St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Bangalore

St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral, Bangalore is a Syrian Orthodox Christian Cathedral located near Johnson market in Richmond town in Bangalore city, India. It is the only Cathedral for Orthodox Christian community in Bangalore and known to be one of the oldest Orthodox Churches in the city till.

The Church belongs to Bangalore Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Church, which was founded by St. Thomas, one of the twelve apostles of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A.D. 52.

The cathedral was built around the year 1964. The parish is made up of over 800 families.

Origins

The cathedral was built around the 1960s when orthodox community from Kerala was migrating to Bangalore in high numbers. Earlier, it was a church under Madras Diocese. Around the year 1993, the church was elevated as Cathedral by Zachariah Mar Dionysius, Bishop of Madras Orthodox Diocese. The Cathedral was renovated again in the year 2005.

The Cathedral was instrumental in developing Bangalore Orthodox Diocese. It was here, the Metropolitan of Bangalore Diocese, Abraham Mar Seraphim, was officially declared as Bishop of Bangalore orthodox diocese Sunthronito ceremony (enthronement of a new Bishop) on 27 March 2011 by Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose 2, Indian orthodox Catholicos along with three Bishops. Hence Bangalore diocese was officially declared as diocese in this cathedral. The cathedral is officially the "Simhasana Pally" of Bangalore diocesan Bishop

As of 2014 Rev. Fr.Mani K Varghese and Rev. Fr.Joe Mathew are serving as the vicar and asst. vicar of the cathedral respectively.

The Cathedral has three altars, the left one dedicated to St.Mary and the right one dedicated to St.Thomas. A school under St.Gregorios cathedral has been functioning in Kengeri.

The Church is located near Johnson Market in Richmond town. A landmark near the cathedral is the Baldwin Methodist college.

Activities

The Cathedral has other organizations like Martha Mariam Samajam, OCYM, MGOCSM and other spiritual organizations. The feast of cathedral is celebrated on 1st week of November in the name of St.Gregorios of Parumala and the "Harvest festival" on 2nd week of November. There is a cross tower dedicated to"Parumala Thirumeni" and some holy relics of Parumala Thirumeni are interred here.

External links

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