Parish (About)

The Mar Thoma Church (MTC)
Diocese of North America & Europe

The history of the Mar Thoma Church (MTC) in the North American continent represents the dreams and aspirations of the immigrant community from Kerala, India.  The initial MTC in North America, started as a small prayer group in Queens, New York in the year 1972, which was later recognized and approved as the first parish in the year 1976.  Since then, the churches grew, and the Diocese was formed. The Diocese of North America and Europe has existed for the past 30 years.  Though an immigrant church, the church has been contextualizing its ministry in this diocese, while keeping the ethos and traditions of Mar Thoma Church, founded in Kerala, India. Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church (Malankara Mar Thoma Suriyani Sabha as it is called in native Malayalam) is one of the oldest groups of praticising Christians in the world. Believed to be followers of one of the original disciples of Jesus Christ – St. Thomas (also called Didimus or Thomas, the doubter). It is widely believed that the Apostle St. Thomas came to Muziris on the south west coast of India in AD 52 and laid the foundations of Christianity in this part of the world.

Our Parish: Immanuel Mar Thoma Church, Virginia (IMTCVA)

IMTCVA is a parish of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church, Kerala, India. The MTC Synod which met on February 22, 2010, approved the IMTCVA congregation was as a new parish of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of Malabar effective April 15, 2010. IMTCVA is the second MTC parish in the Washington DC area and the first MTC parish in the State of Virginia under Diocese of North America & Europe. 

Holy Communion Service

Sunday from 9:00 am

1st & 3rd Sunday – Malayalam Service
2nd & 4th Sunday – English Service
5th Sunday – English Praise & Worship Service

Organizations Schedule

  • Sunday School Class: Sunday at 9:00 AM EST
  • Sevika Sanghom Intercessory Prayer: Tuesday at 8:30 PM EST
  • Parish/Edavaka Mission Prayer: Wednesday at 9:00 PM EST
  • Youth Fellowship (YF) Meeting: 2nd Friday at 6:00 PM EST
  • Choir Practice: Friday at 7:30 PM EST
  • Church Building Team (CBT) Meeting: Last Friday at 8:00 PM EST
  • Sevika Sanghom Cottage Prayer: 3rd Saturday at 2:00 PM EST
  • Young Families Fellowship (YFF) Meeting: 1st Saturday at 4:00 PM EST
  • Combined Area Prayer Meeting: 2nd & 4th Saturday at 7:00 PM EST

The MTC Logo

The logo of the Mar Thoma Church consists of a shield emblazoned with a Christian cross with the representation of the Ashoka Chakra at its centre. It is flanked on the right and left by a lotus and a hand lamp respectively. The motto; Lighted To Lighten; is written in English above the cross. The official color of the logo is red.

The Motto: The role of the church is to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every believer and member of the Church here in their position, wherever they are, are given the light so that they can lighten others.

The Cross: The cross placed in the centre represents the centrality of Jesus Christ in the church and its mission. It is a proclamation that God (Purusha) himself came and atoned for all mankind and the redemption is freely available by faith in Jesus Christ without regard to any form of karma.

The Ashoka Chakra: The Ashoka Chakra is the symbol of India and represents the Indian roots of the church. Traditionally the Chakra as presented by the Emperor Ashoka, was a symbol in denoting the Wheel of Life and Cosmic Order (or Dharmachakra). By placing the wheel at the heart of the Cross, it is a declaration that life finds its ultimate salvation in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus once and for all. It symbolises the completion and closing of the wheel of life for all those who follow the Bhakthi Marga (path of righteousness) in Jesu Maseeh (Jesus Christ).

The Hand Lamp: The hand lamp represents the lamp that is carried in all believers. It reminds all believers to be the light of the world and act as a witness to give the light of salvation for others in their daily life. It also seeks to remind to pay diligent attention to the study of the word of God.

The Lotus: The lotus represents holy living and is traditionally part of the offering of sacrifices of praise and adoration in the Indian tradition to God. It reminds believers to live holy despite the circumstances around them and exude the fragrance of God.