Patriarchal Vicar in Ireland : His Grace Mathews Mor Anthimos – Metropolitan
The local church in Waterford was established on 10th December- 2006 by the kalpana of His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilose Metropolitan of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in Europe and also by the interest of the faithful community of the Syrian Orthodox Church in Waterford. It was a humble beginning by 9 families, mostly working in healthcare jobs, under the leadership of Fr. Joby Scaria and Fr. Babu Alias through an informal process.
The first Vicar of the St. Mary’s church was Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil and the whole organization was started as a congregation with one service on every second Sunday. Mr. Benny Varghese and Mr. Grace Jacob John were selected as trustee and secretary respectively. By the request of His Grace Kuriakose Mor Theophilose and the Parish Committee, the Catholic Bishop of Waterford and Lismore Rt. Rev. William Lee and Vicar of the Cathedral Fr. Joseph Condon kindly permitted to use St. Patric Church for conducting services.
The congregation was upgraded to a parish by another kalpana on 12th May 2008 and Fr. Babu Alias was appointed as Asst. Vicar, which uplifted the whole outlook to a typical parish church with two Holy Qurbono on 2nd and 4th Sundays followed by programmes like Sunday School, Committee meetings, Choir practice, and so on. Fr. Thomas Puthiyamadathil was transferred and Fr. Babu Alias was promoted as the Vicar of St. Mary’s Church on 8th February 2009 by the Bishop His Grace Kuriakose Mor Dioscoros Metropolitan.
From September 2018 H.G Anthimos Mor Mathews is the Patriarchal Vicar and Metropolitan of Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in Ireland. At present Fr. Biju M Parekkattil is the church Vicar and there are 36 families actively participate on church activities who come from Waterford and surrounding counties including Wexford ,Tipperary and Kilkenny.