For several decades, the St Mary’s Jacobite Church in Muscat was the place of worship that Jacobite Christians used for prayer. However, it was only Jacobite believers that lacked a church in Ghala. In 2006, under the guidance of the vicar of Ruwi church, Fr. Samson Varghese, the church contacted the Ghala PCO (Protestant Church Oman) and discussed the likelihood of worship in Ghala. This began the journey towards the establishment of a Jacobite church and following it a society in Ghala.
In 2008, Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander, Commander Geevarghese John Tharakan, Commander Babu Mathew, Dn. K. M. Sunny, George Varghese, Baiju Mathew and Thomas Rajan decided to begin a prayer meeting at the Roman Catholic Church, Ghala. By God’s Grace, the overflowing participation and partaking of believers reaching up to one hundred gave them the motivation to begin a church in Ghala.
During his first patriarchal visit to Muscat, His Grace Mathews Mor Theodosius was approached by Commander Geevarghese John Tharakan and George Varghese. They explained the need for a church and requested to bestow the responsibility upon Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander. His contemplation and consideration of the request was one of the initial reasons for the establishment of the parish.
Historically in January 2012, Ruwi Church Parish Annual Body discharged the duty of building a new church in Ghala to Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander. It was Ruwi Church Vicar, Rev. Fr. Joby Varghese conveyed this message to Commander Thomas Alexander.
Commander Geevarghese John Tharakan, Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander, Commander Babu Mathew, Dn. K. M. Sunny, George Varghese, Baiju Mathew and Thomas Rajan met at the office of Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander and collectively decided to commemorate the church with the first Holy Qurbana in Ghala on 17th March 2012. This information was conveyed to His Grace Mathews Mor Theodosius and it was he who proposed to name the church under St. Morth Smooni Amma, Eliazaar and her seven children and declared it as a church.
After years of hard work and perseverance of several believers, on 17th March 2012, at 10 o’clock at night, Rev. Fr. Joby Varghese successfully offered the first Holy Qurbana at Ghala.
On 14th March 2012, the late Patriarch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas declared the church as an independent one. Following this, Rev. Fr. Ninan Thomas, Rev. Fr. Davis Thomas, had offered the Holy Qurbana in this church. In 2015, the new Patriarchal Vicar His Grace Markose Mor Chrysostomos appointed Rev. Fr. Eldose Karukappillil as the official vicar of the Ghala Church. After the conclusion of his service, Rev. Fr. Anish Parasheril joined as the new vicar.
In 2017, due to the continuous prayers of the worshippers along with the determination and insistence of Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander, the Ministry of Endowments and Religious Affairs of the Government of Oman sanctioned permission for the building of a new Church in the land which was provided in the year 2000. The ground stone blessed by the Patriarch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aprem II and the Patriarchal Vicar, His Grace Paulose Mor Irenious, laid became the foundation of the church and its pillar. By God’s Grace, within a short period the building of a magnificent church was completed, and spectacular church was built in Ghala.
On 22nd March 2018, under the leadership of the Patriarchal Vicar, the Parish Meeting at Ruwi Church came to a final decision to invite the Patriarch for the Mooron Sacrament for the new church, under the name of St. Morth Smooni.
During the first Apostolic Visit of the Patriarch, His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aprem II along with the presence of the Catholicose of the East, His Beatitude Aboon Mor Baselious Thomas I, several bishops in Oman, in Malankara and other Gulf Regions and overseas of Jacobite churches and of various different churches, on May 10th 2018, by the blessings of God, blessed the church and the new building and performed the Mooron sacraments of the church, as the crowds celebrated this momentous beginning and revelation on the course of Ghala Church’s history.
Rev. Fr. Abhilash Abraham Valiyaveetil was appointed as the new vicar and under the leadership of Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander, the following Managing Committee members were chosen to bear the church responsibilities: Vice President as Commander Geevarghese John Tharakan, Trustee as Dn. K.M.Sunny, Secretary as George Varghese, Join Secretary as Thomas Rajan and Joint Trustee as Commander Babu Mathew. Praise be to God as in the same year the church members’ list increased from a mere number of 6 to 172.
Under the guidance of Rev. Fr. Abhilash Abraham Valiyaveetil, the community and the church has grown rapidly over the years. The capability of being able to see every church member as an equal in his heart has been a vital part of the expansion of the church. The ‘Dhyanam’ (Divine Retreat) conducted every Saturday by our vicar is not only attended by our church members but by several members of numerous different churches.
On 24th December 2018, the relic of Morth Smooni Amma was installed and placed in the church by the Metropolitan, His Grace Isaac Mor Osthathios.
In the year 2019-2020, as per the command from the Parish Metropolitan, a meeting was held for the shareholders, new members were elected and this verdict was informed to the Parish General Body: Commander Geevarghese John Tharakan (Vice President), Thomas Rajan (Trustee), George Varghese (Secretary), K.K. Kuruvilla (Join Trustee) and Jibin Mathew (Joint secretary), Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander, Commander Babu Mathew, Dr. Sherimon PC, Georgey Thomas, Robin Babu, Dn K.M. Sunny (Managing Committee Members).
By God’s Grace, on November 21-22, 2019 the church was a witness to another milestone by the assembly of the Holy Synod of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church in the presence of His Holiness, The Patriarch of Antioch and all the east and all Bishops of the Syriac Orthodox Church across the globe held in Ghala Church. No other church in the Syriac Orthodox Community have had the opportunity to claim such a historic milestone as their own.
It was also during the Holy Synod that the unique painting which represents Morth Smooni Amma, Eliazar and the seven children was unveiled by His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aprem II, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East.
In such a short period of time, this church has participated and supported several philanthropic activities and other churches in plenty different ways. Several church organizations like Youth Association, Vanitha Samajam and Sunday School play a key role in these activities. This church is the fruit of the willpower, hard work and financial support of Commander Dr. Thomas Alexander. We could never deliver enough gratitude towards him. We take this opportunity to extend our sincere thanks to him and his family.
For giving the freedom of worship to the community and the required land for the building of a new church, we are forever grateful to Late His Majesty Sultan Qaboos Bin Said Al Said, His Majesty Haitham bin Tariq Al Said and the Omani People. We are also indebted to the former vicar of Ruwi Church, Rev. Fr. Basil Varghese, Managing Committee members and the believers who helped and provided guidance and assistance through this journey.