It is an Indian orthodox diocese separated from the jacobite Syrian church. Yuhanon melitius is a Former metropolitan of Jacobite Syrian Christian Church in Thrissur. The diocese was formed in 1982 with parishes in Thrissur and Palakkad districts. At the time of the formation of the diocese there were 32 parishes and 26 priests. Initially Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos of the East was in charge of the diocese. During his time a property of 1.5 acres was purchased in Peechi for the diocesan headquarter. Later then metropolitan of Angamali diocese Thomas Mar Dionysius (now H.B Baselios Thomas I was given additional charge of the diocese. He got the present plot at Mannuthy where the diocese headquarters of the diocese is built in exchange of the land in Peechi. After few years then metropolitan of Kochi diocese, Thomas Mar Osthatheos was given additional charge of the diocese in the place of Mar Dionysius. In 1990 November, the diocesan general body elected Rev. Fr. Rajan John Murimakil, a priest of Kandanadu diocese who was studying at Lutheran School of Theology in Chicago as the metropolitan candidate. He was consecrated on 23 December in Damascus by His HolinessIgnatius Zakka I Iwas, Patriarch of Antioch. The first metropolitan with independent charge of the diocese assumed the office on 26 December 1990. The present diocesan headquarters was completed in 1995. The consecration of the headquarters was done on 20 July 1995 by Thomas mor divanasios (now H.B Baselios Thomas I
Institutions And Mission
The diocese has one Upper Primary School in Palakkadu district and a Study center, near Thrissur. The diocese runs a community development project called "Anveshi, Thrissru" which helps people to help themselves. The diocese has a mission in Burbank, near Los Angeles, CA in USA with 300+ families of Mediterranean region origin. For the last several years the diocese has been in continuous struggle to make the unity of the Church a reality.
Headquarters
The headquarters of the diocese is at Mannuthy. Address: Gedseemon Orthodox Bishop's House, Mannuthy, Thrissur, Kerala, INDIA. 680651. Tel. +4872371039. The house was built by help from people of the Church at various parts of the world under the leadership of Yuhanon Mar Meletius Metropolitan. A small parish worships in the chapel in the diocesan headquarters. Due to lack of space a new plot was purchased adjacent to the headquarters building and a new chapel is constructed. The chapel is named "St. Mary's Unity Chapel". It symbolizes the Church unity efforts of the diocese.
