User:Punchakonam

Rev.Fr. Johnson Punchakonam A Priest of the malankara Orthodox Church Diocese of Southwest America, Ordained as a clergy of the Malankara Orthodox Church by His Holiness Moran Mar Baselius Marthoma Mathews II, the then catholicose of the East and Malankara Metropolitan and now serving as the vicar of St. Mary's Orthodox Church ,Orlando,Florida

Website:http://www.orthodoxtv.in

Priesthood Priesthood is not something I can pick out for myself or give myself. I cannot push myself forward for ordination, or seek it on my own terms. The Lord's call cannot be forced by my own desire or choice. It is pure gift. It is always a response to his summons, his call, his choice of me. No matter how strongly I would like to be a priest, it is His will that matters, not mine. In 1992 September 19th Saturday, I was ordained as a clergy of The Malankara Orthodox Church by His Holiness Baselious Mathoma Mathews II, the then Catholicose and Malankara Metropolitan of the Malankara Orthodox Church at St.Thomas Orthodox Church, Elamadu.

As a Minister

A parish is a family, a living cell of the one family of God. No two parishes are the same, any more than two ordinary families. Each has its own special challenges, its own problems, needs and blessings. An inner city parish is very different to a rural one. The priest needs to be very flexible and adaptable in the way he lives and works. Positions Held (Previous & Present):Now i am serving as the CEO & Operations Manager of Indian Orthodox TV Media Ministries, a publishing-and-TV outreach operating both Indian Christianity and Orthodox TV. AcI have 17 years of experience in web devoloping & media broadcasting. Serving as the Priest of The Malankara Orthodox Church, a freelance writer and speaker on topics related to Orthodox faith and culture.

Vision I am fully involved in my work, with a strong desire to achieve wherever and whatever work i did. Vision brought forth desires, desires brought forth dreams and dreams brought them into reality. Looking the way back, I feels now how true it is. Desires drive us to achieve the things we wanted to have. We are all born with a divine fire within us. When the desire is pure and intense, the fire gets ignited by the desire. The light which comes out of the fire will energize us and dispel the darkness and we all should strive for keeping up the light for achieving greatness for ourselves.

Parishes Served

1. Vicar of St. Mary's Orthodox Church, Orlando, Florida
2. Vicar of St.Paul’s Orthodox congregation, Chatanooa, Tennesse.
3. Vicar of Gregorios Indian Orthodox Congregation, Memphis, TN

Parishes Served

1. St. Thomas Orthodox Church Denver, Colorado,
2. St. Mary’s Indian Orthodox Church, Atlanta
3. St. Gregorios Orthodox Church Augusta, Georgia- from June 2008 to July 2010
4. St. Thomas Mount Orthodox Church Puzhuthivakkam, Chennai-600091 from May 2005 to February 2008
5. St. George Orthodox Church Nellikunnam, Kottarakarafrom May 2003 to May2005,
6. St. Mary’s Orthodox Church Nalanchira, Trivandrum from May 2000 to May2003,
7. St. George Orthodox Church Nedumpaikulam, Kundra from June 1999 to May2000 ,
8. St. Mary’s Orthodox Church, Edamon, Punalur (from June 1999 to May 2000 December 2000)
9. St. George Orthodox Church Paper Mill, Punalur June 1999 to December 2000)
10. Mar Aprem Orthodox Chapel, Kuravankonam, Trivandrum(Assistant vicar)from 1998 May to 1999 May) and
11. MGOCSM, Bangalore Potary Rd Chapel, Davenkere, KolarChapels. from 1998 May to 1999 May)
12. St. Andrews Orthodox Church Secundrabad, from May 1997 to May1998,
13. St. Gregorios Orthodox Cathedral Hyderabad, from Auguest1994 to May1997,
14. Mor Thesmooni Orthodox Church Mannoor, Anchal from September 1992 to July1994
15. Mor Bersouma Orthodox Church Kattachal, Oyoor, from September 1992 to July1994
16. Mor Bersouma Orthodox Church Vengoor, from September 1992 to July1994