Our Vicar – St. Thomas Church, Washington DC

Rev. Fr. K. J. Varghese, a priest of the Niranam Diocese of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (MOSC), hails from Cheppad, Kerala, India, and is a member of the Cheppad St. George Orthodox Church, the resting place of the famous Malankara Metropolitan, Philipose Mar Dionysius (+1855) of blessed memory.

After graduating with a bachelor’s in Economics, Fr. Varghese joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS) at Kottayam, Kerala. Fr. Varghese was ordained as a sub-deacon by L.L H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios in 1988. Upon completing his bachelor’s in Divinity from the OTS, Fr. Varghese was ordained a priest in 1991 by L.L. H.G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanios.

Fr. Varghese later completed his Master’s in Psychology and Diploma in Clinical Pastoral Counseling. Fr. Varghese served as the Vicar in numerous parishes of the Niranam Diocese and also led pre-marital counseling for the Diocese. Since 2001, he served as the Chaplain of the St. Gregorios Medical Mission Hospital at Paruamla and the Counselor at the Parumala Seminary until he moved to the United States in 2017. Fr. Varghese was appointed as the Vicar of this Church by Metropolitan H.G. Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese of the MOSC.