Welcome To The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church UK

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church is an Eastern Catholic sui iuris particular Church in full communion with the universal Catholic Church. It is one of the major archiepiscopal churches of the Catholic Church and is headed by Major Archbishop His Beatitude Moran Mor Baselios Cardinal Cleemis Catholicos

The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church traces its origins to the Missions of St. Thomas the Apostle in the 1st Century. The Church employs the West Syriac Rite Divine Liturgy of St. James. The Syro-Malankara Catholic Church was formed on 20th September 1930 as a result of the reunion movement under the leadership of Servant of God Archbishop Geevarghese Mar Ivanios.

The personal attendance of Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios to the Holy Eucharistic Congress held at Dublin, Ireland in the year 1932 marked the beginning of the current mission work of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church in England and Ireland. It was an honour not only for the Malankara Catholic Church but for the Indian Church as a whole. As it was very much in the fresh context of the Reunion Movement, the other delegates received the discussions by Mar Ivanios on the newly re-united Church and its responsibilities in India with utmost curiosity and respect. (The speech delivered by Mar Ivanios is currently archived at the Public Library in Dublin). The talk delivered at the Conference by Mar Ivanios dwelled on introducing the ancient Indian culture and the Syriac liturgy of the East

The Celebration of the first Holy Malankara Qurbono at the St. Francis Church, AG Gardiner Street in Dublin after the installation as a Metropolitan Bishop and receiving the Pallium from the Pope was a novel experience for many of the Bishops participating at the Conference.

Following the Conference, Servant of God Archbishop Mar Ivanios was invited to England to attend at the Royal Banquet hosted by King George V where Mar Ivanios discussed at length on India and the cordial co-existence of the various religions in India.

Although, one can believe that nothing happens accidentally, it is evident from history that Mar Ivanios might have foreseen the today's presence of the Malankara Syrian Catholic Church in England and Ireland. The work related migration of Keralites, particularly in the field of Nursing and IT to these countries experienced a significant increase towards the end of the 1990s. From the very onset of this increase in the influx of Keralites and particularly the presence of its members in various places encouraged the Church leadership to ensure that the Malankarites would have access to their rich liturgical patrimony and Church activities.