PUNE- KIRKEE ST.THOMAS ORTHODOX CHURCH

                                PUNE- KHADKI ST.THOMAS
                   ORTHODOX CHURCH



The  activities of orthodox Syrian christian members in the historical city of poona,goes as far as the early forties of the century. The second world war, the concentration of defence production, establishment of three cantonments and a number of Government offices opend new vistas in Poona  and orthodox Christians  come first for employment and later settled down in Poona making Poona their home and abode. By the end war in 1945, Syrian christians  were in appreciable strength and their inclination to identify and practice their own spiritual pursuits realized when  Rev.Fr W.Q Lash(later the Lord Bishop of the CNI, Bombay Diocese) the then Head of the C.P.S.S Ashram at Shiva Jingar,Pune-5, showed keen interest in organising the Syrian Christians and assisting them to set up common Malayalam church services. Priests belonging to the orthodox church from  Kerala was invited to minister the congregation for a period of one year. Ref. Fr Lash was a great admirer of Syrian Christians of Kerala. His appreciation was mainly due to the fact that Orthodox churches are one of the ancient churches of the world, established in A.D 52 by one of the Apostle of Jesus Christ.
   1951,the Syrian Christian Malayalam congregation ceased to function as a united Syrian Christian,Poona. Rev. Fr Lash was generous to give Orthodox Christians to conduct Holy services in All Saint Church Kirkee and St. Pauls church Poona. The year of 1951 Orthodox Syrian Church functioned from Kirkhee and Poona with the blessings of the Catholicos,the late H.H Moran Mar Basselius Geevarghese II. His holiness appointed Rev Fr Thomas Muthedom as the first vicar. Regular holy services were performed at Kirkhee and Poona on alternative Sundays.
  1973,the Catholicos H.H Moran Mar Basallius Marthoma I issued Kalpana establishing Kirkee and Poona centers as two separate parishes
 St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church Kiekee established in 1973 continued  to function at All Saints Church,Kirkee. St. Thomas Orthodox Church Kirkee had been able to obtain land behind Kirkee railway sation from ministry of Defence, Government of India in 1983. The construction of the Church building commenced when on 6th November1986. The late H.G Dr Philipose Mar Theophilose laid foundation stone of the church building. Within a year building was complete.
  At  present, the church have 552 families.The mother parish has helped in and witnessed the growth of several parishes in and around Pune during the last decade. At present there are six Parishes in Pune within 20 kilometers of distances.
St. Thomas Orthodox Syrian Church is not merly a place for worship, in 1982 , the  parish registered as a public charitable Trust under the Bombay Public Trusts Act and its objects cover among other things educational,philanthropies,medical, cultural and physical programmes and of course affording the plane for its members for their spiritual attainments.

 In 1989 St.thomas public school started its pre-primary classes in the church building. In 1991 the first phase of the school building was completed. Every year one more classes were added and at present up to 10th standard is functioning under the capable guidance and supervision of H.G Geevarghes Mar Coorlos. The St. Thomas Church associated with St. Gerorge Balikagram,Dehurroad an orphanage for the children of Leprocy Patients. The church can better serve God through service of the poor,the sick and old.

Prof. John Kurtakar and family(Prof.John Kurakar, Prof. Molly Kurakar, Mr Kuriyan Arinboor, Research wing,Bajaj Auto Ltd,Pune, Dr.Manju Kurakar, Manu Kurakar) visited Khadki St. Thomas Orthodox Church on 14th May2011 at 7 p.m.

                            Prof. John Kurakar