News & Events

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos, Metropolitan of the Northeast
American Diocese, and President of the Department of Ecumenical
Relations of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, met with His
Holiness Irinej, Archbishop of Pec, Metropolitan of Belgrade-Karlovci,
and Patriarch of the Serbian Orthodox Church. Along with His Grace,
Reverend Father Abraham Thomas, Secretary of the Ecumenical Department
and Reverend Father Aswin Zefrin Fernandis, Executive Secretary of the
Ecumenical Department, visited the Primate of the Serbian Church.

His Grace offered the fraternal greetings of His Holiness Moran Mar
Baselios Marthoma Paulos II, and gifted the Patriarch with a hand
cross on behalf of the Primate of the Malankara Church. The Ecumenical
Department of the Malankara Church discussed how the relationship
between both Churches can be strengthened. The Malankara Orthodox
Syrian Church and the Serbian Orthodox Church have preserved a warm
relationship since 1936. This relationship blossomed under the
initiative of Saint Dositej Vasic of Zagreb when the saintly confessor
visited Kerala, India. During Saint Dositej’s trip to India in January
1937, he shared of his great admiration for the courage of Hindus who
converted to Orthodox Christianity.

Metropolitan Dositej later spent time at our Orthodox Theological
Seminary in Kottayam, India and met with His Holiness Catholicos
Geevarghese II of thrice blessed memory. Upon his return back to
Serbia, he shared of his travels and encounter with the Indian Church
with His Holiness Patriarch Varnava of blessed memory which began a
more formal relationship and dialogue with the Serbian Patriarchate.
In 2010, His Grace, Metropolitan Dr. Gabriel Mar Gregorios,
represented the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church at the patriarchal
enthronement of His Holiness Irinej.

It is also worthy to note, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos,
works closely with His Grace Bishop Irinej of Serbian Orthodox Diocese
of Eastern America, on the Board of Trustees at St. Vladimir's
Orthodox Theological Seminary. His Holiness Patriarch Irinej, conveyed
the love and prayerful greetings of the Serbian Orthodox Church, to
His Holiness the Catholicos of the East, the Hierarchs, clergy and
faithful of the Malankara Church.