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Why 40th?

Why 40th?

Forty years is a long time in the life of a person, but not for a parish or an organization.  The number ‘40’ has a lot of significance in the spiritual realm.  Both in the New Testament and Old Testament, the number ‘40’ is mentioned in several places to show a feeling of cleansing, a transformation and triumph.

In the Old Testament, the first mention of ‘40’ is at the time of the great flood, called the ‘flood of Noah’.  God cleansed the world of sins and recreated a world of goodness, through the flood.  The rain of 40 days and 40 nights prepared the way for purification.  Then we see those who came out of Egypt walked in the wilderness of Sinai Peninsula for 40 years, before they entered into the Promised Land.  God was with them, but He humbled them due to their disbelief.  He was their light and guide, though they deserted Him and worshipped idols.  Moses went to the pinnacle of Mount Sinai to be with God for ‘40 days and 40 nights’. It was a time of transformation for him.  When he came down to the valley with the tablets of Ten Commandments, his face shined like the sun.  People were so afraid to look at him, he covered his face.  He became a transformed person.

Elijah, the great prophet, walked ‘40 days and 40 nights’ from the southernmost city of Israel, Beth-Sheba to Mount Horeb in the north and fasted. God revealed to him a great truth that there were 7000 people still in Israel who worshipped Yahweh and this strengthened Elijah, with utmost courage to fight against King Ahab and Queen Jezebel. He reestablished the worship of Yahweh in the place of Baal.  Thus Elijah triumphed over the evil worshippers and destroyed their priests and worshipping places.  Here we see the triumph of Truth.

In the New Testament we see the ‘40 days and 40 nights’ of our Lord’s fasting, before the beginning of His public ministry.  That was how Christ prepared himself to reveal the Truth and create a new community.  He stayed with them for ’40’ days after the resurrection to strengthen them and prepare them for the difficult work to preach and spread the truth of salvation.

The number ‘40’ has more significance and meaning in the spiritual realm than the number ‘50’ which also is significant.  But in the religious and Biblical context, ‘40’ is more befitting to a parish.

This is why the St. Mary’s Orthodox Church has decided to celebrate the 40th anniversary of our parish.   We passed through the purification, the transformation, and witnessed that TRUTH WILL TRIUMPH AND PREVAIL and we see the glory of God in our parish, parishioners, our homes, and our hearts.

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Family Night 2013

Family Night 2013

The 2013 St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Family Night will be held on Sunday, October 13 at the Crown Plaza Hotel, 3 Executive Blvd., Suffern, NY 10901. The event will commence at 5:00 pm with Prayers followed by Entertainment Programs, Dinner and a Magician.

Please join for this evening of Family & Fellowship.

For more information, please contact:
Alex Varghese (Coordinator)
Jacob Malathu (Church Secretary)
Alexy John (Associate  Coordinator)
 

 Direction to the Crown Plaza Hotel:

  • TAKE DEEGAN EXPRESSWAY (NORTH) /87 NORTH TOWARDS TAPPAN ZEE BRIDGE;
  • TAKE EXIT 14B AIRMONT ROAD
  • MAKE RIGHT ON TO N. AIRMONT ROAD
  • AND STAY TO THE LEFT LANEIMMEDIATELY
  • TAKE THE 1ST LEFT ONTO EXECUTIVE BLVD (HOTEL ON LEFT)
  • DRIVE ALL THE WAY TOWARDS THE HOTEL -SEE PARKING LOT ON LEFT
  • ENTRANCE TO BANQUET HALL FROM THE RIGHT SIDE OF HOTEL

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Welcome

Welcome

Welcome to the St. Mary’s Orthodox Church of India, Bronx, New York website. We hope that you are blessed with the various links and informational pages that outline our Church.

The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church was established in A.D. 52 by St. Thomas, one of the disciples of our Lord. Our parish falls under the jurisdiction of our mother Church in India and has the foundation of the faith and traditions from the Holy Scriptures and the teachings of the Holy Fathers. The head of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Mar Thoma Paulose II, the 91th Successor to the Apostolic Throne of St. Thomas. The Holy Episcopal Synod (which consists of all the Bishops of the Church) has appointed His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as the Metropolitan of the North-East American Diocese.

The Holy Qurbana (Eucharist) is celebrated every Sunday and on all obligatory days in our Church. Our Church was established 41 years ago on the Feast of St. Gregorios of Parumala (one of the Canonized Saints of the Church) and given the name St. Mary’s Orthodox Church to honor the memory and ask for the intercessions of St. Mary, the Mother of our Lord.

Our spiritual organizations are the backbone of the parish. These organizations, along with a few of their responsibilities and accomplishments are:

Martha Mariam Samajam (St. Mary’s Ladies Movement)

  • Leading the annual Eight Day Lent celebrations
  • Piggy Bank collection for Mission work
  • Receiving and honoring all dignitaries

M.G.O.C.S.M. (Christian Student Movement)

  • Creating and maintaining the church website
  • Organizing annual Family Night
  • Purchased a new sound system for the Church
  • Charity work (Aid/ Relief for the Less Fortunate and Basketball Tournament)
  • Summer Conferences and Retreats

 Sunday School 

  • Orthodox Vacation Bible School
  • District/Diocesan Level Competitions
  • Share and Care Project

Prayer Groups (5)

  • Regular Area Meetings
  • Christmas Caroling

Golden Club  

  • Spiritual Organization for the golden members (male and females) of our church
  • Compiled and Published the Church Directory (February 7, 2010)

We continue our close ties with our mother church in India with a number of charity projects, helping our Theological Seminaries, and through our continued prayers. Our church currently consists of 148 families and 15 individual members.

Young Adults/Couples- FOCUS

  • Forum for Young Adults/Couples to learn about the tradition and faith of our Church
  • Opportunity to unite in fellowship through charitable works
  • Forum for questions/discussions on day to day living and family life

Our best hope and prayer is that this website will be informative and a blessing to all those who visit it.

May God Bless You All

 

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