About The Parish
The St. Thomas church in Damascus, MD., has a rich history of many struggles, achievements, and progressions of a small number of Malankara Christian families in the Washington Metropolitan area. With the initiative of Rev. Deacon Varghese Pattamady, Holy Qurbana was conducted monthly by then Vicar Rev. Fr. Jos Thomas in a rental facility. The congregation was officially dedicated and named in 1979 by His Beatitude Mar Baselios Poulose II and incorporated in Washington, DC as the St. Thomas Syrian Orthodox Church of India. In 1985, Rev. Fr. Varghese Pattamady was ordained and became the Vicar of the Church. Under his leadership we had regular Sunday liturgies, monthly prayer meetings, Sunday School, Vanitha Samajam, Retreats, Family Picnics, Christmas Caroling and monthly newsletter publications. Our church has been an active participant in the ecumenical programs held in the metropolitan area as well. After his retirement in 1994 we had services and spiritual guidance from several vicars; Rev. Fr. Varghese Manikkat (1994-’95); Rev. Fr. K.K. John (1996-01); Rev. Fr. Dr. A.P. George (2001-’03); Rev. Fr. K.O. Chacko (2004-‘16) and presently Rev. Fr. K.J. Varghese. Their leadership and valuable services are remembered with deep respect and sincere thanks. Several impediments occurred in our way of advancement, but we faced them all with courage and utmost trust in our Lord. In March 1999, under the leadership of then Vicar Rev. Fr. K. K. John, the congregation was able to acquire a place of worship at Damascus, MD. In our ongoing effort of renovation of this century old church building, we completed the first phase, the newly built sanctuary and celebrated the worship service by our Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos on June 3, 2001. On December 16, 2001, the general body met to discuss, debate and to deliberate our role in the Malankara Church, the importance of the unity of the Malankara church between the two factions and unanimously decided to declare and whole-heartedly support our Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos in all his efforts towards the unification of our church in Malankara. As a new beginning then vicar Rev. Fr. Dr. A. P. George was appointed by the Metropolitan H.G. Mathews Mar Barnabas, the American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of India. H.G. Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, the Assistant Metropolitan of the American Diocese visited us often to provide dynamic leadership in all realms of the church activities. Many of our youth participated in the Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM) in key leadership positions. One among them joined the St. Vladimir Seminary, NY and became a priest. Rev. Fr. Anoop Thomas currently serve as Vicar of the St. Barnabas Orthodox Congregation and Vice President of the MGOCSM, NE American Diocese. The official consecration of the church was conducted on September 11&12, 2009 under the leadership of then Vicar Rev. Fr. K.O. Chacko. The liturgy of consecration was conducted by HG Mathews Mar Barnabas and assisted by HG. Zachariah Mar Nicholovos. In 2009, our church adopted the Constitution and Bylaws of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and the American Diocese. During that year, St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church, Damascus was incorporated under the general laws of Maryland.