A HISTORICAL GLANCE
The Mar Thoma Church is a global Church, which has been moved from the central Travancore region of Kerala to other regions of India and all continents of the world as a result of evangelization process and constant migration. Reformation process (1836) in the Malankara Church influenced the early Marthomites to extend its boundaries to a wider spectrum through their mission activities. This global Church has encountered multi-cultural and multi-ethnic atmosphere and assimilated various cultural practices and faced faith confrontation in its own geographical regions. This confrontation caused a renewed view of nature, identity and mission of the Church in a positive manner.
The success of the Mar Thoma Christians who were enlightened by the Great Reformation had deep faith in Almighty God, migrated from their native places to various parts of the world in search of greener pastures for job and education. The English education and Industrial Revolution had accelerated this migration process to various parts of the globe which include Malaysia, Singapore, Middle East, North America, Canada and Europe. This migration was instrumental in the formation of the Mar Thoma community in diaspora regions especially in Switzerland too.
As a faith community, even though our members are scattered in different parts of the country since a long time, as an organized form of Mar Thoma fellowship began to mark from 9th of September 2001 in Geneva where Rt. Rev. Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Suffragan Metropolitan officially celebrated Holy Qurbana and thereby took initiative to form a Congregation. It was a divine plan to organize such a spiritual fellowship in this country in which many people were instrumental in forming it. With the consent of Hon. Episcopal Synod, the then North America- Europe diocesan Bishop Mar Theophilus appointed Rev. Prasad Mathew of St James Mar Thoma Church, London as their first vicar. Under his leadership and the tireless service of the first committee, the Mar Thoma congregation flourished in Swiss soil. Later many families from different parts of the country joined in the fellowship of the Church and gave effective leadership and service to its overall growth.
Since our members are scattered in different parts of the country, and the unavailability of the clergy, the Holy Qurbana and divine services were conducted once every quarter in various parts of the country. Since 2009 onwards, there has been Holy Qurbana service once in a month in various church buildings available to us especially from the Old Catholic, the Roman Catholic and Evangelion Churches. During the years, all the vicars during their terms gave leadership to the overall growth of this faith community.
As a community of faithful, this congregation moves forward with the slogan “Lighted to Lighten” to extend the Kingdom values in this part of the world.