Church, Kalyan (East)
In May 2012, the diocesan metropolitan His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos visited our congregation and felt the need for an independent parish in Kalyan East. This resulted in appointment of Rev.Fr. Geeverghese Iype as a vicar in charge of Kalyan E congregation.
A list of people who were desirous of forming an independent parish of Kalyan East was given to His Grace and the mother parish at Kalyan West. We fondly remember the whole hearted support rendered by the Vicar of mother parish Rev.Fr.Jiji K Thomas during this period.
Through the decree (Holy Kalpana)…….issued in January 2013 by His Grace change the name and status of the congregation from St. George Orthodox Sunday School to St. George orthodox Syrian Church, Kalyan East and declared it as an independent parish under the Mumbai diocese. This has helped the people of Kalyan East to transform a three decade old dream into reality. Rev.Fr. PN Thomaskutty was appointed as the parish Vicar during this period.
His grace came down to Kalyan East on April 28,2013 and grace the festivities of Kalyan East perunal and also declared Kalyan East as an independent parish. We are highly obliged and indebted to His Grace We are also very thankful to our present diocesan secretary Rev. Fr.Koshy Alex and the former diocesan secretary Rev. Fr. T. E Isaac.
We are also grateful for the advice and support given by Rev.Fr. Geevarghese Kadavil and the parish priest Rev. Fr. N. S Varghese and the Rev. Fr. George Abraham (Jijo Achen).
St George Church, Kalyan East 