Concept Sketch of Building under construction
Source: Brochure, 1999

The Long Cherished Dream

Due to the trials and tribulations of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in the past century, the Church presently has no central facility to oversee the administration of its spiritual and temporal affairs. It is an absolute necessity that the Syrian Orthodox Church in India must have a Headquarters Complex to fulfill the various and manifold services and also for the effective and prompt functioning of its administrative system. Currently, the administrative setup is too decentralised and hence the administration of Church suffers. In this context, for the thousands of parish churches and about more than one million faithful, the proposed Head-quarters complex at Puthenkurishu in Ernakulam District, Kerala, is a long cherished dream.

The Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, has given approval for the construction of the proposed Headquarters complex. Patriarch H.H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I has conferred apostolic blessings on the project and has issued an encyclical to support the raising of funds for the project. His Holiness blessed the site of the headquarters on April 9, 2000, during his second apostolic visit to Malankara. The Syrian Orthodox Church in India is therefore indebted to His Holiness and we beseech His Holiness' prayers and Apostolic blessings on the project.

The first block of the Patriarchal Center was consecrated on September 14, 2001, the Feast Day of the Holy Cross, by the then Catholicos-Designate H.G. Mor Dionysius Thomas, assisted by metropolitans Mor Philexinos Yuhanon, Mor Themotheos Thomas, Mor Polycarpos Geevarghese, Mor Gregorius Joseph, and Mor Ivanius Matthews.

Salient Features

The proposed Head quarters Complex is named as "Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Centre". It will function as the central office of the whole Church. The complex will have a beautiful Chapel, special suites for H.H. the Patriarch and dignitaries, The Holy Episcopal Synod Chamber, Working Committee & Managing Committee halls, office rooms for all the office bearers of the Church, central offices for the spiritual organizations of the Church, Library and Archives, suites for the Bishops, guest rooms, dining hall, recreation rooms, kitchen, etc.

It is beautifully planned and designed as a unique structure with a mixture of the traditional Kerala architectural style with a touch of Christian motifs, covering a total plinth area of 40,000 sq.ft. in three storeys.

The Site for the Proposed "Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas Centre"

The site is situated at "Puthenkurishu" in Ernakulam District. Puthenkurishu is the meeting place of three major Dioceses of the Syrian Orthodox Church and majority of the people living in and around Puthenkurishu are Syrian Christians. The Church has acquired about 5 acres of land area to construct the Headquarters complex, located very close to the National Highway, NH 49. The new International Airport Cochin (Nedumbasserry) is 40 Km from the proposed site and Cochin City is 20 Km away.

H.B. Catholicos Mor Baselius Thomas I
Mor Elias Chapel, Puthenkurishu P.0.
Ernakulam District, Kerala, India. Pin-682 308
Phone: +91-484-730022/822101

Patriarchal Center Phone: +91-484-731252

Architects: Santhosh John & Associates, Cochin-16