St. Thomas Orthodox Church, Ghaziabad Uttar Pradesh

The Delhi Diocese of the Orthodox Church was constituted by the Holy Synod in 1975. His Grace Dr Paulose Mar Gregorios took charge as its first Metropolitan in 1976. It was about the same time that a handful of young Orthodox Christians in Ghaziabad (UP) got together under the banner of 'Christian Association.' Their main activity was prayer meetings. Our learned Metropolitan took note of this feeble enterprise. In 1977 His Grace came personally to Ghaziabad alongwith a dynamic young Priest, Rev Fr P K Thomas and arranged for regular Orthodox worship. The CNI Church near the Railway Station and the old Holy Child School building were used for celebrating Holy Qurbana on Sundays and for special occasions as Good Friday service.

Foreseeing the potential for growth and the need for regular pastoral care, His Grace appointed Rev Fr P K Thomas as the first Vicar of this new Parish in 1978. Subsequently St Thomas Orthodox Church Society was registered. The next step was procurement of land and erection of a Church building. In spite of heavy odds, a small plot of land was got allotted by the GDA at Lajpat Nagar, Sahibabad, about 10 KMs West of Ghaziabad nearer to Delhi Border. As the members themselves had meager resources, they had to work very hard soliciting funds‐in fact collecting small amounts, going from house to house, those members were of course financially weak, but spiritually strong and highly motivated to carry out the task of building a church of their own, with which they could make an identity. The intercession of all our Saints, especially of St Thomas, our Patron and abundant blessing of God Almighty made it possible for the Church Building to be erected. With a Hindu Temple and a Muslim Mosque nearby, our Church stands as a glowing symbol of religious harmony. The Church has certainly influenced the life of the people in the surrounding areas. With the celestial blessings flowing from the Church and the ardent prayers, the baren and waste and of Lajpat Nagar in the seventies has blossomed into a dynamic township with several Housing Colonies, Schools, Hospitals, and Market etc. From a very small, humble beginning, our Church has now become one of the prominent Parishes of Delhi Diocese, with more than 150 Families, 6 Prayer Groups, Units of Martha Mariayam Vanita Samajam, Youth Movement, MGOCSM, Indian Orthodox Diaspora Movement and regular Sunday School upto Class XII.