Bonn-Köln St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Congregation

In the early 1970s, lured by employment prospects, members of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, began to migrate to Germany. As the members of the community increased in Bonn-Köln, there arose a desire to conduct regular services so that people could come together to worship and establish a meaningful fellowship with others. Under the able leadership of late Rev. Fr. Korah Varghese, an initiative in this direction was taken by a few prominent members of the community. During this period, services were organized once a month on a regular basis in either Bonn or Köln. To this effect, the community was provided space to arrange liturgical celebrations and other meetings by the Evangelical Church in Germany (EKD) as well as the Roman Catholic Church. Occasionally, services were led by visiting priests and bishops, including late Catholicos Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews II, late Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios, late Metropolitan Philipose Mar Theophilus, and late Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Osthathios. Further, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Pulikkottil (Metropolitan, H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Yulios), Rev. Fr. Dr. Reji Mathews (Dean of Studies, Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam), Rev. Fr. K.T. Varghese (Mount Horeb Asramam, Shastancotta) came to Germany for higher studies and served the community for many years.

Since 2009, the community has been guided and supported by H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios, the Diocesan Metropolitan, who has regularly appointed priests to take care of the spiritual needs of the community. Moreover, His Grace conducted an episcopal visitation in 2017 to further motivate and strengthen the community in its spiritual journey. In recent years, the community has also received the support and guidance of Rev. Fr. Laiju Mathew and Rev. Fr. Wilson Abraham Poovathumannil.

Since the beginning, the community has regularly celebrated the Feast of St. Gregorios of Parumala. During the early days, around 200 people came together to celebrate the Feast Day with great fanfare. The community also actively participated in a three-day Family Conference that was regularly organized in Germany for approximately 20 years. Furthermore, under the leadership of Rev. Fr. Dr. Reji Mathews, members of the Bonn-Köln congregation enthusiastically participated in the initiative taken by the Orthodox congregations in Germany to build 25 homes for the homeless belonging to various parishes in Kerala. At present, the congregation meets once every month to celebrate the Holy Liturgy.