Deacon Stephen, was one among the first ordained to preach the Gospel by the apostles. He was stoned to death in the charge of blasphemy by the Jews in the 1st century is the first Martyr of Christianity.
It was a heavenly boon to about 30 families resided at Manjinikara and it’s suburbs to initiate a church in his name as our Patron Saint. They used to travel several miles to attend the Holy Mass in the early years of the Twentieth century. Considering the hardships of the believers, Very Rev. Elavinamannil Skaria Malpan in association with the founding members benedicted St.Stephen’s Church Manjinikara on 31st January, 1926, under the apostolic blessings of the Patricarch of Antioch and all the East.
At Present, after eight decades, there are 280 families as members of this church Under the spiritual guidance of H.G. Mor Milithiose Yuhanon Metropolitan Very Rev. Fr. E. K. Mathews Cor-episcopa Elavinamannil serves as the vicar . Sunday school, Martha Mariam Vanitha samajam, 5 Vayana yougams and ‘Elias Mar Yulius’ Youth association function as statutory bodies of the church.
