St. Mary's Malankara(Indian) Orthodox Church Inc 33701 Brisk Road Wesley Chapel, Florida, 33543 A few Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Church members living in Tampa Bay area of Florida had been meeting at the homes of these church members since April 20, 2004 for Sunday morning prayers.After a month of those meetings, a set of bylaws were drafted, and Saint Mary's Malankara Orthodox Congregation was incorporated in the State of Florida on May 24, 2004, as a non-profit organization. The first business meeting of the newly incorporated congregation was held on 7/18/2004 at a member's residence following Sunday morning prayer. Sixteen members were in attendance. At a business meeting of the congregation on 7/25/2004, it was decided that all members should complete membership forms, and also to send letters to all Kerala congregations and organizations of the area announcing our presence.On Sunday,August 1, 2004, members attended the Holy Qurbana that Very Rev. Dr. M. E. Idiculla Core-Episcopa celebrated at his residence in memory of his late father. There were twenty-six people in attendance. On Sunday, August 8, 2004, Rev. Fr. P. M. Zachariah, in the presnce of Very Rev. M. E. Idiculla Core-Episcopa, celebrated the Holy Qurbana for the congregation at a member's residence. At a meeting after this Holy Qurbana, members elected a Managing Committee of eight (8) members for the administration of the congregation, with Rev. Fr. P. M. Zachariah as president.It was also decided that the congregation would follow the constitution of Malankara Orthodox Church, and that the Managing Committee would be reelected every year, at the annual general body meeting, as stipulated therein. Everybody present expressed their commitment to work together toward achieving the future goals of the congregation.Starting August 29, 2004, the congregation continued to have Holy Qurbana every Sunday at a hall provided by Family of Christ Lutheran Church, Tampa, Florida. Metropolitan His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Thomas Mar Makarios visited the congregation and celebrated the Holy Qurbana on January 29, 2005. With the help of loans provided by four members, the congregation purchased a 1.06-acre piece of property in Wesley Chapel, Florida, on September 2, 2005. An existing building on this property was renovated, and has been used as the place of worship and meeting since September 8, 2005. The name of the corporation was officially changed in the State records to St. Mary's Malankara Orthodox Church on August 11, 2005. Presently, a Board of Directors with Very Rev. Dr. M. E. Idiculla as President, and eight (8) other directors who include a vice-president, a secretary, and a treasurer, manages the organizational affairs of St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church, Inc. The church membership has continued to grow.
In the presence of Senior Priest V.Rev.Dr.M.E.Idiculla (left) and Rev.Yuhanon Wilson(right), Rev. P.M.Zachariah reads the Episcopal letter declaring the parish as part of American Diocese. Recognition of the Church We are happy to announce the formal recognition of St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church, Wesley Chapel, Florida, as a congregation under the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church. We received from His Grace the Most Rev. Mathews Mar Barnabas, Diocesan Metropolitan, the official letter of this recognition on Friday, August 17, 2007. The receipt of this recognition letter also coincided with this church’s celebration of the Shoonoyo Festival on August 18 and 19.This church started as a prayer group in April 2004, and has been operating as a Malankara Orthodox congregation since August 2004, with regular Holy Qurbana and other Sacramental functions, along with Sunday school, Martha Mariam Samajam and MGOCSM. Rev. Fr. P. M. Zachariah has been appointed as the vicar, and Very Rev. Dr. M. E. Idiculla Core-Episcopa is a senior priest of the church. We request prayers and support from all readers for the growth of this church.Vicar, Senior Priest , Managing Committee and members of St.Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Church, Wesley Chapel, FloridaMore informaton please contact us at
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He is a member of St. George Orthodox Church, Puthoor of Kollam Diocese. He hails from Vattakkattu family, Puthoor. Late Fr. V.J. Jacob, Vattakkattu is his paternal uncle. He is the fourth son of Late. Y. Daniel and Smt.Chinnamma Daniel. He had his B.Sc (Kerala University), LL.B (Bangalore University), GST (Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam), BD (Serampore University), M.Th (St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore), Diploma in Biblical Geography (Tantur Ecumenical Institute, Jerusalem) and Research Study in Old Testament (Federich Alexander University Germany). He is pursuing Doctoral Research in O. T. (St. Peter’s Pontifical Institute of Theology, Bangalore).In 1995, H. H Baselious Mathews II ordained him to the priesthood. He was appointed as the faculty of Old Testament in St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur. He