Charlotte Marthoma Congregation

We are very proud to be a part of the Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church under the Diocese of North America and Europe. The church was founded by Saint. Thomas (Mar Thoma), one of the twelve disciples of Jesus Christ, in the year AD 52. We are privileged to be members of a church which is one of the oldest groups of practicing Christians in the world.

The beginning of the first Charlotte Marthoma Congregation of North Carolina in 2017, is the realization of a handful of our faithful families living in and around Charlotte. We desired to worship our Lord Jesus Christ in Truth and Spirit, while upholding our Indian traditions and values instilled by our forefathers. Our humble beginning in 2013 as a Mar Thoma worship group in the Charlotte area later prospered into an official Marthoma Congregation in 2017. With the formal membership of 12 families, Rt. Rev. Dr. Isaac Mar Philoxenos Episcopa officially recognized the fellowship as a congregation under the Diocese of North America and Europe. We have realized a need for the church in the region and welcome each and everyone with open arms and warm hearts.

Malankara Marthoma Syrian Church

Mar Thoma Church is founded by Saint. Thomas (Mar Thoma), one of the 12 disciples of Jesus Christ, and is known by the name of the Apostle. St. Thomas, is believed to have landed in AD 52 in Cranganore near Cochin, which was at that time an important seaport on the Malabar Coast, having trade connections with the Middle East in those days. F.E. Keay in his book, A History of the Syrian Church in India, has established, from the mention in the book of Kings, of the articles brought to the court of King Solomon from India, that even before the time of Christ, there was trade between the Malabar Coast and Palestine in spices and luxury articles like ivory.

Therefore, it was quite natural for Thomas to come to India with the Gospel as the disciples went to different parts of the world in accordance with the commission given to them by Jesus Christ. In the true Apostolic tradition he preached first to the Jewish settlers in and around Cochin, and then worked among the Hindus. Through the ministry of the Word and the many miracles which tradition attributes to him, he brought many high caste Hindus to the Christian faith. It is believed that he organized 7 Christian communities for the use of these Christians, and ordained presbyters from four leading families.

Faith of The Marthoma Church

The Church believes in Jesus Christ, the God incarnate for the redemption of humankind, and in the Triune God revealed by him, who himself is one among the Trinity. The Church cherishes its Oriental heritage and Episcopacy as a gift of God. The Church accepts the Holy Bible as the basis for all matters of faith and doctrine, and the Nicene Creed formulated in accordance with the Holy Scripture.

 Statement of faith

• To be the repository of the divine doctrines revealed by Jesus Christ and proclaimed by His Apostles

• To maintain these doctrines in purity

• To promote the spiritual life of its members through the administration of seven sacraments and by the ministry of the word

• To make disciples of all nations by the proclamation of the Gospel to all the world through the administration of Baptism in the name of the Triune God

The logo of the Mar Thoma Church consists of a shield emblazoned with a Christian cross with the representation of the Ashoka Chakra at its centre. It is flanked on the right and left by a lotus and a hand lamp respectively. The motto;Lighted To Lighten; is written in English above the cross. The official color of the logo is red.

The Motto
The role of the church is to spread the good news of the gospel of Jesus Christ. Every believer and member of the Church here in their position, wherever they are, are given the light so that they can lighten others.

The Cross
The cross placed in the centre represents the centrality of Jesus Christ in the church and its mission. It is a proclamation that God (Purusha) himself came and atoned for all mankind and the redemption is freely available by faith in Jesus Christ without regard to any form of karma.

The Ashoka Chakra
The Ashoka Chakra is the symbol of India and represents the Indian roots of the church. Traditionally the Chakra as presented by the Emperor Ashoka, was a symbol in denoting the Wheel of Life and Cosmic Order (or Dharmachakra). By placing the wheel at the heart of the Cross, it is a declaration that life finds its ultimate salvation in the atoning sacrifice of Jesus once and for all. It symbolizes the completion and closing of the wheel of life for all those who follow the Bhakthi Marga (path of righteousness) in Jesu Maseeh (Jesus Christ).

The Hand Lamp
The hand lamp represents the lamp that is carried in all believers. It reminds all believers to be the light of the world and act as a witness to give the light of salvation for others in their daily life. It also seeks to remind to pay diligent attention to the study of the word of God.

The Lotus
The lotus represents holy living and is traditionally part of the offering of sacrifices of praise and adoration in the Indian tradition to God. It reminds believers to live holy despite the circumstances around them and exude the fragrance of God.