The Mar Thoma Church is one of the ancient Churches of Christendom, tracing its origin to A.D. 52 with the arrival of St. Thomas the Apostle in India. The Church belongs to the Eastern family of Churches and is headquartered in Tiruvalla, Kerala, South India. In its earliest phase, the Church was known as the Malankara Church and followed Eastern liturgical traditions. From the early centuries, it maintained ecclesiastical relations with the Church of the East in Syria, which shaped its worship, theology, and church administration. Over time, this association led to the Church being known as the Malankara Syrian Church. During the medieval period, the Malankara Church functioned as an indigenous Christian community under local leadership, centered around the Archdeacon, who served as the head of the Church. This autonomy continued until the arrival of European colonial powers. The Portuguese period in the 16th and 17th centuries marked a major disruption, as systematic efforts were made to bring the Syrian Christians under the authority of the Roman Catholic Church. The Synod of Diamper in 1599 imposed significant changes in doctrine, liturgy, and administration, leading to deep dissatisfaction among the Malankara Christians. Resistance to foreign domination culminated in the historic Coonen Cross Oath of 1653, when thousands gathered at Mattancherry and pledged to reject Portuguese control. This event became a defining moment in the Church’s history, resulting in the division of the Malankara Church into two groups one aligned with the Roman Catholic Church and the other remaining independent under indigenous leadership. The arrival of Mar Gregorios from the Jacobite Patriarchate of Antioch in 1665 helped regularize episcopal succession. He consecrated Archdeacon Thomas as Mar Thoma I, thereby establishing the line of Mar Thoma bishops and strengthening the Church’s episcopal structure. In the 18th and early 19th centuries, unscriptural customs and superstitious practices had gradually entered the Church. A desire for spiritual renewal led to the rise of a reform movement inspired by close interaction with the Church Missionary Society (C.M.S.) missionaries. This movement found its strongest leadership in Abraham Malpan and Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan, who emphasized the authority of the Bible, simplicity in worship, and moral renewal. The translation and publication of the Bible in Malayalam, beginning with the Ramban Bible in 1811 and completed in 1841, played a crucial role in spreading biblical knowledge among the laity. The reformation reached a decisive stage in 1837, when Abraham Malpan celebrated the Holy Communion in Malayalam at Maramon Church, marking a bold departure from tradition and a revival of apostolic faith. To provide episcopal support for the reform movement, Deacon Mathew was consecrated in Syria as Mathews Mar Athanasius. This eventually led to formal separation from the conservative faction in 1869, followed by prolonged legal disputes over church property and institutions. Though the reformist group lost most of its properties, it emerged as the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, committed to biblical faith and independence. Despite early setbacks, the Mar Thoma Church experienced steady growth during the late 19th and 20th centuries. It expanded its mission beyond Kerala to different parts of India and later to other continents. The Church also responded actively to social needs through education, healthcare, and welfare institutions. It adopted a democratic system of governance involving clergy and laity, while preserving its episcopal leadership.The Church has played a significant role in the global ecumenical movement. It is a founding member of the World Council of Churches and has maintained full communion with the Anglican Church, the Church of South India, and the Church of North India. Leaders from the Mar Thoma Church have served prominently in international Christian bodies, contributing to global dialogue, unity, and peace. Today, the Mar Thoma Syrian Church is a worldwide Christian communion with over a thousand parishes across India and abroad. Rooted in its apostolic origin, strengthened by reformation, and guided by a vision of service, the Church continues its mission of worship, witness, and social engagement in faithfulness to the Gospel of Jesus Christ. The history of the Mar Thoma Church in North America and Europe reflects the faith, vision, and aspirations of its members. The Church’s presence in this region began humbly in 1972 as a small prayer group in Queens, New York. As the community grew, the first officially approved parish of the Mar Thoma Church in North America was established in New York in 1976.From these modest beginnings, the Mar Thoma Church experienced steady and significant growth over the following decades. In 1982, the churches in North America were organized as a Zone of the Mar Thoma Church to facilitate coordinated ministry and administration. With continued expansion, the Episcopal Synod resolved to constitute a separate diocese. Accordingly, the churches in North America and the United Kingdom were formed into the Diocese of North America and United Kingdom, with The Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom appointed as the first Diocesan Bishop. As the Church’s presence further expanded across Europe, the Diocese was later renamed the Diocese of North America and Europe.As the need to firmly ground the Church within the socio-economic realities of the Western world became evident, the Diocesan Assembly took steps to establish a permanent administrative base. In 1994, property was purchased in Richboro, Pennsylvania, to house the Diocesan Headquarters. The Headquarters was subsequently relocated to its present location at 2320 South Merrick Avenue, Merrick, New York. Recognizing the need for focused pastoral care and institutional development, the Episcopal Synod appointed the first resident Bishop of the Diocese, The Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus, effective October 1993. Under successive episcopal leadership, the Diocese has continued to grow in spiritual vitality, organizational strength, and mission outreach.Today, the Diocese comprises 71 parishes and 7 congregations, served by 72 clergy, including retired priests, ministering to the spiritual and pastoral needs of the faithful across North America and Europe. The Diocese functions through a democratic system of governance, with the Diocesan Assembly as its representative body and the Diocesan Council responsible for implementing its decisions. As of January 2024, the Diocese is under the episcopal leadership of Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa. Rooted in the faith and tradition of the Mar Thoma Church, the Diocese continues its mission of worship, witness, and service in a diverse and evolving global context.