Bible Verse

   “Blessed are you when men revile you and persecute you and utter all kinds of evil against you falsely on my account. Rejoice and be glad, for your reward is great in heaven, for so men persecuted the prophets who were before you. (St Mathew 5:11-12 RSV)******************

His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III

Catholicos of the East in Malankara

His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos

Diocesan Metropolitan

Fr Thomas P John

Parish Vicar

Parish History

St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Of TorontoWith the arrival of a sizable number of Orthodox Syrian Christians to Canada from India and via the Middle East in the 1960s, Toronto became the focal point for the formation of the first Orthodox Syrian Christian Parish in Canada.

The first Holy Qurbana was conducted on Christmas Day in 1969 by Rev. Fr. Dr. N.K. Thomas.

In 1970, after the official recognition as the first Parish in North America, Rev. Fr. K.C. George [later very Rev. K.C. Geevarghese Ramban] was appointed as our vicar. On October 3, 1970, at a meeting of the parish members, it was decided that the parish would be dedicated to Parumala Thirumeni, our Patron Saint It was also decided to conduct Holy Qurbana at least once every two months at the Trinity College Chapel, 6 Hoskin Avenue, Toronto.

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Upcoming Events

08:30 AM : Morning Prayer

09:30 AM : Holy Qurbana

4th Sunday : English Service

All other Sundays : Malayalam

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Regular Classes:
Every Sunday
After Holy Qurbana

Date: Sunday, October 01, 2023
Time: After Holy Qurbana
Venue: Church

Date: Sunday, October 08, 2023
Time: TBD
Venue: Julius Event Centre
Address: 2201 Finch Ave W, North York, ON, M9M 2Y9

Date: Saturday, November 04, 2023
Time: 06:30 pm
Evening prayer, Devotional talk and Procession
Date: Sunday, November 05, 2023
Time: 08:30 am
Morning prayer, Holy Qurbana and Benediction
Venue: Church

News Update

Visit of HG Joshua Mar Nicodemus Metropolitan of Ranny Nilackal Diocese will be celebrating Holy Qurbana at our church on Sunday, October 01, 2023 (today).
It will be a blessing for us to have Thirumeni with us on the day of Annual Auction. 

Thanksgiving Charity/Auction will be held on October 01, Sunday.
The much-awaited Thanksgiving Charity/Auction will be held on October 01, this Sunday. Please don’t miss it. Please bring at least one item for auction and get at least one item through auction. Food items, works of art, clothing, books, plants and platters, pickles and crackers, fries and baked items or anything we think as appropriate, fitting, and saleable is welcome. Looking forward to some good music too. Our talented musicians and singers are welcome to perform during the auction. Necessary arrangements will be made for the singers. Please ensure our whole-hearted participation. Let us involve our children too – in the auction and music. There will be refreshment after the service. Please encourage each other. Please fill the space with our energy, enthusiasm, fun, music, and cheer. What we collect, half of the amount will be dispersed for helping the needy and half will be used for church development.
Link for flyer:https://mcusercontent.com/4b0245a10b23c3826466d9a97/files/8408755c-3ea4-9be5-f12c-ad35bf6d6db1/Thanks_Giving_Flyer_2023.pdfLink for google sign-up sheet:https://docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSfE6kYn4bf58eakG8r9D7wfDGOx4uHgrLGQdIp08s8OLpvoug/viewform.

Parish Nite will be conducted on Sunday, October 08, 2023

Parish Nite Ticket Sale Launch 2023 – John C Philip Received from the Vicar

This year’s ‘Parish Nite’ will be organised by MMVS. We request all our parish organisations to plan presentations and encourage all members to participate. We encourage group presentations, while leaving provision for individual performances too. Specifics, below:

  1. A Google Calendar has been initiated for signing up.
  2. Venue: Julius Event Centre, 2201 Finch Ave W, North York, ON, M9M 2Y9.
  3. Indicated costs are inclusive of costs for food and all facilities at the venue:
    1. $ 50/- per person for people over 10 years of age
    2. $ 40/-  per person for children between 5-10 years of age, with seats
    3. No fee for children under 5 years of age. They would have no seats and are to be held by parents or elders.

