The Indian Orthodox Church (also known as the Malankara Orthodox Church, Orthodox Church of the East, Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, Orthodox Syrian Church of the East), is a prominent member of the Oriental Orthodox Church family. The Church traces its origins to St. Thomas the Apostle, who came to India in AD 52, established the Church and suffered martyrdom.

The head of the Indian Orthodox Church is the Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan whose seat is at Kottayam, Kerala, India. The Church has dioceses and churches and congregations in most parts of India as well as in the United States, Canada, United Kingdom, European Union, Switzerland, Scandinavia, Persian Gulf nations, Malaysia, Singapore, South Africa, Nigeria, Australia and New Zealand. The official title of the head of the Church is the “Catholicos of the East, Catholicos of the Apostolic throne of St. Thomas, and the Malankara Metropolitan”. His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews III (Indian Orthodox Church) is the present Catholicos of the East and Malankara Metropolitan., who was enthroned on October 14th , 2021 at St. Peter’s and St. Paul’s Malankara Orthodox Church in Parumala, Kerala by the Synod.

Mar Baselious Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church  is a part of the Indian Orthodox Church in the Diocese of the UK, Europe & Africa.

The Church was first established as a Congregation, by the Order of H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios, Metropolitan of the Diocese of the UK, Europe & Africa in Dec 2021.

With effect from 25th March 2022, the Congregation was elevated to the status of a Parish in the Diocese of UK, Europe & Africa by the Holy Order of the Diocese Metropolitan HG Abraham Mar Stephanos.

The church, based in Southampton, has been serving Indian Orthodox faithful residing in Southampton, Hedge End, Salisbury, Winchester and Basingstoke since January 2022.

In the years before 2022, most of the current members of the congregation were members of St George’s Indian Orthodox Church, Portsmouth. With the influx of new Orthodox followers in towns such as Winchester, Salisbury and Basingstoke, H.G. Dr. Mathews Mar Thimothios, after due diligence, agreed to the request to establish a new congregation to meet the spiritual needs of the new diaspora in and around Southampton area.

This church now has 59 families and the Divine Liturgy Service is celebrated on the first and third Saturday of every month in Southampton/Eastleigh. An Evening Prayer is held on every 3rd Friday of the month in Southampton. Divine Liturgy Services are also being held in Laverstock, Salisbury with plans to start in Basingstoke from Oct 2024.