Mar Thoma Parish church of Dubai is located in the Jebel Ali area in the Emirate of Dubai. Established in 1969 by a small group of believers who came from Kerala, the parish serves under the Thiruvananthapuram-Kollam Diocese of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church of India. Today, with a membership of around 2200 families, the Church serves the spiritual needs of the Mar Thoma families in this city. With Holy Communion services both in Malayalam and English, the church has four worship services every week.
Mar Thoma Sevika Sangham for women
Sevika Sangham within the Mar Thoma Church, is for all the women who are part of the church. Sevika Sangham organises Talent’s Day, Christmas programmes, family picnics and competitions for members.
Dubai Mar Thoma Church Sunday School for children
The Dubai Mar Thoma Church Sunday School for children is held after the holy communion service on Fridays and Saturdays for members, which involves various activities and festivals such as art festivals, summer camps and vacation Bible schools.
Dubai Mar Thoma church
Dubai Mar Thoma Church beginnings
In the 1960s, Dubai witnessed an influx of residents from India, seeking better trade and job prospects, which included a number of Christians from Kerala. Thus, in 1969, the Dubai Mar Thoma Church was established by 130 Marthomites, who met as a group in the Our Own English School in Bur Dubai.
As the church members grew in number, the Dubai Mar Thoma Church moved its communion services from the school to the compound of the Holy Trinity Church in Oud Metha. However, in 1999, the Government of Dubai granted 20,000 sq.ft of land to construct the Dubai Mar Thoma Parish, and the first service was held on the new premises in 2001.
In November 2018, the parish celebrated its 50 years of congregation in the UAE.
Mar Thoma Church History in Kerala
The Mar Thoma (St. Thomas) Christians of Malabar (Kerala) are one of the earliest Christian communities in the world and as old as the Church in Rome and older than the Church of England. It is traditionally believed that St. Thomas, an Apostle of Jesus Christ came to India in A. D. 52 and landed at Kodungalloor, which was a port near Cochin, on the Malabar coast. According to tradition the ‘Namboodiri Brahmins’ were attracted to the new teaching and several of them received baptism. A few families among them were chosen to be responsible for the government of the new Christian community. Mar Thoma then continued his mission and reached the east coast of India. He died a martyr’s death at a place called St. Thomas Mount and was buried at Mylapore in Madras (Chennai). His relics were taken to Edessa in A.D. 232.
The following churches in UAE belong to Mar Thoma Parish: Abu Dhabi – Abu Dhabi Mar Thoma Parish Dubai – Dubai Mar Thoma Parish Sharjah – Sharjah Mar Thoma Parish Al Ain – Mar Thoma Church Al Ain Fujairah – Immanuel Mar Thoma Parish Fujairah Ras Al Khaimah – St. Thomas Mar Thoma Church.
