Consecration of newly constructed St. Gregarious Indian Orthodox Chapel in Clayton

The Consecration of newly constructed, St. Gregarious Indian Orthodox Chapel, 576-578 Heatherton Road, Clayton South VIC – 3169 is on Friday 20th and Saturday 21st November 2015

The Consecration will be officiated by His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paulose II, Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan (Supreme Head of the Indian Orthodox Syrian Church).

The Consecration will be co-officiated by a triumvirate of Senior Bishops of the Indian Orthodox Church, His Grace Dr Mathews Mar Severios, His Grace Dr Yacob Mar Irenaios & His Grace Dr Yuhanon Mar Diascoro

The St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church (SMIOC) strives to maintain the faith amongst the Indian Orthodox faithful in the Victorian community. The managing committee, led by the Vicar, overlooks the day to day activities of the parish. The Sunday School plays an important role in the spiritual upbringing of children. The Church has a charity wing that provides help to local charities and to the needy of the Malankara church. The Youth Movement and Marthamariam Samajam provide apt avenues for the spiritual activities of the youth and women respectively.

The History of the St Mary’s Indian Orthodox Cathedral and the St. Gregarious Indian Orthodox Chapel

After Australia dumped the ‘White Australia Policy’, several Malayalees migrated to Australia, in search of better pastures. With the growing number of Orthodox families in Melbourne, the need was felt to establish a Church following Indian Orthodox tradition. The St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church was established in 1980 at East Coburg, Victoria.

The Church has grown immensely over the years. Starting with five families, it has today grown to over 200 families. A Chapel was started in south-east Victoria, in January 2010, as part of the Church’s efforts to ease travel burden for its members living in far-flung areas.

The first Holy Qurbana at St. Gregarious Indian Orthodox Chapel was celebrated by Vicar Rev. Fr. K Y Chacko on 3rd January 2010, at Greek Orthodox Church of St. Pantelimon, Dandenong. Holy Qurbana at Chapel was regularly celebrated in the evening of 1st Sunday of every month by Rev. Fr. K Y Chacko at the Anglican Parish of St. Michael & St. Luke, Dandenong. His Grace appointed Rev. Fr. Charles Mon Philipose as Assistant Vicar who arrived in Melbourne on 28th October 2010. With the arrival of Assistant Vicar, from the month of January 2011 Holy Qurbana in St. Gregorios Chapel continues to be celebrated by Vicar or Assistant Vicar on every Sunday morning, at St. Mary’s Community centre, New Street, Dandenong.

In December 2012, one acre land was purchased in South Clayton for the purpose of constructing a Chapel. Construction of the Chapel began on January 2015 and completed on October 2015.

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