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Parish History

Please refer to the official website of "Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church" to know more about 'The Church'

Please visit 'Catholicate of the East' to know more about the highest ecclesiastical authority in the Church.

What follows is the information about the St. Paul's congregation in Albany, NY:

In August - September 2005, a handful of Orthodox Christians of Albany, NY area, who used to conduct worship services in association with the
St. Pauls Indian Orthodox Church, Albany NY
United Christian Fellowship for over a decade till then, got together to form their own congregation under the able leadership of Late Lamented Very Rev. Thomas Mundukuzhy Cor Episcopa.
 
The first Orthodox Holy Qurbana (Holy Eucharist) of the newly formed congregation was thus celebrated on 11th September, 2005 at St. Michael's Episcopal Church, 49 Killean Park, Colonie, N.Y., 12205, led by Mundukuzhy Achen (Vicar).
 
Our Lord has been gracious to us to guide us in our spiritual growth through the years. Today that small group has grown to about close to 20 families. We gather for worship every 3rd and 5th Sundays and for evening prayers and Sunday School on other Sundays under the stewardship of our beloved shepherd and vicar Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas.
 
Jobson achen (our previous vicar) has been taking care of the spiritual needs of the congregation since the passing away of Mundukuzhy achen in March 2007. The Metropolitan appointed Jobson achen as the official vicar of the congregation in June 2008 (Kalpana dated June 27, 2008) while also recognizing Albany as an official congregation under the diocese. In 2012, Rev Fr. Sujit Thomas was appointed as the vicar of St Pauls Indian Orthodox Church, Albany NY
 
Since 2008, we started having Christmas service here in Albany. Since 2009, we have been blessed to have the entire Holy week Services in the parish. Every year we have a Annual Retreat during the 15 day fasts along with other retreats and conventions throughout the year.Our children have been participating in the Diocesan Annual competitions and shows every year. We have regular Bible Studies and faith related studies as part of the parish activities. The Sunday school and the parish engages in several charity initiatives in India as well as in the local community here in Albany.

On March 1st, 2012, we began to rent "49 Killean Park, Colonie, NY 12205, which is the St. Michaels Episcopal Church". With this move we had Holy Qurbana on Saturday Mornings at 8am. Some photos of this location are shown below:

Church Photos - 49 Killean Park, Colonie NY 12205



In December 2012, we began renting a new church  at "303 Sandcreek Rd, Albany NY 12205'. This is a small chapel called 'St John's Chapel'. With this move, by the grace of God and good heart of our dear Achan Rev.Fr Sujit Thomas, we have holy qurbana on every Sunday mornings. Few snaps of this place are shown below:

Church Photos - 303 Sandcreek Rd Albany NY 12205


Around Fall of 2014, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas and blessings of Almighty God, among serveral locations looked upon, we spotted the Grace Lutheran Church at 1930 Hillside Ave, Niskayuna NY 12309 as a possible permanent location for our Indian Orthodox Church. 2012, And the rest is history. On Feb 23rd 2015, by Almighty's grace, we closed the dealings to acquire the Grace Lutheran Church Location and Since Feb 23rd 2015, we have "our own church building". Our first Holy Qurbana in "our very own church building" will be on Palm Sunday (March 29th 2014) which is also the 8th anniversary of remembrance of our founding spiritual father, very Rev. Thomas P. Mundukuzhy Cor-Episcopa
More info on this new and permanent location can be found hereFew snaps of this place are shown below:

New & Permanent Church Location Pics - 1930 Hillside Ave, Niskayuna NY 12309


On June 10th, Rev. Fr. Sujit Thomas was relieved from his duties as Vicar of St. Pauls Indian Orthodox Church, Albany and a new Achen Rev. Fr. Alex K Joy was appointed as the Vicar of St. Pauls Indian Orthodox Church, Albany NY 12309 



History of Church Office Bearers 

Every Year towards end of November, parish general body conduct elections to identify parish office bearers to lead our parish activities for the upcoming year. This election process will be presided by parish president and Vicar according to the Malankara Constitution and Parish by-laws.
 
For the tenure, 2010 - 2012, Mr. Eins Chacko was elected as the Secretary, Mr. Sam Mannikarottu as the trustee, Mr. Anil Varghese as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr. Babukutty K, Mr. Davy Cheeran, Mr.Binoy Thomas & Mr.Varghese Athimoottil. The Sunday school headmaster was Mr. Anil Thomas.
 
For the tenure, 2012 - 2014, a new team was elected; Mr. Varghese Athimoottil as the Secretary, Mr. Anil Varghese as the Trustee, Mr. Ajey Jacob as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr.Eins Chacko , Mr. Davy Cheeran, Mr.Binoy Thomas, Mr. John Paul & Mr. Mathew Samuel & Mr. Sam Mannikarottu (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2014: Mr. Varghese Athimoottil as the Secretary, Mrs. Sumam Thomas as the Trustee, Mr. Ajey Jacob as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr.Eins Chacko , Mr. Davy Cheeran, Mr.Binoy Thomas, Mr. John Paul & Mr. Mathew Samuel & Mr. Sam Mannikarottu (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2015: Mr. Eins Chacko as the Secretary, Mr. Anil Varghese as the Trustee, Mrs. Nimmy Santhosh as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr.Babukutty Kunjukunju , Mr. Thampi Jacob, Mr.Santhosh Abraham, Mrs. Betsy Varghese, Mr. Paul John, Mr. Varghese Athimoottil, Mr. Anish Cherian & Mrs. Sumam Thomas (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2016: Mrs. Nimmy Santhosh as the Secretary, Mr. Paul John as the Trustee, Mrs. Sumam Thomas as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr.Babukutty Kunjukunju , Mr. Thampi Jacob, Mrs.Deenamma Kunjukunju, Mrs. Elizabeth Paul. The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2017: Mr. Eins Chacko as the Secretary, Mr. Mathew Samuel as the Trustee, Mr. Varghese Athimoottil as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr.Binoy Thomas , Mr. Anish Cherian, Mrs. Rini Anil, Mrs. Betsy Varghese, Mr. Paul John (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2018: Mr. Paul John as the Secretary, Jacob Thampi as the Trustee, Mr. Santhosh Abraham as the Auditor and the committee members:- Dr. Ajey Jacob, Mrs. Nimmy Santhosh, Mrs. Renu Zacharia, Dr. Mridula Jacob, Mr. Mathew Samuel (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

FY 2019: Mrs. Nimmy Santhosh as the Secretary, Dr. Ajey  Jacob as the Trustee, Mr. Santhosh Abraham as the Auditor and the committee members:- Mr. Varghese Zacharia, Ms. Ani Cherian, Mrs.Elizabeth Paul, Mrs. Aleyamma Jacob, Mr. Jacob Thampi (ex-officio). The Sunday school headmaster is Mr. Anil Thomas.

The office bearers and their contact info, for the current year (2019), can be viewed at Church Office Bearers for this Year