About Madras Saint Thomas Orthodox Cathedral, Broadway in 33/34, Stringer Street, Broadway, Chennai, Chennai

There were a few Malayali students who come to Madras for higher studies in late 19th century. There was no scope to start a Parish and conduct the Holy Eucharist. By the dawn of the 20th century more people came to Madras from Kerala. Most of them were students. A few arrived as merchants and others came seeking employment. They began to settle there as families. It was only when going home at times, these Christians could take part in the Holy Eucharist, as they could never engage in these on Sundays while at Madras. Baptism of children and funeral services were performed by Priests from other Churches. Thus it was quite a deplorable state in which the Kerala Christians lived in Madras without the spiritual consolations from the parental Church. They almost despaired of finding a solution for their problem. But as time went by, the number of Orthodox members began to increase.

In 1912 it was arranged to bring a native Priest to Madras for conducting the Holy Eucharist. The service of those great fathers of the Church who visited Madras occasionally too was made use of. Sometimes Priests were appointed for a short term to perform the Holy Eucharist. By 1916 the Orthodox members made arrangements to arrange Priests from Kerala permanently to conduct the Holy Eucharist. For this a petition was submitted before H.G. Geevarghese Mar Dionysius Vattasseril, Metropolitan of Malankara. He consented to help the members in Madras as far as he could.

It was the time when Dr. Cheeran Varghese was working As R.M.O at the Egmore Maternity Hospital in Madras. As a zealous Church man he thought of ways of getting a Parish for the Orthodox Community in Madras. Several members of the community who were learned, educated and intelligent also partook in these deliberations. Everyone's attention was centered on the Holy Emmanual Church in Broadway. It served as Garrison Church that was run for British soldiers only. It was under the supervision of Dr.Whitefield, the Bishop of Madras an application was submitted to Bishop Dr.Whitefield through the Malankara Metropolitan, for sanction of the Garrison church for the use of the Orthodox Church.

Before long, the Emmanuel Church got allotted to the Orthodox community. This temporary permission was extended overtime and was availed for a long time. After Bishop Whitefield, Bishop Waller took charge. He too was a bishop interested in the spiritual well being of the members of the Orthodox Church. Later, the full possession and ownership or the Church was obtained for the Orthodox Community.

It was in October 1916, the Holy Emmanuel Church, in Madras was released for the use of the Orthodox community. Malankara Metropolitan the Most Reverend Vattasseril Thirumeni sent Augen Rambachan (Later Augen Bava) to Madras as Vicar. It was he who performed Holy Eucharist of the Orthodox Church for the first time.