Church Hierarchy
The Syriac Orthodox Church traces its foundations to the very dawn of Christianity, with its roots in Antioch, where the disciples were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). St. Peter, the Chief of the Holy Apostles established the Church in Antioch, becoming its first bishop. After St. Peter’s martyrdom, Sts. Evodius and Ignatius succeeded him on the Apostolic See. In the writings of St. Ignatius (known as the Illuminator), one finds some of the earliest references to the episcopal structure, and the necessity of Apostolic succession in ecclesia.
The 122nd successor to St. Peter on the Holy See of Antioch is Mor Aphrem II. He presides over the Holy Synod, which is the assembly of all the bishops of the Church. The Patriarch’s official title is ‘His Holiness the Supreme Pontiff Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and the Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church.’
The local head of the Church in Malankara (India) is the Catholicose of India. The Catholicose is under the jurisdiction of the Patriarch of Antioch and is accountable to the Patriarch, the Holy Synod and the local Malankara Synod. He is consecrated by the Patriarch and presides over the local Holy Synod in India. The present Catholicos of India is His Beatitude Mor Baselius Thomas I.
Our parish is affiliated to the The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America. The Archdiocese is under the spiritual care of Archbishop His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho who is the Patriarchal Vicar.