Parish History
Timeline
1980
The 40-year-old journey of St. George Orthodox Syrian Church began in 1980, when 25 members of the St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Malad led by Late Mr. K. I. Pothen approached His Grace Dr. Mar Philipose Mar Theophilus the then Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese. They requested to start a church in Borivali.
14-Mar-1980
After considering the request, Thirumeni issued a Kalpana 15/80 dated 14th March 1980 and an independent congregation of Borivali was registered. The congregation decided to name the church after St. George.
27-Apr-1980
Rev. Fr. M. T. Easow was appointed as the first Vicar and the first Holy Qurbana was celebrated on 27th April. The Qurbana was conducted only on the 4th Sundays of every month in a classroom of St. Francis D’Assisi School Borivali. The first General Body Meeting was held immediately after Qurbana to elect the managing committee of the church.
1981
05-May-1981
The first perunal was celebrated under His Grace Dr. Mar Philipose Mar Theophilus who was assisted by the then Diocesan Secretary Rev. Fr. C. C. Geevarghese.
21-May-1981
The Parish Trust Deed was registered under “Societies Registration Act XXI of 1860” and “Bombay Public Trust Act, 1950”
1983
The chief celebrant for the Passion week services in the year 1983 was Rev Fr. George Kurian, the General Secretary of Orthodox Student Movement, who was later ordained as a bishop and is now our beloved Metropolitan His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos.
1991
15-Jan-1991
The congregation was granted the full-fledged Parish Status. Rev. Fr. Abraham Joseph was appointed as a full-time vicar.
1994
35 members from the Mira Bhayander area approached His Grace Dr. Mar Philipose Mar Theophilus for permission to form a Church. After listening to the views of the Borivali Parish members, he accepted the request. They formed what is now known as St. Gregorious Orthodox Syrian Church Mira Road.
1996
The building committee headed by Mr. John Mathew identified and purchased a land near Dahisar Railway Station. The land was 4238 sq. ft and housed a 1507 sq.ft built up bungalow.
The foundation stone was laid by then Asst. Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos in the month of October.
1997
This year, the long drawn dream of our parish member came to culmination. The construction work of the church began. The bungalow was converted and renovated into a church building. This was possible because of the leadership and untiring efforts of Rev. Fr. Yaunan Mulamoottil who relentlessly raised funds and saw the completion of the church. We also have to acknowledge the help of the senior members for overseeing the construction of the church building and especially Late Mr. V. T. Thomas who followed up and obtained all the necessary clearances and permission from authorities.
9-May-1997
Late His Grace Dr. Mar Philipose Mar Theophilus, Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese visited our church during the construction. We were fortunate to celebrate his birthday. That was his last visit to our church.
23-Nov-1997
A temporary consecration was held on this day by Asst. Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos.
1998
12-Apr-1998
A charitable dispensary in the blessed memory of His Grace Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilus was inaugurated by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, then Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan.
30-Apr-1998
When the church was completed, the final consecration was done by His Grace Thomas Mar Thimotios Metropolitan of Malabar and Catholicate Designate who later became His Holiness Baselios Didymos I, Catholicos of the East. He was assisted by His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan, Bombay Diocese.
1-May-1998
The final consecration was completed by handing over the keys to the Vicar Rev. Fr. Yaunan Mulamoottil.
2003
The Charitable Clinic operated from a side room in the church. However due to the growing number of patients, the Parishioners decided to construct a clinic block. On 27th July 2003, the new Clinic was blessed by Rev. Fr. Varghese Yohannan and inaugurated by the local Corporator, Dr. (Mrs.). Shubha Raul. The clinic is running capably and serving the poor and downtrodden. The needy are getting free consultation and medicines from the dispensary.
2005
The Silver Jubilee was celebrated under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Jacob Thomas, with Mr. K. J. Mathew as the General Convener. The church, including the Madbaha, was renovated at this time. A mezzanine floor was added within the Church. A cross-vault, dedicated to St. Mary, was erected at the church entrance. It was blessed and inaugurated by His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos.
The Silver Jubilee was celebrated on a grand scale. Keynote address was given by His Grace Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorious, Metropolitan of Trivandrum Diocese. A special souvenir was released at the public meeting.
2010
24th July 2010 was a matter of pride for the church when Rev. Fr. Jacob Anish Varghese became the first member of our Parish to be ordained as a Priest in the ministry of our Lord.
2011
The Church purchased 35 nodes/cellars at the Gorai Cemetery for its members from Don Bosco Church, Borivali West.
2014
The cross-vault was renovated with a Kalkurisshu thereon and two Kallu Vilakkus under the able supervision of Very Rev. Yaunan Mulamoottil Cor Episcopa
2016
3-Mar-2016
The Church witnessed a black day as it was gutted in major fire. All the holy articles in the Madbaha, furniture, records, etc., were reduced to ashes.
14-Mar-2016
After very essential repairs, the Church building was blessed, and services started within a week’s time on Palm Sunday.
14-Sept-2016
Another proud moment for our Church when Rev. Fr. Basil Kuriakose became the second member of our Parish to be ordained as a Priest in the ministry of our Lord.
2019
3-Feb-2019
As part of the fund raising drive for its reconstruction, the Church volunteered to take up a major project of compiling a members directory for the Diocese of Bombay. The BODC Directory and Mobile App, a dream project of His Grace Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, was inaugurated during the Annual Diocese Convention held on 3rd Feb 2019.
1-May-2019
From 1st May, 2019, the Church entered into its Ruby Year, with Charity events planned for each month to commemorate this event. The celebrations was started with the distribution of school kits comprising of schoolbooks and bag, to 40 under-privileged students of Shailendra Education Society school.
