Our Church
Church History
On New Sunday, April 20th, 1997, Late Lamented His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas of blessed memory, the Metropolitan of the Undivided North American Malankara Orthodox Diocese, celebrated Holy Qurbana at 12 noon, at Gethsemane Lutheran Church, East Auburn Rd, Rochester Hills. On this day, we were declared as a parish according to the Kalpana issued by His Grace, being named under the first declared saint of the Malankara Orthodox Church, St. Gregorios of Parumala.
The first Orthodox Vacation Bible School (OVBS) of the parish was conducted in 1997. Lasting for 5 days, Sunday School kids from the sister parishes participated and it was a great blessing.
Very Rev. Dr. M. E. Idiculla Cor-Episcopo of blessed memory was appointed as the vicar and Rev. Fr. Thampan Varghese as priest in charge of the parish. The parish was on the path to growth as the Parumala in Michigan. On October 12, 1999, The Catholicos, Late Lamented His Holiness Moran Mar Baselious Marthoma Mathews II of blessed memory, visited and blessed the parish at 7pm and celebrated Holy Qurbana. Priests and parishioners from sister churches, as well as the Priest of the Gethsemane Lutheran Church and their congregation were present during that time and received blessings from His Holiness.
It was a long desire and prayerful wish of the parishioners to own their own place of worship. That prayer came true in April 2002. The congregation was able to purchase a property in the city of Rochester Hills, on East Auburn Road itself. On May 26, 2002, Diocesan Metropolitan, L.L. His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas blessed and performed the temporary consecration of the parish. This was the beginning of a new chapter for the parish. During this time, the Vicar, V. Rev. Dr. M. E. Idiculla Cor-Episcopo was relieved as the Vicar due to health issues and Rev. Fr. Thampan Varghese was appointed as the Vicar. The parish recognizes the selfless efforts and services of these priests during the inception of the parish. It is notable that Idiculla Achen and Kochamma drove numerous times from New York to Detroit, despite their health concerns, to serve the parish.
In 2004, Rev. Fr. Thampan Varghese moved from Detroit. Achen has been an integral part of this parish’s growth since its formation. The spiritual leadership and guidance that Thampan Achen showed continues to be a blessing for the parish. The selfless dedication and leadership of Thampan Achen and family will always be cherished in our hearts. Rev. Fr. Dr. Mathai Alakot was appointed as the new vicar. In 2006, L.L. H. H. Moran Mar Baselious Marthoma Didymos of blessed memory, blessed us with his presence. Beloved Mathai Achen served the parish till 2009 and the parish acknowledges the spiritual guidance Achen provided for the parish during this time. Following the departure of Alakot Achen, Rev. Fr. V. J. Oommen and Rev. Fr. Paul Daniel were appointed and served as the parish vicar and priest in charge, respectively, for some time. The parish is thankful for the dedicated services of these priests.
Although the parish struggled without a vicar for a period of time, various priests accepted our invitation and came to celebrate Holy Qurbana at our parish. We are indebtedly thankful for those priests who accepted our invitation, for because of them, we never went a Sunday without celebrating Holy Qurbana. We thank God for their service.
In June 2010, Rev. Fr. Sunoj Oommen was appointed as the vicar. On October 30, 2010, the Metropolitan Mathews Mar Theodosis of the Idukki Diocese, blessed our parish with his presence and installed the Holy Relics of St. Gregorios of Parumala and St. Yeldo Mar Baselios in our parish.
In 2012, the parishioners were able to purchase about 1 acre of land, adjacent to the church.
On April 20th, 2013, the first metropolitan Alexios Mar Eusebius of the South-west Diocese of America ordained Seminarian Shinto David (a member of the parish) to the Holy Order of the Sub-Diaconate.
In July 2014, Rev. Fr. Sunoj Oommen was transferred and Rev. Fr. Mathukutty Varughese was appointed as the Priest in Charge. The parish appreciates the hard work of Sunoj Achen and family during his time as the vicar and the spiritual leadership and guidance.
On September 6, 2014, H. G. Alexios Mar Eusebius elevated Rev. Dn. George David (Shinto) to the Holy Order of Priesthood and the newly ordained Rev. Fr. George David celebrated his first Holy Qurbana on September 7, 2014. As a parish, we pray that God showers His blessings and mercies upon Shinto Achen and His ministry.
In June 2015, Rev. Fr. Mathukutty Varughese was transferred, and Rev. Fr. P. C. George was appointed as the new Vicar. We are thankful for the noble service of Mathukutty Achen during the short period of time. Under the spiritual leadership and guidance of P.C. George Achen, the church has grown tremendously and continues to do so.
From the inception of our parish, we thank L.L. H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas of blessed memory, for his love, guidance and timely advice. We submit our reverence to this blessed Father. We honor and thank our Holy Fathers, the Late Lamented Catholicoi, the current Catholicos, HH Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Malankara Metropolitan and Metropolitan of the Diocese of Southwest America; HG Zachariah Mar Nicolovas Metropolitan of the Diocese of Northeast America; HG Zacharias Mar Aprem Assistant-Metropolitan of the Diocese of South-west America and all the former Vicars of our parish for their prayers, guidance and leadership. We would also like to thank our current Vicar, Rev. Fr. P.C. George, for his continued dedication and spiritual leadership. We are so grateful for those who have helped small and large. Especially we commemorate those who have departed from the parish; may their memory be eternal. We extend our sincere gratitude to everyone for their prayers, generous contributions and cooperation since the initiation of the parish.
By submitting our parish into the hands of our Lord God Almighty, we intercede to St. Mary the Theotokos, St. Gregorios, Dionysius and Yeldho Mar Baselios, and all the Saints. May their prayers be a stronghold for us.
Our Patron: St. Gregorios
St. Gregorios is one of the most important saints of the Orthodox church. St. Gregorios or “Parumala Thirumeni” was born on June 15th, 1848, in the village of Mulunthuruthy. He was baptized by the name Geevarghese at Mulanthuruthy Marthoman Church. From a young age, he was interested in prayer, reading the bible and started observings fasts. He was also interested in Syriac. He had an extraordinary ability to sing Syriac hymns beautifully. He was initiated as a Sub-Deacon at the age of ten and continued his theological studies under his uncle. He spent most of his time in fasting, prayer and meditation. St. Gregorios was ordained as a priest when he was 18 and in 1876 the Patriarch of Antioch Ignatius Peter III consecrated Geevarghese Cor-Episcopa as a bishop when he was 28 years old. Since he was the youngest among all the bishops, he was called ‘Kochu Thirumeni’. St. Gregorios valued education very much. He established various churches and helped establish many schools in different parts of the Malankara. He always was consistent in his prayers and lent even during busy schedules. He would get up at 4 am for prayer and prayed seven times a day. He also observed the fasts regularly, on Wednesdays and fridays. He was kind and always welcomed and showed love for the poor and suffering and preached the Holy Gospel to many. St. Gregorios made the Holy Land Pilgrimage and traveled to Jerusalem in 1895. St. Gregorios became seriously ill at the age of 54 and he knew that his end was near. St. Gregorios passed away on November 2, 1902 and his mortal remains were kept at St Peter’s Church in Parumala. On the 45th Anniversary of his memorial, The Holy Episcopal synod officially canonized him as a saint of the Orthodox Church.