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History
The Syriac Orthodox Church in the United Kingdom, was established in the early 1960s.
During early years, the spiritual needs of the Syriac Orthodox Church Community in the UK was served by visiting Bishops and Priests;
Fr. Abd-Al-Ahad Shabo (now H.E. Mor Julius Abd Al-Ahad Shabo Metropolitan of Sweden and Scandinavia),
H.E. Archbishop Mor Timothius Aphrem Aboodi (Archbishop of the Archdiocese of Canada "retired"),
Rev Fr. Abd-Al-Ahad Zaytoun,
Rev. Fr. Aphrem Karim (currently H.E. Mor Cyril Aphrem Karim Archbishop of the Archdiocese of the Eastern USA).
Since 1994, the community has been served by
H.E. Mor Athanasius Toma Dawood.
He was initially appointed as a priest to serve the Syriac community in the UK by
H.H. the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas.
He was promoted to be a Patriarchal Vicar to the UK in 2005.
On 3rd December 2006, he was consecrated as a Bishop and was given the name Athanasius in a large ceremony at the Syriac Orthodox Patriarcahte in Maa'rat Sydnaya.
On 10th December 2006 he was installed as the Syriac Orthodox Archbishop in the UK
in a large ceremony at St Dunstan Church in London officiated by H.E. Mor Selwanus Butrus El-Nimah the Archbishop of Homms and Hamah.
The Syriac Orthodox Church in the UK has its own church (St. Thomas Cathedral) in London.
It was consecrated in July 2010 by H.H. the Patriarch Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas assisted by and H.E. Mor Athanasius Toma Dawod and
many visiting Syriac Orthodox Archbishops and Bishops from the rest of the world in a moving ceremony.
It was also attended by Archbishops, Bishops and priests representing various churches in the UK and the Lord Mayor of Ealing and other dignitaries.
In the early days the Syriac Orthodox community used to meet for prayers at their homes. However, as the congregation started to grow, various churches were used to conduct our own Church Masses by permission. The churches are listed in historical order:.
The Armenian Orthodox Church in Kensington, London.
St. Mathew's Church (Church of England) in St. James' Park, London.
St. Mark's Church (Coptic Orthodox Church) in Kensington, London.
St. Andrew's Church (Church of England) in Star Road, Fulham, London (1991-2005).
St. John Church (Church of England) in Kingston Upon Thames for Sunday Services (2006-2008).
St. Dunstan Church (Church of England) in Acton, London (2005-2010).
The community also used several other churches.
The Syriac Orthodox Church in the UK would like to express sincere appreciation and gratitude for those churches for their valued co-operation and support.
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