The Syrian Orthodox church was established in A.D. 37 in Antioch, where the followers of Jesus christ were first called Christians (Acts 11:26). St Peter, the Apostle, consecrated Mor Evdosios and Mor Ignatius Noorono as the first Patriarchs of the Church in Antioch. The present Patriarch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, is the 123rd successor of St.Peter. The church uses the Syriac liturgy in Aramaic, the language spoken by Lord Jesus and his Apostles.
The Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America is a non-profit religious organization under the jurisdiction of his Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the supreme head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church. The present Archbishop of this diocese is his Eminence Yeldo Mor Theethose.
St. George Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church in the city of Chicago is one of the many parishes of the Malankara Archdiocese of Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, under the Holy Apostolic See of Antioch and all the East.
The present congregation was established in October 1998 with 20 families, but currently there are 45 families. In the beginning stages of our parish, Rev. Fr. Mathew Karuthalackal was the priest. Thereafter, the late Very Rev. M. K. Thomas Corepiscopa known as “Thengelil Achen” was appointed as the first vicar of the church. During his time, Archbishop His Grace Yesu Mor Athanasius officially approved this Parish. In 1995 we purchased a church building located at 3748 N. Newland Ave., Chicago. Fire damage and renovation work of the building began in November, 1996 and was completed in December, 2000. After the renovation, we celebrated the first holy qurbono on December 24, 2000, and consecrated the church building on May 18, 2001. In 2005, it was with great pride we published “Festschrift”, in connection with the Silver Jubilee of the Patriarchal Enthronement H. H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas. The copies of, “Festschrift” were distributed among Churches, Universities, Libraries and were circulated all over the world. We are very glad that “Festschrift” is considered a major document of the history of our Church of the 25 years that H. H. Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas was the Patriarch.
In September of 2012, we fulfilled our dream of owning a bigger Church when we purchased a building on 1125 N. Humphrey Ave., Oak Park. Our current church was consecrated on October 27th, 2013 by His Eminence Yeldo Mor Theethose.
