The Brahmavar Diocese is one among the 30 dioceses of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The diocese was created in August 2010 by H. H. Baselios Marthoma Didymos I. H. G. Yakob Mar Elias is the current Metropolitan of the diocese. The head office is located in Mount Horeb Bishop's House, Nanthoor, Mangalore, Karnataka
History
The diocese was created in August 2010 by H. H. Baselios Marthoma Didymos I by Kalpana no 389/2010. It was a counsel of Malankara Association's Managing committee held on 3 August 2010 and recommended by Holy Episcopal Synod in same date. H. G. Yakob Mar Elias became the first Metropolitan of newly formed diocese with its headquarters at Mangalore.
Features
The key feature of this diocese is the Konkani Orthodox Community and their clergy. It is the first non Keralite community in the Malankara Orthodox Church under the mission of St. Alvares Mar Julius Metropolitan of Ceylon-Goa and Rev Fr. Roque Zephrin Noronah. The diocese has parishes in Kannur (Cannanore) and Kasaragod districts of Kerala, Dakshina Kannada and Udupi (South Canara), Chickmangalore and Coorg districts in the state of Karnataka, state of Goa and in Abu Dhabi, UAE. The major languages used in the liturgy are Malayalam, Konkani, Tulu, English and Hindi.
Now
Parishes
Currently, there are 36 parishes in diocese. 16 churches in Kerala,17 churches in Karnataka, 2 in Goa, 1 in UAE. 11 parishes have more than 50 families. There are 2800 families in this diocese. The tomb of Metropolitan St. Alvares Mar Julius is situated in St. Mary Orthodox Church, Panaji. St. George Orthodox Church, Ichilampady (Georgian Pilgrim Centre), St. Mary Orthodox Cathedral, Brahmavar and St. George Orthodox Cathedral, Abu Dhabi are some of the major parishes in the diocese. There are 9 chapels under which six belong to the Konkani community and the rest belong to the Malayali communities. There are also active Konkani congregations in Mandya, Bangalore, Mumbai, Kuwait and the U.A.E. There are students ministry in the diocese.
Priests
There are 29 priests with one Cor-Episcopa and Ramban in this diocese. Teaching ministry is also a feature in this diocese.
Parish List
01. Abu Dhabi St.George Cathedral
02. Arangu St. George
03. Ariprod St.Thomas
04. Aravanchal St. George
05. Birikkulam St.Gregorios
06. Brahmavar St. Mary's Cathedral
07. Eattukudakka St.Mary’s
08. Hegla Mar Gregorios
09. Ichilampady St.George
10. Kadumeni St.George
11. Kalanja St. Marys
12. Karayathumchal St.Mary’s
13. Karuvamkayam Mar Gregorios
14. Karugunda St. George
15. Mangalore St. Gregorios
16. Nelliadi St. Gregorios
17. Padangady St. Mary's
18. Pathavu St. George
19. Renjilady St. Thomas
20. Kasargode St.Mary’s
21. Kozhichal St.Mary’s
22. Mardalam St.Mary’s
23. Narasiharajapuram St.Mary’s
24. Narkilakadu St.Mary’s
25. Pakkanjikadu St.George
26. Panaji St.Mary’s
27. Payyavor St. Gregorios
28. Sampiadi St.Mary’s
29. Siddhapura St.Mary’s
30. Thannir Panthal St.George
31. Vanchiyam St.George
32. Vasco-Da-Gama St.Mary’s
33. Chuzhali St. George
34. Manipal St. Thomas
35. Ganganadu St. Gregorios
36. Shivmogga St. George
Chapels. 1. Ammunje St. Antony 2. Sasthan St. Thomas 3. Kandloor St. Mary's 4. Koorady St. Peter and St. Paul 5. Hulikal St. Gregorios 6. Hosangady St. George 7. Mangodu St. George 8. N.R Pura St. Gregorios