The Church

[ngg src=”galleries” ids=”22″ display=”basic_slideshow”]The Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, believed to have been found by Saint Thomas (A.D.52), one of the Apostles of Jesus Christ, the Saviour of the world, and known by the name of the Apostle, is part of the one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church. The Church, autonomous and oriental in nature, believes in the one true God, the Father Almighty, the Holy Spirit, the Lord and giver of life, and Lord Jesus Christ, the begotten son of God, one holy Catholic and Apostolic Church.

The Parish

The members of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church started migrating to various countries in the globe decades ago, and wherever they lived / settled, they were quite enthusiastic in getting together and worshipping the living God under their own identity.

During the second half of 1940s, a number of Indians were recruited to Kuwait by Kuwait Oil Company (KOC) when the oil exploration and drilling process were in progress in collaboration with Anglo Persian Oil Company and Gulf Oil Corporation. Among them, there were a number of Syrian Christians of different denominations from Kerala who had the privilege to be a part of the KOC workforce and reside in Ahmadi.

A small group of 5 among them met for the first time in a tent in August 1949 at Ahmadi Ridge (the present KOC Main Office area) for prayer. They continued their weekly fellowship meetings with prayer, intercession and discussions from the word of God. Within a very short period, the attendance increased considerably and the necessity for a place to have a common worship was seriously felt by the group. The Holy Spirit guided them to fulfil God’s plan. The common worship was started at Precincts No.4 Recreation Hall on Saturday, the 18th February 1950. The Rev. R. T. G. Pearson, Church of England Chaplain, inaugurated this worship service. Ever since, this common worship attained spiritual growth and developed into what was lately known as the ‘Ahmadi Malayalee Christian Congregation’.

Although worship services were regularly conducted by some of the members, the need for an occasional visit of a member of the clergy from the home Church was greatly felt. Efforts pursued with this object in view, resulted in the visit of Rev. Philip Oommen (now His Grace The Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan) in April 1952 as a guest of Kuwait Oil Company. The visit of Rev. Philip Oommen was a remarkable turning point in the history of Ahmadi Malayalee Christian Congregation.

Most of the Indian Christian believers from Kuwait City were attending worship services in Ahmadi Church under the flagship of Ahmadi Malayalee Christian Congregation until the time ‘Kuwait Town Malayalee Christian Congregation’ (KTMCC) was formed in 1952.

A memorable event witnessed by the Christian community in Ahmadi was the dedication ceremony of the St. Pauls Church in November 1956 by the Rt. Rev. W. H. Stewart, the Anglican Bishop of Jerusalem. The Rt. Rev. C. K. Jacob, Bishop of the Church of South India represented the Malayalee Christian Congregation on this occasion.

Since then, the Anglican Church Chaplain was in-charge of St. Pauls Church, Ahmadi. He was authorized to allocate timings to all the different congregations for conducting their own worship services. The timing allocated to Malayalee Christian Congregation was from 07:00 to 08:30 p.m. on every Saturdays.

Worship services were conducted jointly by the Mar Thoma and CSI leaders. Mar Thoma Holy Communion services were conducted at this Church once in two months for its members by the Vicar of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish since its inception at the American Mission Church (now known as the National Evangelical Church of Kuwait – NECK) in May 1963. Rev. M. O. Oommen took charge as the first Vicar of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish. Ahmadi / Fahaheel area was one of the prayer groups of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish until Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish was formed in January 1984.

During the visit of Late Rt. Rev. Easow Mar Timotheos (then Diocesan Bishop) in 1983, Thirumeni proposed to the leaders of Ahmadi Malayalee Christian Congregation to conduct independent worships by Mar Thoma and CSI churches. This suggestion was mainly aimed at progressing and developing the activities of the respective churches. However, the leaders of Ahmadi Malayalee Christian Congregation could not accept the proposal raised by His Grace. This attitude of the above leaders prompted the Mar Thoma Church members to approach the Anglican Church Chaplain, who was the President of Ahmadi St. Pauls Church Inter -Congregational Church Council (ICC) with a request to allocate separate timing for worship to be conducted by them. To their dismay, the Anglican Church Chaplain also refused to comply with the above request.

