Bishop House
Now therefore let it please thee to bless the house of thy servant, that it may be before thee for ever: for thou blessest, O LORD, and it shall be blessed for ever - 1 Chronicles 17:27
Diocesan Bishop
The Mar Thoma Church in the North American and European continent represents the dreams and aspirations of the faithful members of the Church.
Sinai Mar Thoma Center,
2320 Merrick Avenue,
Merrick, New York 11566
516 377 3311
Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos Episcopa
Rt. Rev. Dr. Abraham Mar Paulos took charge as the fifth resident Diocesan Episcopa in January 2024.
Dr Abraham Mar Paulos hails from Kanjirathara family, Kottayam in Kerala.
His home parish is St Peters Mar Thoma Church, Manganam. He studied at the Government Lower Primary School, Muttambalam; M T Seminary High School, Kottayam, CMS College, Kottayam and Basaleos College, Kottayam.
He had his theological training from Mar Thoma Theological Seminary, Kottayam and Princeton University.
He took a doctorate in Christian Education from Boston University. He was ordained as a Deacon on May 31, 1980 by Dr Joseph Mar Irenaeus Suffragan Metropolitan at Manganam St Peters Mar Thoma Church. His Ordination as Kassessa was on June 28, 1980 at St Thomas Mar Thoma Church, Thiruvalla by Dr Alexander Mar Thoma Valia Metropolitan.
He was ordained as Ramban on February 2, 2005 at Jerusalem Mar Thoma Church, Kottayam by Rt. Rev. Geevarghese Mar Athanasius Episcopa.
On 14th May, 2005 he was consecrated as Episcopa of the Church at S C Seminary Tiruvalla by Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostom Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
He served in different Parishes such as Naranamoozhy, Kattikkalaruvi, Thonikadavu, Ranni Pazhavangadikara, Trivandrum Paruthippara, Karthamangal, Bangalore, Kaithakuzhy, Boston.
He was also served as the Chaplain of St Thomas Schools, Trivandrum and as Diocesan Secretary of Trivandrum Quilon Diocese.
His tenure as General Secretary of the Sunday School Samajam was the exemplification of his Leadership qualities, organizing capabilities.
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The centenary celebration of the Sunday School Samajam including the Children’s Maramon under his leadership was a remarkable effort. Consecrated as Episcopa on the silver Jubilee year of priesthood, His Lordship is a great orator, good scholar, theologian and above all he is a great friend of children and youth. After serving the Trivandrum - Quilon and Mumbai - Delhi dioceses, Delhi, he is shepherding the Adoor Diocese at present.
Bishop Message
Witnessing the Divine Revelation
It is our bounden duty to express our faithfulness to God. We firmly believe that as the members of the Mar Thoma community, we are a called out people and are placed in a foreign land with a purpose to fulfill. Our task therefore is to live Christ through our lives and witness Christ through our action or service. The generation that struggled in establishing the Mar Thoma community in these nations are slowly phasing out. The new generation may strongly feel that they are the sons of the soil as citizens of the nations they live. Therefore the terms such as migrants or Diaspora community may not be relevant to them. Being the Mar Thoma members of a particular nation may give a new identity to them. However the culture and ethos becomes more related to the living context. How to address this phenomenon and integrate everyone under one umbrella is a challenge that we face in the Diocese of North America and Europe.
Message of the Diocesan Bishop
Every day is a new day. It is the day God has given us. Often one wonders, ‘is it good news that awaits me in the dawn to listen, or is it any unexpected incident that causes confusion and sadness’? Today people who long for peaceful lives are asking the question, ‘where are we heading to’? After the brutal and heinous killing of people, unaware and without any provocation, in Orlando, Florida and the natural calamity through the wildfire at Ft. Mc Murray, Alberta which burned hundreds of homes down and forced the evacuation of thousands of residents, this becomes more relevant.