Diocesan Administration

The Diocese of Delhi was carved out of the Outside Kerala Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Church in 1976. The headquarters of the Diocese is the Delhi Orthodox Church, 2 Institutional Area, Tughlakabad, New Delhi – 110 062.

The Diocese is constituted of the parishes located in the Delhi and the National Capital Region (NCR), United Arab Emirates, the states of Northern India like Uttar Pradesh, Haryana, Punjab, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan. The head of the Diocese is the Diocesan Metropolitan also known as the Diocesan Bishop, canonically elected, installed, and recognized by order of the Catholicos. The present Metropolitan is H.G. Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios.

The Diocese is governed according to Holy Tradition, practices, and the Constitution of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church adopted in 1934 and subsequent amendments, (hereafter the Constitution). The Diocese is not an independent church in matters of ecclesiastical discipline or faith, but a part of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church and always will remain as such, unless otherwise decided by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.

The purpose of the Diocese is to function as the Central Administrative Body of the individual parishes within its functional jurisdiction and to provide leadership to bring administrative and functional consistency, spiritual harmony, ecclesiastical spread and discipline among the faithful members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church of the Diocese.

The Diocese may engage in various religious, educational, charitable, social, and mission activities allowed to any religious charitable organizations in the United States of America and Canada under applicable law.

By virtue of his office, the Diocesan Metropolitan is the chief administrative officer of the Diocese. All decisions and actions of any diocesan committee, official body or organization shall be executed with the approval of the Diocesan Metropolitan.

Subject to the Constitution, the decisions of the Diocesan Assembly should be executed by the Diocesan Council with the approval of the Diocesan Metropolitan.

In accordance with Section 3(c) Article 65 of the Constitution, matters concerning faith, order and discipline shall, subject to the decisions of the Holy Episcopal Synod, be under the control of the Diocesan Metropolitan.