has served as: Warden, Director of Fieldwork, Bursar, Director of OVBS, Treasurer of School for Mentally Challenged Children, Nagpur, Treasurer, the Orthodox Sunday School Association of the East (Out Side Kerala Region) and Director of Akhila Malankara Orthodox Shushrushaka Sangam (Out Side Kerala Region). He has worked in various parishes in Bangalore, Germany, and Calcutta Diocese. Fr. Alex Daniel enrolled as an advocate in the High Court of Kerala in the year 1994 and practiced as a Civil Lawyer in the District Court, Kollam. He handled the regular columns in the Malankara Sabha, Sahayatra, Parish Mission Literatures of the Nagpur Seminary and in the Souvenirs and Magazines of various Churches. He has published a book in Malayalam named “Vachanathejas”, a compilation of Sunday Sermons for a complete year. He has participated in many conferences of SATHRI and ECC, Bangalore, VIth annual conference of CMAI, Schillong (2006), the Curriculum Revision Committee of Serampore University (2006), five-day conference for the youths of Orthodox – Lutheran Churches held at Greiswald, Germany (2005), works of NCCI and India Peace Center, Nagpur.The Malankara Syrian Christian Association met on 11 Sep 2008 at Pampakuda elected him as the bsihop along with six others. On 4 Dec 2008 His Holiness Baselius Marthoma Didymus I professed him as Ramban. On 19 feb 2009 he was ordained as bishop by H.H.Baselius Marthoma Didymus I, at St. George Orthodozx Church, Puthupally. Date of Birth :-September 5 1964
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Rev. Fr. P.M.Zachariah (Vicar/President)
Born on 1935 at Theverkattil House, Vayalathala, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, INDIA.Graduated from Union Christian College at Alwaye in 1956 and attained B.E.D Degreein 1958 from Mar Theophilos Training College, Trivandrum.Worked as a teacher and Head Master at the Corporate Management schools in our church for30 years. Retired from Catholicate High School, Pathanamthitta as the Principal in 1990.By God’s grace in 1954, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II, Catholicose of the East, ordained me as Deacon at Parumala Seminary. Also servedour church relentlessly for 10 years for the progress of our Youth movement.By the blessings of God Almighty, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II ordained me as a priest in 1964 at Devalokam Catholicate Aramana Chapel, Kottayam.I came to U.S.A in 1992, after serving as the Vicar for 28 years at several churches in Thumpamon Diocese in Kerala. Since 1993, I have served at Orlando St. Paul’s Orthodox Church for 12 years and also served St. Thomas Malankara Orthodox Church in Oakland park, South Florida as its Vicar for 2 years.I am currently serving at St. Mary’s Malankara Orthodox Chruch in Tampa, Florida. I continuingly praise the Lord for all his ineffable blessings that he has showered upon me for all these years and for the years to come. May the blessings of Almighty God and the intercession of St. Mary, Mother of God, be with us always .
Very.Rev.Fr.Dr.M.E.Idiculla.Cor-Episcopa
Very Rev.Fr.Dr.M.E.Idiculla, Cor-Episcopa, was born at Prakkanam in Pathanamthitta district in the Muttaniyil family; he has four brothers and one sister. After early schooling in Prakkanam, Nallanikunnu, and Pathanamthitta, he joined the M.D. Seminary for theological studies. He also became a member of Basil Dayara under The Most Rev. Geevarghese Mar Philexenos and later The Most Rev. Daniel Mar Philexenos metropolitans. He also taught at schools at Kizhavalloor and Pathanamthitta. Achen attained his B.A. degree from Kerala University, B.D. degree from Serampore University, M.Th., M.A. and M.Ed. degrees from Boston University, and Ph.D. degree from University of Utah.Although achen had expressed to Daniel Mar Philexenos Metrolpolitan his interest to return to Kerala to teach there after his studies, thirumeni did not accept the offer at that time. Eventually, achen taught at Boston University, University of New Hampshire and State University of New York. While teaching at the State University of New York at Geneseo, he has been a member of the Faculty Council, Faculty Evaluation Comittee,and the Faculty Personnel Committee. The very special and unique talents of Idiculla Achen have been used for the growth and fruitful witness of the Orthodox Community in the Diocese of America in various capacities and different spheres, especially amongst young people. Achen’s contributions in the early development of American Diocese and his leadership in the 14 Parishes in different parts of U.S.A and Canada are worth commending. After thirtyfive years of university teaching, achen retired from service and came to live in New Port Richey, Florida in 2002. Achen currently holds the position of Senior Priest at St.Mary's Church, Wesley Chapel
Rev. Fr. P. M. Zachariah, celebrating the First
Holy Qurbana of this congregation (August 8, 2004)
in the presnce of Very Rev.Dr. M. E. Idiculla Core-Episcopa,
at the residence of one of the Member
V.Rev.Dr.M.E.Idiculla and Rev.P.M. Zachariah (Vicar)
Diocesan Secretary Rev. Fr. K.G. Philipose
Visited the Parish on December 1st 2007