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A bishop is considered to be the successor to the Apostles in the service and hierarchy of the Church. Therefore the bishop is believed to serve in place and as a type of Christ for the Church but in Orthodoxy no bishop is considered to be without wrong. They are responsible for maintaining the unity of the Church throughout the world by insuring the truth and unity of the faith and practice of their diocese. The metropolitan is responsible for these factors as well but they are also head of the parishes which is part of their diocese or archdiocese. The metropolitan is the go to for all lower orders of clergy. In Orthodoxy, no divide service can be conducted without a ruling bishop's authorization and all former Orthodox Metropolitans upheld these codes strictly.
His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos
DIOCESAN METROPOLITAN
His Grace, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos was born on August 13, 1959 to the famous Poothiyottu family in Mepral. His boyhood name was Cheriyachen. He has three brothers and one sister.
He studies in different schools in Kerala until he finished his High school. The first two years of his college education was in Malabar Christian College. He received his BA (English) from the St. Joseph College, Devagiri (Calicut University). He continued his studies in Theology at United Theological College, Bangalore and received a Bachelors of Divinity and a Masters of Theology.
His Grace Metropolitan Kuriakose Mar Coorilose ordained him to the Holy Diaconate on January 4th, 1986 and to the Priesthood on May 16, 1990 at his home parish St. John’s Church, Mepral. His Beatitude Mar Baselios Paulose II tonsured him as a monk on August 5, 1993 at Moovattupuzha. His Holiness Moran Mar Ignatius Zakka Iwas I, Patriarch of the Syriac Orthodox Church of Antioch, consecrated him as Metropolitan on August 15, 1993.
Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos served as the Ecumenical Secretary of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church and taught as a professor at the Malankara Syrian Seminary at Mulanthuruthy. His ecumenical activities led him to serve as a member of the Syrian Orthodox – Roman Catholic Dialogue Commission. His Grace remains very active in the Ecumenical and Inter-Religious movements. Metropolitan Mar Nicholovos was appointed as the Assistant Metropolitan of the American (Northeast American) Diocese in 2002.
His Grace currently serves as a Central Committee member of the World Council of Churches, and as a member of the Board of Trustees for St. Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, New York.
On February 26th 2011, following the retirement of His Grace Metropolitan Mathews Mar Barnabas, His Holiness Baselius Mar Thoma Paulose II appointed Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as the ruling Metropolitan of the Northeast American Diocese.
Northeast American Diocese Ministries
The Church as a whole, has developed specific ministries to cater to the challenges our faithful face. These ministries provide seminars, bible studies, retreats, conferences and so much more to assist our faithful in their journey as an Orthodox Christian.
The Diocese continues to seek ways to stay true to her motto of 'not to be served, but to serve', by developing more ways serve to our faithful through these ministries.
We invite you to click on any of the ministries of our Diocese and find out how we can serve you!
Orthodox Vacation Bible School
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
Orthodox Vacation Bible School
The Orthodox Vacation Bible School (OVBS) has been a longstanding educational outreach program of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It provides our younger generation with an opportunity to learn more about the basic tenets of the Orthodox faith through participation in a fun and interactive program that takes place over a series of days.
OVBS focuses on deepening the knowledge and experience of the Orthodox faithful and embraces the teachings and traditions of Orthodox Christianity: Scripture, saints, feasts, prayers, worship and music. Also, the curriculum will attempt to teach and engage participants in the following areas: classroom lessons & discussions, memory verses (from Bible and/or parts of Orthodox tradition – especially prayers), songs/hymns (liturgical & non-liturgical), Orthodox worship/prayer, activities, arts & crafts, recreation, and more.
Clergy Association
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
Orthodox Vacation Bible School
The clergy of the Northeast American Diocese gather together twice a year under the prayerful leadership of the Metropolitans for retreat, prayer, meditation, confession, discussion and fellowship.
During the Great Fast, the priests and deacons of the Diocese remain in retreat for one weekend with the Metropolitans. It has become a recent practice to also gather in the fall season for the clergy conference to discuss and share new initiatives for the spiritual growth and progress of the faithful Malankara Orthodox Christians in the Northeast American Diocese.
It is worthy to note, that it was under this Clergy Association, the Campus Ministry movement was formed and was set into motion to reach out to our students at various college and university campuses.
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
Women have many roles and a need was beginning to rise to help young women in their daily lives while maintaining a strong foundation in Christ. H.G. Zachariah Mar Nicholovos understood this need and gave his blessing to proceed with the first-ever young women's conference which was themed, "Daughters of the King in the Northeast", in short DKNE. DKNE reached over 200 women of various age groups that attended the conference: single/married, high school/college/professional and it began to address their needs in different stages of life. Women understood that each of them are a Daughter of the King and our Lord is with them daily. The conference left a positive impression for all the women that attended.
The success of the conference led to the institution of a new ministry by His Grace called G.R.O.W. Ministries (God Renewing Orthodox Women). The objective of G.R.O.W. Ministries is to help women grow in Christ throughout all the stages of their life and have a personal, life-changing relationship with God. This ministry is essential in that it provides a support system for young women while also educating them in the Orthodox faith.
Family & Youth Conference
Family & Youth Conference
GROW - God Renewing Orthodox Women
By the Grace of God, the Family and Youth Conference of the Northeast American Diocese, has been flourishing year after year under the eminent leadership of our Diocesan Metropolitan, His Grace Zachariah Mar Nicholovos.
The Family & Youth Conference is organized to promote the spiritual, cultural, and social development of the members of the American Diocese. The presence of our Metropolitans, Priests, and Deacons from our diocese, is a great blessing to the conference. For those who need counseling, we have our own certified Pastoral Counselors on the conference site. The prayers, sermons, devotional addresses, bible studies, retreats, holy confession, etc., contribute to the spiritual enrichment of the participants. There are various sessions that help provide a great opportunity for meditation and contemplation. The melodious choir (youth & adult) help add a heavenly environment in which the participants of the conference learn to cherish and love.
Marth Mariam Samajam
Family & Youth Conference
Marth Mariam Samajam
Mariam Samajam Is the Women's Association of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It is one of the major spiritual organizations of the Church which was founded in 1920 under the leadership of the Rev. M. C. Kuriakose Remban and K. M. Annamma of blessed memory, and many others.
The Church has a central committee for this spiritual organization that encourages Church-wide and Diocese-wide conferences, retreats, seminars, and other related programs for the spiritual nourishment of the women of our Church. Aside from a centralized committee of the Church, the Northeast American Diocese has an exemplary group of dedicated women under the able leadership of the Metropolitans and Vice President.
FOCUS
Family & Youth Conference
Marth Mariam Samajam
Fellowship of Orthodox Christians in the United States
FOCUS is a spiritual organization that caters to the spiritual needs of the older youth in the American Diocese.
Officially established by the Diocesan Metropolitan's Kalpana in September of 2005, it has slowly begun to take root in many of the diocese's major cities such as New York, Philadelphia, Dallas, Chicago, and Houston. We are working hard to establish units in many other places so that young professionals and couples over the age of 23 can come together for spiritual growth and renewal.
