The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America is an archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church headquartered in New Jersey.
This Archdiocese comprises all the Malankara Syriac Orthodox parishes in the United States and Canada. It is headed by Mor Titus Yeldho who has served as the Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar since 2004.
Beginning in the 1960s, a significant number of immigrants from Kerala settled in North America. Many of these immigrants were a part of the Malankara Syriac Orthodox Church and maintained their Syriac Orthodox faith and traditions after migration. With the approval of Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, Archbishop of North America, the first Malankara Syriac Orthodox parish in North AmericaâÂÂMor Gregorios Syrian Orthodox ChurchâÂÂwas established in 1975 in Staten Island, New York. Under the leadership of Rev. Fr. John Jacob (later Mor Philexenos Yuhannon), additional parishes were formed across the United States. Several spiritual and community organizations, including Sunday School programs, the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Youth Association (MGSOSA), St. MaryâÂÂs WomenâÂÂs League, and St. PaulâÂÂs Men's Fellowship, were later created to serve the growing immigrant population. In 1986, Malankara parishes started to organize annual conferences throughout North America.
To coordinate parish activities, a Malankara Council was formed in 1987 under the ecclesiastical jurisdiction of the Syriac Orthodox Archdiocese of North America. As the community expanded, delegates at a 1992 meeting in New York resolved to request Mor Ignatius Zakka I, the Patriarch of Antioch to appoint a Malayali bishop to assist Archbishop Samuel in administering the parishes. At a subsequent meeting held on December 5, 1992, in Hackensack, New Jersey, Fr. P. G. Cherian was proposed for episcopal consecration.
In 1993, Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I established an independent archdiocese for the Malankara faithful in North America designated the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America. Rev. Fr. P. G. Cherian was consecrated as Mor Nicholovos Zachariah on August 15, 1993, and appointed as its first Archbishop.
In December 2001, Nicholovos Zachariah separated from the Syriac Orthodox Church and was subsequently excommunicated by Patriarch Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. Following this, Mor Julius Kuriakose and Mor Ivanios Mathews were appointed as Patriarchal Vicars to administer the archdiocese.
On January 4, 2004, Fr. Yeldho Pathickal was consecrated Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of North America. Under his leadership, the archdiocese expanded its administrative structure and relocated its headquarters several times, ultimately establishing its center in Old Tappan, New Jersey. Numerous new parishes were founded during his tenure across the United States and Canada.