Subsequent to innumerable hardships, a formal list of 31 families and 17 single members was submitted to the Community Services Department of KOC requesting to give necessary directives to Anglican Church Chaplain to allocate timing for the Mar Thoma worship service. Based on the above request, the Anglican Church Chaplain allocated timing for worship services as under:-

2nd & 4th Wednesdays	7:00 to 8:30 p.m.
3rd & 5th Fridays	8:00 to 9:30 a.m.

Since then, worship services were regularly conducted on Wednesdays and Holy Communion services on 3rd Fridays by the Vicar of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish. A Kalpana was received on 20th January 1984 from The Most Rev. Dr. Alexander Mar Thoma Metropolitan proclaiming the formation of Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish and appointing the Vicar of Kuwait Mar Thoma Parish Rev. M. C. John as the first Vicar. Hence the long-awaited and cherished dream of the Mar Thoma Church members in Ahmadi was fulfilled.

The activities of Sunday School, Edavaka Choir & Sevika Sanghom were commenced in 1984. The Edavaka Convention was held for the first time from 7th to 10th October 1985. The Yuvajana Sakhyam & Edavaka Mission were formed on 18th July 1986.

Rev. M. C. John (20th April 1984 to 19th November 1986), Rev. V. Thomas (20th November 1986 to 30th April 1990) and Rev. K. K. Abraham (1st May 1990 to 1st August 1990) have served as the Vicars of the Parish during the pre-invasion period.

In 1985, the Parish started providing “Relief Funds” to several community services such as Flood Relief Fund, Bhopal Relief Fund and Fund to Hospital Guidance, Trivandrum. Such collections were raised occasionally when any special financial support was needed by Community or Individual either in Kuwait, India or elsewhere.

The parish has all along endeavoured to extend additional financial support to the members as well as fellow-beings back in Kerala. The ‘Family Benefit Scheme’ (FBS), started in 1987, is one of such financial aids extended to the family of deceased members.

The parish activities were temporarily suspended on 2nd August 1990 due to the brutal Iraqi invasion of Kuwait. In spite of the insecurity existing at that time, Rev. K. K. Abraham took the initiative to conduct a Holy Communion service at the residence of a Parish member at Mangaf. As the situation worsened, most of the parish members fled out of the country through the emergency evacuation process initiated by the Indian Government. It was marvellous that our loving God responded to our cry, agony and pain during the exile and due to the mighty acts of His redeeming grace, almost all the parish members returned back to Kuwait with more strength, dedication and commitment.

After the liberation of Kuwait, regular Church activities were resumed on 20th March 1992 with a Holy Communion service led by Rev. K. K. Abraham at the Ahmadi St. Pauls Church. Rev. K. K. Abraham served as the Vicar from mid-March 1992 until 30th April 1993. After the liberation, circulation of the Parish ‘Newsletter’ was re-started in July 1993.

Rev. Rajan George was appointed as Vicar of the parish from 1st May 1993. Achen arrived in Kuwait on 17th May 1993 and took charge of the Parish. Meanwhile, a parsonage was established in Mangaf area and its blessing ceremony was conducted on 22nd July 1993 by Rev. K. K. Abraham.

Rev. Rajan George (1st May 1993 to 30th April 1996) exerted all his efforts to strengthen the activities of Edavaka Mission, Yuvajana Sakhyam, Sevika Sanghom, Sunday School and Edavaka Choir. The Harvest Festival and House-To-House Christmas Carol Service started during his tenure as the Vicar.

The ‘Poor Fund’, started in 1993, is maintained by the parish with the amount received as donations from members when the area prayer meetings were held at their residences and disbursed to the most deserving applicants from Kerala.

In order to extend helping hands to the poor, unfortunate and downtrodden fellow-beings back in Kerala, Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish started conducting for the first time a “Harvest Festival” in November 1995. The major share of the proceeds collected from the Harvest Festival through the years are earmarked and disbursed for various Special Projects aimed at humanitarian aids such as; House-for-Houseless, Marriage Aid, Medical Aid, Education Aid, etc., as part of the Parish’s vision, mission and goal.

