St. Stephen’s Orthodox Church,Visakhapatnam

During the mid 20th century, a few Malankara Syrian Christians started coming to Visakhapatnam, the city of destiny for their livelihood. The need for worship in mother tongue arose and the Malayalam speaking Christians of different denominations formed a United Malayalee Christian Congregation in the year 1952. Towards the end of 1959, the Orthodox Syrian Christians of Visakhapatnam started a Parish under the priestly leadership of Rev. Fr. Thomas Moothedom. In 1961, H.G. Mathews Mar Athansious, the then Metropolitan of the Outside Kerala Diocese celebrated holy mass on Saint Stephen’s day. Thirumeni named the Congregation as Saint Stephen’s Orthodox Syrian Church and appointed Rev. Fr. Koshy Chacko as the full time Vicar of the parish. The Church could purchase a small piece of land at the very center of the city in 1966 when Rev. Fr. P.M Philipose was the Church Vicar. H.G. Mathews Mar Athanesious laid the foundation stone for the new Church on 18th Sept.,1966. The Church was consecrated by Thirumeni on 28th Jan., 1968. As the fellowship grew in size, the need for expansion was felt and the initiation for the renovation was blessed by H.G. Thomas Mar Themothios, Metropolitan of Malabar Diocese on 12th Jan., 1991. H.G. Zacharias Mar Dionysius, Metropolitan of Madras Diocese dedicated the newly constructed cross tower adjacent to the church to St.Mary on 12 Sept., 1993. When Rev. Fr. P.M. Kuriakose took over as vicar, the renovation work of the church was completed and it was consecrated on 10th Jan 1999 by H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar lrenios, Metropolitan of Madras Diocese. The Church came under the newly formed Bangalore Diocese in the year 2009 and celebrated its Golden Jubilee in the same year when Rev Fr. Lijo Jospeh Modiyil was the vicar. H.G. Dr. Yakob Mar Irenios, H.G.Abraham Mar Epiphanios and H.G. Yuhanon Mar Diascoros blessed the function. H.G. Dr. Abraham Mar Seraphim assumed full independent charge of the Bangalore Diocese on 15th August, 2010 and the church has been flourishing under the guidance of Thirumeni. Rev Fr. Cyril Varghese Vadakkadath took charge as Vicar in May, 2016. Around 120 families worship together harmoniously in perfect love and peace in this Church situated on the east coast. By the Grace of God, the church is getting ready for the Diamond Jubilee celebrations in 2019.