Please sign up soon. It will be worth spending for such a memorable evening.Let us all work together, to make the ‘Parish Nite’ a grand success.

The cut-off date for receiving Parish Directory updates (Address/contact change, new members, family photos) was August 31, 2023.
All entries are being reviewed. The new directory will be released soon. 

Maintenance and Repair of Parking Lot, Leakages at the building outer wall, began on Monday, September 11, 2023.
Repair and maintenance work at the parking lot and leakage is in progress. It would be completed before month-end. We thank our members for supporting through their contributions.

Central & Diocesan Funds Collection Envelope was launched on Sunday, July 09, 2023.
Please collect the envelope, customized for our parish’s use, for various fund collections of the Malankara Orthodox Church (Catholicate Day, Diocesan Day, funds for Sunday School, Theological Seminaries and Mission Board). It was launched on Sunday, July 09 by the blessed hands of our Diocesan Metropolitan. We request all our members to support our church through contributing towards all these funds. We have had this practice during our time in India. Being the faithful flock of the church, it is our duty and responsibility to support the church projects.

Baselios Marthoma Paulose II Memorial Annual Food Donation Project – Pick up your donation kit from the basement @ $10.00 for each.
Requesting our members who have already taken the donation bag, please bring back ASAP. Those who haven’t taken them yet, donation kits will be ready at the basement to pick up, one, two or three, at your convenience. Let us make it our mission – to spread His love and care. There are hungry stomachs out there looking unto us for our hands to be opened. They will never know who have provided for their hunger. We will never know who would be fed by us. The One who sees everything will see and reward us.

Support Sunday Refreshments
We request support from members for our Sunday refreshments. Many drops can make an ocean. Our contributions can help us to provide food or snacks on Sundays. ‘Koinonia’, fellowship time was an essential part of church gatherings since the beginning of the early church. It was a time for them to meet each other, to share updates, look for solutions for challenges of faith and a time to seek spiritual support. It was also a time for the needy to seek help for their needs and an opportunity to reach out.For us, the basement serves as a place for our children to find friends and friendships that will last a lifetime. Families get to know each other. It is not just food or filling, rather it is more of a time for fellowship and holistic nourishing. Please support.

Gregorian Seniors Forum Lunch was held on Monday, September 25, 2023.The meeting went well. Lunch was great. After lunch, Senior members started practicing for the Parish Nite. They will surprise us with a wonderful performance and presentation. It will be revealed only on stage. They are keeping it undisclosed for the time. One thing can be assured. We all will enjoy it. The energy, the joy, their preparation, their efforts…all pointing to an amazing presentation. Let us wait and see!

MMVS Art Exhibition in November – Date – to be confirmed shortly
Our parish MMVS unit will be organising an ‘Art Exhibition 23’ in November 2023 to showcase diverse artistic talents of our members. Our parish community is blessed with members who have various talents, creative abilities, and artistic skills. We request you to unleash your talents and creative sparks through presentation of literature (poems, stories, plays etc.), drawing, painting, stitching, embroidery, tapestry, bottle art, jewellery, cake decoration, salad decoration, ornamental plants, craftwork and so on. Let us use this platform to share our ideas and imagination.

Urava-Volume 5, Theme – Parumala Thirumeni, due for release on November 5, 2023
Please be informed that OCYM is heading towards the preparation of URAVA Volume 5. Kindly note the below specifics for the journal.