The fourth Gulf Youth Conference held in Kuwait from 8th to 10th May 1995 was hosted jointly by Kuwait & Ahmadi Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam.

Rev. M. C. Samuel served the parish from 1st May 1996 to 30th April 1999. Samuel Achen was appointed as the first full-time independent Vicar of the parish with effect from 1st May 1997 until his transfer to Kerala on 30th April 1999. Samuel Achen took all the initiatives to start the “Teenagers’ Meeting” and the “Campers Fellowship Meeting” during 1997. The parish has always been concerned about the well-being of the members who stay in Company camps and hostels scattered within the perimeter of the parish and committed in extending all possible Christian fellowship. These members are periodically visited by the Vicar accompanied by the members of Yuvajana Sakhyam, Edavaka Mission and Kaisthana Samithy. A special annual get-together for the Campers was conducted since 1997.

In order to encourage the children of the parish members, ‘Merit Awards’ were initiated in 1998 for students who secure highest marks in Std. X and XII in Kuwait.

A Parish Directory was published for the first time in the year 1999 during the tenure of Rev. M.C. Samuel as the Vicar.

Subsequently, Rev. Ninan K. George (1st May 1999 to 30th April 2000) & Rev. Thomas Mathew (1st May 2000 to 30th April 2003) served the parish as the vicars. They contributed much for the overall spiritual growth of the parishioners and special attention was given to the campers.

In appreciation to the services received from registered parish members it was decided with effective from 1st August 2001 to honour them with mementos while they leave the country for good based on the criteria stipulated by the Kaisthana Samithy.

Rev. Idiculla K. George served as the parish vicar from 1st May 2003 to 30th April 2006. He has been instrumental in commencing the Parish Welfare Fund (AMPWF), “Vanitha Fellowship”, “Medical Camp” and “Sneha Sangamam”.

To provide temporary financial assistance in the form of a fixed term loan to needy members of the parish, a welfare fund known as ‘Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish Welfare Fund (AMPWF)’ was initiated in the month of September 2003. In order to give guidance to the Committee entrusted for operating the above fund, a By-law was also formed. This continues to serve as a helping hand to Edavaka Members at times of severe financial need.

The “Vanitha Fellowship” meeting was commenced on 9th October 2004. The first meeting was graced by the valuable presence of Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius. The “Vanitha Fellowship” meeting continues to be held every year since then.

The official website of the parish (www.ahmadimarthomaparish.org) was inaugurated on 15th October 2004 by Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius in the meeting presided over by Rt. Rev. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Theodosius.

The “Home-land Fellowship” meeting an annual get-together of all ex-members of Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish now settled back in their native place also known as “Sneha Sangamam” was started in August 2005.

A “Medical Camp” was held in 2005. It was conducted in co-ordination with the ‘Indian Doctors Forum – Kuwait’. It was a great opportunity for those who need to meet specialist doctors for proper medical diagnosis and guidance.

Rev. C. V. Mathew served as the Parish Vicar from 1st May 2006 to 30th April 2009. He was instrumental in commencing the English worship service in our parish. The first English service was conducted on 28th March 2007 by Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas. In the meeting that held at St. Pauls Church on 24th October 2007, a befitting reception was given to H. G. The Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma who was consecrated as the 21st Mar Thoma on 2nd October 2007.

Due to substantial increase in Edavaka membership it became necessary to increase the number of Area Prayer Groups. Accordingly, in April 2007, Area Prayer groups were divided from 6 to 8 Nos.

Dedication of Sreekakulam Mission in Andhra Pradesh as the Silver Jubilee Project of the Parish was done by Diocesan Bishop, Rt. Rev. Joseph Mar Barnabas during a solemn ceremony following the communion service on 18th January 2008 at the church. Heads/members of existing families who were members since the inception of the parish were also honoured with mementos during the Holy Communion service.

The inaugural ceremony of the Parish Jubilee celebrations and the declaration of the Sreekakulam Mission as Parish Jubilee Project were conducted in a colourful public function on 18th January 2008 at the KOC Union Hall. The Second Parish directory was released during the inaugural function.

