St. Mary's emblem

St. Mary's Church

White Plains, NY

About

Our History

From nine faithful in 1979 to a parish home in White Plains.

St. Mary's Church, White Plains
99 Park Avenue, White Plains

  1. January 14, 1979

    Our Beginning

    With the blessing of H.E. Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in the U.S. and Canada, nine Malankara Jacobite faithful came together to form our parish. They were led by Rev. Fr. John Jacob (later H.G. Yuhanon Mor Philoxenos), with the dedicated help of Mr. George Kuruvilla. The Archbishop celebrated the first Holy Qurbono at Fort George Presbyterian Church Hall in Manhattan, assisted by Rev. Fr. John Jacob, Rev. Fr. John Meno, Rev. Fr. P.M. Punnoose, Rev. Dn. Ezhamalil Eapen and Rev. Dn. Paulose T. Peter. Eighteen families joined that very day.

  2. Early 1979

    Growing in Faith

    Services were held twice a month, led in turn by Rev. Fr. John Jacob and Rev. Fr. P.M. Punnoose, and Rev. Fr. George P. Kocheril joined the parish.

  3. March 25, 1979

    Our First Vicar

    At the first General Body meeting, Rev. Fr. George P. Kocheril was entrusted as vicar. By spring, 25 families belonged to the parish.

  4. September 9, 1979

    Formal Dedication

    During his visit to the United States, H.B. Mor Baselios Paulose II, Catholicos, formally dedicated our parish.

  5. November 11, 1979

    Weekly Worship

    The parish moved to the auditorium of Holy Rood Episcopal Church at 179th Street and Fort Washington Avenue and began holding services every Sunday. Rev. Dn. David Cheruthottil joined us.

  6. October 7, 1982

    A New Priest

    Dn. David was ordained a priest and served as Associate Vicar. The parish had grown to 40 families.

  7. May 1983

    An Apostolic Visit

    H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas visited and celebrated the Holy Qurbono for our parish at the Interchurch Center in New York.

  8. 1983 – 1985

    Years of Searching

    Without a permanent home, the parish moved from place to place. Families welcomed services into their own homes, and in 1985 the parish worshipped for a short time at an Episcopal church in the Bronx.

  9. Mid-1985

    A Chapel Home

    The parish moved to a chapel at the Theological Seminary in New York, served faithfully by Very Rev. Dr. K.M. Simon, Rev. Fr. Isaac Paily and Rev. Fr. Alias Aramath.

  10. 1990

    A Church of Our Own

    After years of patience and prayer, the parish purchased its own church at 99 Park Avenue, White Plains, where we worship to this day.

From nine faithful in a borrowed hall to a church of our own — we give thanks for every family who carried this parish forward.