The Malankara Orthodox Church is founded by St. Thomas , one of the twelve Apostels of Jesus Christ, who came to India in A. D 52 at Kodungallur (Crangannur) near Cochin. His unique spiritual life attracted the people and they accepted Christianity. Pakalomattom, Sankarapuri, Kalli, Kaliyankal Brahmin families accepted Christianity. St. Thomas established eight churches in various places in Kerala. Kodungalloor, Kokkomangalam (Parur), Niranam, Thrippaleswaram (Chayal), Nilakkel, Malayattur, Thiruvankodu, etc .. Gradually the church grew up and spread all over Kerala.
At least from the 4th Century, the Indian Church entered into a close relationship with Persian (the East Syrian Church). From the Persians, the Indians inherited East Syrian language and liturgies and gradually came to be known as Syrian Christians.
In 1498 A.D, Vasco – da – Gama came at Calicut and he brought missionaries from Portugal. They forced to merge the Syrian Christians with Roman Catholic Church. The Syrian Christians resisted the same with “Coonan Cross Oath”. Later Western Protestant Missionaries (Europeans) came to Kerala and worked among the Syrian Christians which caused a split in the community.
In the Seventeenth Century, the Church came into a relationship with Antiochean Church. As a result of this relationship, the church accepted West Syrian liturgy and practices. The Antiochean church tried to amalgamate the Indian Orthodox Church founded by St. Thomas with them. It led to a split in the church.
At present the church is using the Western Syrian liturgy. The faith of the church is , that which was established by St. Thomas and shaped by three ecumenical council of Nicea(A.D 325), Consteantinople (A.D 381) and Ephesus (A.D 431)
Attracted by the excellent educational opportunity offered by Maharaja Sayajirao University of Baroda, and in search of job in early 1960’s large number of people from Kerala came to Baroda . They included a sizeable number of Syrian Christians. After completion of their studies many of them stayed back to take up assignments in their alma mater while some made use of job opportunities offered by this fast growing industrial city. Some other of the same ilk joined them and took up jobs. As they settled down, there were social interactions among these people as they tried to make themselves feel at home in their new environment. These people had a deep religious upbringing. Nostalgically and lamentably they missed their Sunday worship in their newly adopted home which left a profound spiritual void in their life.
It was in February 1961, a few of the Kerala Christians in Baroda, met together casually, and because of the Divine Providence, their talks centred round the precious idea of organizing a prayer group. A small group was formed, which was later named as “The Kerala Christian Fellowship” (also known as union Christian Congregation). Under the aegis of this group they regularly prayed together on all Sundays. The members were so few that at the beginning it was possible to conduct the prayer meetings in a small room. The membership increased day by day and so the members were forced to find out a better place for the prayer meetings. The fellowship members met the authorities of the St. James church, Fatehgunj camp, Baroda. The response from them was pleasing, inspiring and above all encouraging. From that time onwards the prayer meetings were conducted in the St. James church.
As the majority of the Christians belonged to Orthodox & Marthoma denominations, Holy Communion was conducted on alternative Sundays. At the beginning of this arrangement priests from the Bombay Orthodox Syrian church came down to Baroda and conducted the Orthodox services. In 1962 the Diocesan Metropolitan of outside Kerala His Grace Mathews Mar Athanasios, (H. H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews I), appointed Rev. Fr. P. A. Samuel as the priest in charge of the Orthodox congregation in the state of Gujarat. Rev. Fr. V. J. Joseph, Rev. Fr. M. I. George and Rev. Fr. V. T. Thomas were the successors of Fr. Samuel. The priest who conducted the first Holy Communion in Baroda was Rev. Fr. K . K. Punnuse (H.G. Dr. Stephanos MarTheodosius).
When the services of a full time priest was made available to Gujarat, the congregation felt it convenient to have two services in a month-one according to the Orthodox rite and the other according to the Marthoma rite. This arrangement continued up to the end of 1965. The General body which met subsequently felt it more convenient to have separate arrangements for each section, for its free and healthy growth. The Orthodox Church formed and named their Parish as “Mar Gregorios Orthodox Syrian Church, Baroda”. On important occasions they had common get-together with the Marthoma Syrian Christians and other Kerala Christians.
In 1966 the parishioners thought of constructing a Church building of their own for which funds were collected. Then it was felt appropriate that it would be better to open a school instead, which would be a service to the mankind. Thus the funds collected for the church was diverted for starting a school which is presently known as Basil School and a trust was formed simultaneously known as Basil Trust, Baroda.
In 1978, the worship was shifted from St. James church to Basil School premise. The foundation stone for MGOS Church was laid on 21st March, 1986 by H.G. Mathews Mar Coorilos the Catholicose Designate (H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II). Later in 1988 the church services were shifted to the said premises of the Basil School Campus. The church was under the tutelage of outside Kerala Diocese in the beginning, then under Bombay Diocese and is currently under Ahmedabad Diocese.
It was a dream of the parishioners to get our church consecrated. This could be achieved only in the year 1997. It was our honour to have His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, the then Cathol icos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan. His Grace Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosios, Metropolitan of Calcutta Diocese, His Grace Thomas Mar Athanasios, Metropolitan o f Chenganur Diocese and His Grace Geeverghese Mar Coorilos, Metropolitan of Bombay Diocese to grace the occasion.
Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Paulose II declared Mar Gregorios Orthodox Church Baroda as Valiyapally. The pontifical proclamation was made in the meeting which took place on Saturday, 6th March 2011. His Grace Dr. Mathews Mar Severios, the Secretary of the Holy Episcopal Synod and Metropolitan of Kandanad West Diocese, read out the bull to this effect. His Holiness was on his maiden visit to Baroda Parish after being enthroned as the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan. The members of Baroda Parish had accorded a grand welcome and felicitation to his Holiness along with H.G Dr. Mathews Mar Saverios and His grace Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan, Ahmedabad Diocese. Other dignitaries Rev. Fr. Johns Abraham Konat, the Priest trustee and Dr. George Joseph, Secretary, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Association were also present during this occasion. The sincere, hardworking spiritually profound and proud children of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Baroda (Baroda Parish) owned and managed reputed English medium schools at the four corners of Baroda city. 1. Basil school, Tandalja 2. MGM School at Sama 3. St. Basil School at Jambuva 4. ST. Mary’s School at Gorwa.
At present Mar Greogiros Orthodox Syrian Church has beautiful and magnificent chapels in Baroda, which are St. George Chapel, Jambuva, St. Mary’s chapel, Sama and St. Thomas Chapel at Gorwa. MGOS Valiyapally is proud to have four Sunday School units, viz. Mar Gregorios Sunday School at Mar Gregorios Valiyapally, St. George Sunday School, at Jambuva, St. Mary’s Sunday School at Sama and St. Thomas Sunday School at Gorwa.
The Church is also extending various charitable activities through the church as well as various spiritual organizations such as Youth Movement, MGOCSM, Marth Mariyam Vanitha Samajam, INAMS, Ward Wise Prayer Groups, Prayer Fellowship, AMOSS, Elder’s Forum, Church Choir Group and Divya Bodhanam. We are bound to appreciate the then Metropolitans, Priests, Managing Committees of MGOS Church, President and Board of Trustees of Basil Trust and all the parishioners who have extended their helping hand from the inception of this church. The Baroda Parish as a whole abides by the constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and respects the Holy Episcopal Synod and its constituted authorities, His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Paullose II the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metrpolitan on the apostolic throne of St. Thomas and our Diocesan Metropolitan His Grace Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios. We all praise the God Almighty for all the blessings showered upon us. May God lead us to serve more and more to the society.