Maria-Muttergottes Syrian Orthodox Church
Homburge Str. 190, 6118 Bad Vibel, Frankfurt am Main, Germany
Every 1st Saturday
St. Apostlen Kirche
Ziegelhüttenweg 149, 60598 - Frankfurt am Main.
Every 3rd Month - 1st Saturday
Griechisch-Orthodoxe Pfarrgemeinde
Spiegelstrasse 2, 68305 - Mannheim, Germany
About the Church
For many years, a countable number of people from the Kerala state of India migrated to Germany and settled down in and around the Frankfurt region. A good number of them were Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Christians. They were keen to follow the Syriac Orthodox faith, and always tried to maintain their distinct identity and preserved the traditions of the Syriac Orthodox Church. These believers of Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church were scattered and were associated with other Church denominations around to fulfil some of their spiritual needs.
In January 2018, a few of the believers of Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church scattered in and around the Frankfurt region arrived together to explore the possibilities of worshipping together in our own tradition. This would have been possible only after finding a Priest from our Church and thereby establishing a Congregation, to celebrate The Holy Qurbana in Malayalam. With the initial guidance and instructions from Fr. Biju Mathai Parekkattil (The vicar of St. Mary’s Church Dublin, who previously served as the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church Vienna), we approached Fr. Rino John (Abouna Dayroyo Shemv’n) from Salzburg who was pursuing his Masters in Syriac Theology. Fr. Rino John expressed his willingness to support us happily.
Subsequently, we contacted His Eminence Mor Kuriakose Theophilos, Resident Metropolitan, Malankara Syrian Orthodox Theological Seminary, Patriarchal Vicar of the Europe Diocese (except UK & Ireland) of the Malankara Jacobite Syrian Church and expressed our wish and detailed about the needs of Malankara Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Christians around Frankfurt. Consequently, His Eminence embraced the request to start a congregation and appointed Fr. Rino John as our foundational vicar.
Meanwhile, by the Grace of God, our search for a Church fulfilled up at Maria-Muttergottes Syrian Orthodox Church in Bad Vilbel near Frankfurt, which was constructed by families of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church under the Holy See of Antioch. On February 25, 2018, we met the Vicar of the Church Rev. Fr. Charbel Imghimiz, and the Church Managing Committee to discuss in detail our needs and to search for the possibilities of worship, since both the communities belong to the Holy See of Antioch. The Vicar and the Church managing committee granted their consent and provided our congregation with all the support and allowed us to use all the amenities to celebrate the Holy Qurbana in Malayalam in their Church.
Later in March 2018 with great pleasure His Eminence himself visited Maria-Muttergottes Syrian Orthodox Church in Bad Vilbel and celebrated the Holy Qurbana and officially inaugurated and blessed our Congregation.
On March 26, 2018, His Eminence issued the Holy Bull appointing Rev.Fr. Rino John as our Vicar and named our congregation as St. George Malankara Syrian Orthodox Congregation.
The first general body meeting of our congregation was held on April 7, 2018, with the attendance of around 10 families, at Maria-Muttergottes Syrian Orthodox Church, Bad Vilbel and decided to celebrate the Holy Qurbana in Malayalam on the third Saturday of every month starting from Saturday, 26th of May 2018.
Subsequently, more spiritual organizations such as Sunday School for children, Youth Association for the young adults, and Choir groups were formed for the spiritual nourishment of the faithful in the Congregation.
