In 2013 a group of faithful Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Christians, who had migrated to Melbourne from different parts of the world, decided to form a congregation.
This congregation grew quickly to around 140 members. That’s when the church connected with Baptist Financial Services, committed to finding their own building to grow their ministry activities.
After a 6-month search, the team at St Thomas Jacobite Syrian Orthodox Church Melbourne (STJ) came across the perfect property, a former Anglican church in Dallas Victoria, which includes a manse and a church building for worship services.
With the support of BFS and with 75 members of the congregation providing written pledges to support a building fund, STJ secured a loan and have been able to purchase their new property from the Anglican Church.
STJ will no longer need to rent a space from another Orthodox church 15 kms to the north of their new property. Minor improvements are intended for the church building and with some renovations to the manse it will be suitable for a commercial rental, providing another income stream to the church.
STJ are a congregation of Indian migrants of the Syrian Orthodox tradition prominent in India, founded out of the Church head in Antioch in the fourth century. Father Jacob Joseph leads the congregation and says they are thrilled to secure a new home for their ministry activities.
“We are excited to be able to purchase an existing church building, one which faithful members of the past have invested their finances and energy into, to see it used for continued gospel ministry for generations to come,” said Father Jacob.