European colonisation of Southeast Asia tightening Turkish control and eventual shut down of the Eastern Mediterranean gateways into Asia first prompted Portuguese, and later Spanish and Dutch sea voyagers to ship around Africa in search of new trading routes and business opportunities. Niccolò de' Conti arrived in Southeast Asia as the earliest documented European in the early 15th century. By 1498 Vasco da Gama, who had sailed round the Cape of Good Hope, established the first direct sea route from Europe to India. Central among the various plannings was to establish direct and permanent trade of the highly priced spices, that were native to Southeast
UK, Europe and Africa Malankara Orthodox Diocese UK, Europe and Africa was formed in 2009, with Diocesan Metropolitan Mathews Mar Thimothios. Diocese of UK, Europe and Africa includes the territorial area of England, Wales, Northern Ireland and Germany, France, Ireland, Switzerland, Spain, Portugal, Denmark, Turkey, Greece, Cape Town in South Africa and Kenya. The Diocesan headquarters is in St. Gregorios Indian Orthodox Church, Cranfield Road, Brockley, London. The Administrative Annexe in India is in Parumala Seminary. This was consecrated by Baselios Mar Thoma Didymus I Valiya Bava. the diocese had 23 Parishes and Congregations and 10 priests. http://www.stthomasiocaberdeen.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/IOCNI/ http://www.ststephensioc.co.uk http://www.stmarysindianorthodoxchurchbristol.com www.indianorthodoxcambridge.co.uk https://www.facebook.com/canterburyioc http://holytrinityioccrawley.com http://www.indianorthodoxchurchglasgow.co.uk http://www.stthomasorthodoxlondon.org/ http://indianorthodoxchurchkingslynn.co.uk