On 27th February 2008, a reception was given to The Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan at St. Pauls Church Ahmadi in connection with Thirumeni’s Navathy celebrations. A reception and felicitation meeting was conducted jointly by the three (3) Mar Thoma Parishes, Ahmadi Mar Thoma, St. Thomas Salmiya and Kuwait City Mar Thoma Parish on 29th February 2008.

As part of the Silver Jubilee celebrations a Christian musical event named ‘Gloria 2008’ was held on 25th April, 2008.

The closing ceremony of the Silver Jubilee was held on 16th January 2009, and was presided over by Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa. During the function, Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa dedicated the “plaque” for the Sreekakulam project and a memoir named “Spandanam” was released by Hon. Minister of Kerala Shri. Mathew T. Thomas.

Rev. Varghese M. Thomas served as the Parish Vicar from 1st May 2009 to 30th April 2012.

The Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish arranged and executed the VBS for the first time on 12th June 2009. It was a vision of our earlier Vicar Rev. C. V. Mathew (2006-2009) which came true, by the sincere effort of all Parish members.

For conducting the worship services and programs, a Prayer Hall was identified at Mangaf and the dedication service was held on 4th December 2009 by Rev. Varghese M. Thomas. The first Holy Communion service was held on 8th January 2010.

The foundation stone laying ceremony was held during the financial year 2009/2010 for the newly built Hostel at Sreekakulam Mission Field.

‘Ezhuthiniruthu Shushrusha’ was started for the first time with the approval of Episcopal Synod on 10th November 2010. Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa, Diocesan Bishop led the first service.

Rev K A. Varughese (Variapuram) served as the Parish Vicar from 1st May 2012 to 30th April 2015. On 18th May 2012 in commemoration of the 60th anniversary of the first Holy Communion service conducted in 1952 by Rev. Philip Ommen (present Valiya Metropolitan) in Kuwait at St. Pauls Church, Ahmadi, a special Holy Communion service was conducted by His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan. Also, a meeting was arranged on the same day to felicitate His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan on his 95th birth anniversary.

On 29th May 2013, Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish arranged a warm reception to His Grace the Most Rev. Dr. Philipose Mar Chrysostom Valiya Metropolitan on Thirumeni’s 60th Anniversary of Episcopal consecration.

On 10th January 2015, Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish arranged a warm reception to Rt. Rev. Michale Augstine Owen Lewis, Anglican Bishop of Cyprus and Middle East, at St. Pauls Parish, Ahmadi.

Rev. Biju Sam appointed as the Parish Vicar from 1st May 2015.

A special thanks giving service was conducted at St. Pauls Church Ahmadi on 1st Aug 2015 in commemoration of the 25th year of Kuwait Liberation.

As the membership has increased considerably, the existing 6 Prayers Groups were divided into 13 Prayer Groups in January 2016 with effect from 1st April 2016.

On 26th March 2016, the dedication service of the new Prayer Hall was conducted by Rt. Rev. Dr. Euyakim Mar Coorilos Episcopa along with Diocesan Bishop Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa. On 1st April 2016, Most Rev. Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma visited the new Prayer Hall and blessed it for further worship services.

In April 2018, based on the request of a group of Edavaka members, the Parish was separated into two. As a result of the separation, about 400 Families/Units retained their membership with our Edavaka and remaining joined the newly formed Church. The Number of prayer groups were also reduced to 10 after the separation.

We have received commendable leadership from the clergy and laity and it is because of their untiring and sacrificial contribution the parish has grown this far. With great pride, we record here that the Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish has emerged as the biggest among the 19 congregations who worship at Ahmadi St. Pauls Church.

Rev. Sam Thomas has been appointed as the Parish Vicar from 1st May 2018.

Church is a community of faith, hope and love. As members of Ahmadi Mar Thoma Parish, we reaffirm our faith and re-dedicate ourselves to God the Almighty for his great love, mercy and kindness and sincerely pray to lead and guide us through the years to come.

Milestones