St. Mary's Syrian Orthodox Church of White Plains, New York was formed with the blessings of the late H.E. Mor Athanasius Yeshue Samuel, former Archbishop of the Syrian Orthodox Church in U.S.A. and Canada, on Sunday, January 14th, 1979. The church was initiated by nine Malankara Jacobite Syrian Orthodox faithful, led by Rev. Father John Jacob, with member Mr. George Kuruvilla instrumental in forming the congregation.
His Eminence Mor Athanasius Samuel celebrated the first Eucharist on January 14, 1979, assisted by Rev. Fr. John Jacob, Rev. Fr. John Meno, Rev. Fr. P.M. Punnoose, Rev. Dn. Ezhamalil Eapen, and Rev. Dn. Paulose T. Peter, at the Fort George Presbyterian Church Hall in New York City. Eighteen families became members on that inaugural day. During the initial period the church held two services a month, led alternately by Rev. Fr. John Jacob and Rev. Fr. P.M. Punnoose, before Rev. Fr. George P. Kocheril joined the congregation.
At the first General Body meeting on March 25, 1979, presided over by Rev. Fr. John Jacob, Rev. Fr. George Kocheril was formally entrusted as vicar. By early spring 1979 membership had grown to 25 families, and a formal dedication was conducted by the Catholicose of the East, the late His Beatitude Mor Baselius Paulose II, on September 9, 1979.
To hold Holy Service every Sunday, the parish moved to the Holy Rood Episcopal Church auditorium at 179th St. & Fort Washington Ave., New York, in November 1979. Rev. Dn. David Cheruthottil joined the church and was ordained priest on October 7, 1982, serving as Associate Vicar; membership reached 40 families by 1982. In May 1983 His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Zakka I Iwas, Supreme Head of the Universal Syrian Orthodox Church, celebrated the Holy Eucharist at the Inter Church Centre, New York, under the parish's auspices.
From late 1983 onward, the congregation was on a continuous search for a permanent home — members opened their own residences for services, the parish rented space at an Episcopal Church in the Bronx in 1985, and later that year moved to a chapel at the Theological Seminary in New York. We remain grateful for the selfless service of Very Rev. Dr. K. M. Simon, Rev. Fr. Isaac Paily, and Rev. Fr. Alias Aramath during the Seminary years, which continued until the congregation finally purchased its own building at 99 Park Avenue, White Plains, NY 10603 — where St. Mary's has worshipped ever since.