Parish Vicar
Rev. Fr. Thomas Mathai
Ordained in 2014. Serves the parish since 2019. M.Th., Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam.
— Our Parish · Our Faith
A small parish
with an ancient faith.
Established in Ballarat in 2003 to serve the growing Malankara Orthodox community of regional Victoria, our parish is a daughter church of the Australasian Diocese, in the apostolic succession of St. Thomas the Apostle of India.
AD 52
Tradition founded
2003
Parish established
186
Families today
3
Liturgical tongues
— A Welcome
Peace be unto you. We are a small parish — a hundred and eighty-six families — drawn together by our common inheritance: an unbroken line of prayer that reaches from St. Thomas the Apostle, through the Malankara Church in Kerala, and now into the Ballarat goldfields. We worship in three tongues — Malayalam, Syriac, and English — so that the youngest child and the eldest grandparent may pray together.
If you are visiting Ballarat, or are simply curious about the Orthodox faith, we would be honored to have you join us for the Holy Qurbana. Stay for tea afterward. Ask anything.
— Two thousand years, then twenty
A short history.
From a single fisherman's boat on the Kerala coast, to a quiet hall on Sturt Street.
AD 52
St. Thomas lands on the Malabar coast.
According to ancient tradition, the Apostle Thomas arrived at Muziris (now Kodungalloor) in AD 52 and established seven communities along the Kerala coast — the seed of the Indian Christian tradition we have inherited.
1665
The Coonan Cross Oath.
Indian Christians, weary of foreign jurisdiction, gathered at Mattancherry and swore by the Coonan Cross to remain faithful to the ancient Oriental Orthodox tradition. From that moment, the Malankara Orthodox Church takes its modern shape.
1934
The Catholicate is established.
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is constituted as an autocephalous Church, under the spiritual headship of the Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan.
2003
Our parish is established in Ballarat.
A handful of Malayali families gather monthly in a borrowed hall on Lydiard Street, with the first Qurbana celebrated on the feast of St. Thomas. We take St. Dionysius of Vattasseril as our patron.
2019
Rev. Fr. Thomas Mathai installed as Vicar.
Sent by the Diocesan Metropolitan, our current Vicar arrives from Kerala and is installed during the Feast of the Theophany. Weekly Qurbana resumes the same year.
Today
186 families, 3 languages, 1 altar.
We continue to grow — Sunday School classes for forty-two children, a youth fellowship, a women's prayer group, and a small charitable outreach to the Ballarat Foodshare.
— What We Believe
An ancient faith,
freshly received.
We confess the faith of the Nicene Creed, hold the seven sacraments, and venerate the saints and Mother of God in unbroken communion with the Oriental Orthodox Churches.
i.
One God, three Persons.
Father, Son, and Holy Spirit — one in essence, undivided. The Holy Trinity is the heart of our worship and the source of our life.
ii.
The Incarnate Word.
Jesus Christ, fully God and fully human — not divided into two, but one Lord, born of the Virgin Mary, the Theotokos.
iii.
The Holy Qurbana.
The Liturgy of St. James, the brother of the Lord — the oldest continuously celebrated eucharistic rite, by which heaven and earth are joined at the altar.
iv.
The Seven Sacraments.
Baptism, Chrismation, Eucharist, Confession, Marriage, Holy Orders, and Anointing of the Sick — outward signs of inward grace.
v.
The Communion of Saints.
We honour the Theotokos, the apostles, and the martyrs and ask their prayers, knowing that in Christ none of the faithful are lost.
vi.
A Liturgy of the Senses.
Incense, lamps, icons, vested processions, sung hymns — the body prays alongside the soul. Worship is not abstract; it is offered with all that we are.
— Clergy & Trustees
Those who serve.
Our parish is shepherded by a vicar appointed by the Diocesan Metropolitan, with the help of a small lay council.
Assisting Deacon
Dn. Aby Varghese
Ordained subdeacon in 2022. Assists at the Sunday Qurbana and leads the youth fellowship.
Lay Trustee
Susan Kuriakose
Parish Secretary. Coordinates the Sunday School and the women's prayer group.
Lay Trustee
George Pathrose
Parish Treasurer. Leads the choir and the building maintenance committee.
— Visit Us
Come and see.
No reservation, no dress code, no expectation. Come as you are, sit wherever you like, and stay for tea afterward.
Address
14 Sturt Street
Ballarat VIC 3350
Ballarat VIC 3350
Sunday Qurbana
8:00 AM
Followed by tea & fellowship
Parking
On-street & rear lot
Step-free access from Lydiard Street
St. Dionysius Parish Hall
14 Sturt Street, Ballarat
"Behold, how good and how pleasant it is
for brethren to dwell together in unity."
Psalm 133 · 1