  1. Cover page icon contest – open to all parish members
  2. Inner page contest drawings – open to children
  3. Sub themes for each organization: We invite all organizations of our Parish to contribute articles to be featured in the journal, as per the listed sub-themes:
  1. Sunday School: (i) Childhood days (ii) Children’s Thirumeni
  2. MGOCSM: (i) Making of a Saint (ii) MGOCSM’s Patron Saint
  3. OCYM: (i) Process of Canonization (ii) Thirumeni and Orthodox Spirituality
  4. MMVS: (i) Reporter from Parumala (LIVE report done from India) (ii) My Personal Saint (report from Mulanthuruthy house)
  5. Seniors Form: (i) Thirumeni and SGOCT Parish (ii) Our Family’s Intercessor
  6. Choir: (i) A shelter for all cultures (ii) Devotional songs on the saint – An appreciation
  7. Acolytes (i) Thirumeni in the Penkeetha Prayers (ii) Caught by Social Cries

 The last date for submission of articles, cover page design and inner page drawings will be October 10, 2023. For any questions on the above subthemes, please feel free to reach out to Jemy Preveen or the Vicar.  Please send the articles to below email id with the subject line “Urava- Volume 5- Article – Organization Name”. Email id: ocymtoronto@yahoo.comWe request all our organisations to encourage members to send articles. Organisational secretaries are requested to coordinate, encourage, and collect the articles.

Our deepest condolence to Manu Abraham, Mini Jim Mathews and family on the passing away of Manu & Mini’s beloved mother Mary Abraham (81 years), Pulivelil House, Kollad, Kottayam, Kerala on Tuesday, October 03, 2023 at 04:15 AM (Indian Time).
She was the beloved wife of late P.M Abraham.She is survived by children Manu Abraham, Manoj Abraham, Mini Jim Mathews, daughter-in-laws Geetha Abraham, Ambili George, son-in-law Jim Mathews, grandchildren Jisha Mary John, Jinu Mary John, Marina Abraham, Melissa Abraham, Alan, Ashwin and Sebi.Funeral details will be followed later. Manu & Geetha  is travelling to Kerala to attend the funeral service. Mini, Marina & Tirin is already in Kerala.Please keep the departed soul and family members in prayer.

Our deepest condolence to Varghese Panicker and family on the passing away of Varghese’s beloved mother P. T. Kunjukunjamma (82 years), Kunnivila Padinjattethil Jaya Bhavanam, Kundara, Kerala on Monday, October 02, 2023 at 01:50 AM (Indian time) at Parumala.
She was the beloved wife of late G. Pappachen Panicker.She is survived by children Varghese Panicker, Thomas Panicker, Jacob Panicker,  John Panicker (Late), daughter-in-laws Solly Thomas, Susan Panicker, Rekha Luke, grandchildren Riya Varghese Panicker, Diya Varghese Panicker, Anagha Panicker, Anusha Panicker, Adis Panicker and Sania Susan Panicker.Funeral Service will be held at St. Thomas Valiyapally, Kundara. Date and time will be informed later. Varghese Panicker & Solly Thomas is travelling to Kerala to attend the funeral service.Please keep the departed soul and family members in prayer.

Our deepest condolence to Varghese Panicker and family on the passing away of Varghese’s beloved mother P. T. Kunjukunjamma (82 years), Kunnivila Padinjattethil Jaya Bhavanam, Kundara, Kerala on Monday, October 02, 2023 at 01:50 AM (Indian time) at Parumala.
She was the beloved wife of late G. Pappachen Panicker.She is survived by children Varghese Panicker, Thomas Panicker, Jacob Panicker,  John Panicker (Late), daughter-in-laws Solly Thomas, Susan Panicker, Rekha Luke, grandchildren Riya Varghese Panicker, Diya Varghese Panicker, Anagha Panicker, Anusha Panicker, Adis Panicker and Sania Susan Panicker.Funeral Service will be held at St. Thomas Valiyapally, Kundara. Date and time will be informed later. Varghese Panicker & Solly Thomas is travelling to Kerala to attend the funeral service.Please keep the departed soul and family members in prayer.

Click below for live funeral service:
https://m.youtube.com/live/YkLjjo7J_24?feature=share

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