SMIOC - Bahrain

The history of Malankara Church in Bahrain starts from the first Holy Qurbana conducted on this island in association with the marriage ceremony of Mr. Kochandy with Deenamma blessed by Rev. Fr. T. S Abraham from the Ayroor Tengumthottathil family. Deenamma was Achen’s sister who came with Achen by sea from Bombay.

Rev. Fr. T.S. Abraham Thengum Thottathil
There was no church sexton or altar boys to assist Achen at that time. Hence Mr. Kochandy himself multiplexed as bridegroom and Altar boy. Thus Achen became the first Malankara priest to reach Bahrain. The believers continued to attend services in other than our mother tongue conducted in the American Mission Church, Roman Catholic Church and later on in the St. Christopher Anglican Church.

A MALAYALEE MARRIAGE OUTSIDE INDIA

The above heading was from one of the interesting news reported in Malayala Manorama newspaper in July 1937. The number of malayalees going abroad was very small in those days and there was no Orthodox Syrian Christian Churches in any places outside Kerala. Bahrain was no exception. Kochandy made the unusual decision of having his marriage in Bahrain. Finance and logistics were problems. He sent the necessary tickets to Ayroor in advance. Deenamma started for Bahrain along with her brother Rev. Fr. T.S. Abraham. They travelled to Bombay via, Madras by train. They stayed at Bombay in a friend’s house. After making some necessary purchases they set sail by S.S. Vita. Kochandy’s cousin P.V. Alexanderfrom Puthencavu also accompanied them. This was the bride’s party. They arrived at Bahrain on 23rd June 1931. Next day Fr.Abraham conducted the holy mass at the American mission church authorities. He carried with him the necessary priestly dress and accessories and service books. This was held at Bahrain. Kochandy and Deenamma received Holy Communion at the service.
The marriage took place in the evening at 5:30 p.m. Fr. Abraham conducted the marriage service in Malayalam with intermediate translation in English for the sake of the English friends who attended the service. The Orthodox service requires a sexton to assist the priest; his duties include carrying of incense, sounding the bells, holding the candles etc. There was no one else ordained to perform these functions other than the bridegroom who was fully qualified to do so. Kochandy multiplexed between the roles of Sexton and bridegroom efficiently.
Kochandy was wearing an expensive woolen dark blue suit with lines and Deenamma was in a white saree. Normally the dress for Kerala Christian women was mundu, Chatta and Kasavu Neriaythu (half-Saree) Once Deenamma was in Bahrain she started wearing sarees. After the marriage a grand reception was held at the residence of Kochandy. The large number of friends and relatives were thrilled in Bahrain and back in Indian about the unusual marriage and its coverage in the paper. There was a very large demand for a copy of their marriage photo. Kochandy got the wedding photo printed by making a block and distributed 200 numbers of it to the friends and relatives.
Though their marriage was over in the church they had to appear before the Political Agent of Bahrain to perform the formalities of the civil portion of the marriage according to the Indian Christian Marriage. In the afternoon he took Fr. Abraham and Alexander to his company (BAPCO) and showed the refinery. After spending a hectic week’s activities and attending receptions in many friend’s houses, Fr. Abraham sailed back on 4th July 1937. Fr. Abraham carried with him lot of presents from Deenamma for all the girls and ladies at home.

1954

There was a big gap after the first event even though the children of Malankara were present in this island in small numbers. His Grace Daniel Mar Philexinos (Thumpamon) visited Bahrain and expressed his wish to station a priest in Bahrain. Later H.G Mathews Mar Coorilos (The Late Lamented Catholicose H. H. Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II) and Rev. K. C Oommen (The Late Very Rev. Theophoros Ramban) visited Bahrain and celebrated Holy Qurbana for the faithful

1959

A Prayer Group of Orthodox members was started by Rev. Fr. M. V George (Currently His Grace Geevarghese Mar Osthathios) during his first visit to Bahrain and gave guidance and advices to the congregation to form a parish.

H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios
The congregation regularly met at the late Mr. K. G Mathew’s flat in Lulu Avenue and the hall above the Fiat garage in Sh. Hamad Avenue.

A view of first prayer meeting over fifty years ago taken at the residence of late Mr. K.G. Mathew
The members constantly got in touch with the church authorities in Kerala and H. H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II, The Malankara Metropolitan and Catholicose of the East for forming a parish in Bahrain.

H.H. Moran Mar Baselios Geevarghese II

Bava Thirumeni’s Kalpana declaring the St. Mary’s Syrian Orthodox Parish and appointed Rev. Fr. George Kurien as the first Vicar of our Parish. The congregation met weekly to celebrate Holy Qurbana at the St. Christopher’s Church in Manama by the help of Rev. Alex Morris, Vicar of that church.


The first parish priest Fr. George Kurian arrives in a “launch “ at Mina Manama. He was received by John Mathew, Dr. P.P. Mathew, Varghese Mathew & C.M. Mathunny.
The first Passion Week services were conducted at the St. Christopher’s Church. Hosanna attended by 51 members, Good Friday attended by 105 members (offertory collected was Rs. 102.00)

First General Body meeting of the parish was held on 17th July

1960

St. Thomas Association and St. Mary’s Associations formed by Achen’s guidance. Achen visited Kuwait, Doha and Daas Island occasionally to serve the faithful in those regions and it became a practice for all the later vicars too.