St.Basil's Syrian Orthodox Church

Founded in Faith, Blessed by Providence

By God's grace and divine providence, St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church was born from the faithful prayers and earnest desire of Malayalee Jacobite families who gathered in 2009. Recognizing the absence of a Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Church in Massachusetts, these devoted believers felt called to establish a spiritual home where our ancient traditions could flourish.

As we reflect on our blessed beginnings, we humbly remember the seven faithful families whom the Lord used as the foundation stones of our church: Abraham Varghese & Family, Kuriakose Maniattukudiyil & Family, Sinu John Punnesseril & Family, Sebeyon Kingsview & Family, John Jacob & Family, Joby Eldo & Family, and Roy Varghese & Family (now Fr. Roy Varghese). These devoted servants, under the guidance and blessing of His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, answered God's call to plant seeds of faith that would flourish into the thriving congregation we know today.

In those early days, the Lord blessed us with fellowship alongside our sister congregation, St. Stephen's Knanaya Church in Maynard, where we were blessed to meet the late Rev. Sr. Magdelene Vazhayil and the late Baby Ezhumalil (Babychayan), whose faithful service helped guide us to our current sacred dwelling place.

Through divine appointment, we discovered this holy ground—then home to the Second Baptist Church of Newton under the pastoral care of Pastor John Bergerdorff. Pastor John and his beloved wife Ruth opened their hearts and their sanctuary to us with Christian hospitality that reflected the love of Christ. Their generous spirit allowed God's plan to unfold as they welcomed us to share in worship within these walls.

On August 30, 2009, our prayers were answered when His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, blessed us with the official commencement of our worship, along with our first Vicar, Rev. Fr. Geevarghese Jacob Challissery. Our sacred journey began that evening with prayer at our beloved sister church, St. Stephen's, where our congregations gathered in fellowship. It was during this evening prayer that His Eminence graciously declared that our new church would bear the blessed name of St. Basil's, dedicated to Baselious Bava. The following morning brought the celebration of our very first Holy Qurbono as an established parish, marking the true beginning of our liturgical life.

In those early years, the Lord provided us with a faithful shepherd in the late Very Rev. Fr. Punnoose Abraham Kallamparambil, whose devoted service became the cornerstone of our worship life. For our first seven years, due to logistical circumstances, we celebrated the Divine Liturgy on Saturdays rather than Sundays. Week after week, without fail, Achen journeyed to be with us, celebrating the sacred mysteries and nourishing our souls with the Word of God. From our very beginning until the Lord called him home to His heavenly embrace, Rev. Fr. Punnoose's unwavering dedication and pastoral love sustained our young congregation through its most formative years.

By God's abundant mercy, our small fellowship has grown steadily, now numbering approximately thirty families who call St. Basil's their spiritual home.

Years later, the Lord moved Pastor John and Ruth's hearts to offer us an extraordinary gift—the ownership of our beloved church building. On October 1, 2022, under the blessed leadership of His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, we consecrated this sacred space as our own, after a major renovation. After much prayer and patient perseverance, the Almighty brought this divine plan to completion when the church was officially transferred to our name, St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church, under the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, on October 24, 2024.

Small in Number, Mighty in Faith

Though we are few in number, we are rich in fellowship and strong in our devotion to our Lord and Savior Jesus Christ. By God's providence, our church's proximity to Boston has become one of our greatest blessings, as we find ourselves surrounded by vibrant young adults and blessed with the children of our faithful members. This youthful energy is truly our strength—these precious souls represent not only the continuation of our ancient Syriac Orthodox traditions but the bright future that the Lord has planned for St. Basil's.

Our church family continues to grow, not merely in membership but in spiritual depth and community bonds. We remain committed to preserving our sacred heritage while nurturing the next generation in faith, ensuring that our children and youth are equipped to carry forward the gospel light into their communities. Whether you are familiar with our ancient liturgy or new to Orthodox worship, whether you are young or old, you will find in St. Basil's a welcoming spiritual family ready to journey alongside you in faith.

Our Faith

St. Basil's belongs to the ancient Syriac Orthodox Church, one of the earliest apostolic churches whose foundations trace back to the very dawn of Christianity. It was in Antioch, after all, that the followers of Jesus were called Christians, as Scripture tells us: "The disciples were first called Christians in Antioch" (Acts 11:26).

Our church is part of the Oriental Orthodox family, holding fast to the faith established by the first three Ecumenical Councils of Nicea (325 AD), Constantinople (381 AD), and Ephesus (431 AD). We maintain the ancient Christian doctrine that Christ has one incarnate nature from two natures—fully divine and fully human united without separation or confusion.

The Syriac Orthodox tradition preserves Christianity in its most Semitic form, employing in our liturgy the Syriac language—an Aramaic dialect akin to the language spoken by Christ and the Apostles. Through St. Thomas the Apostle's mission to India in 52 AD, our church has maintained an unbroken connection between the ancient faith of Antioch and the Malankara tradition of Kerala, India.

Our parish belongs to the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syrian Orthodox Church in North America, under the spiritual authority of His Holiness Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, the 123rd Patriarch of Antioch and All the East, and the pastoral care of His Eminence Mor Titus Yeldho, our Archbishop and Patriarchal Vicar.

You can read more about our Archdiocese here and our Syrian Orthodox church history here.

Our Mission

The mission of St. Basil's Syriac Orthodox Church is to be vessels of God's redemptive grace through Jesus Christ, guided by the Holy Spirit, so that all people may find salvation and come to know the truth. We exist to:

Worship the Holy Trinity—Father, Son, and Holy Spirit—providing our community with authentic Orthodox liturgical worship that sanctifies souls and leads to eternal salvation.

Proclaim the fullness of the Gospel: the Incarnation of our Lord Jesus Christ, His life, death, and resurrection, and His promised second coming.

Serve as witnesses to Christ's truth through acts of kindness, fellowship, and love, demonstrating God's mercy to our community and the world.

Through ancient liturgy, faithful fellowship, and compassionate service, we strive to be a beacon of Christ's light in our community, preserving our sacred traditions while welcoming all who seek to know God.

OUR CHURCH HISTORY

Founded in Faith, Blessed by Providence

Small in Number, Mighty in Faith

Our Faith

Our Mission