Theological Seminaries

1. Old Seminary : (Orthodox Theological Seminary)

The Old Seminary in Kottayam is the pride of Malankara Orthodox Church. This Seminary is the cradle of English Education in Kerala. It is 182 years old. Earlier following the model of the ' Gurukulam' education in India, theological training was imparted in "Malpan Houses". It was Pulikkotil Itoop Ramban of Kunnamkulam who had the spiritual vision and far sightedness to establish a Seminary. He discovered the site to construct the Seminary in Kottayam. The land that was full of mangrieves on the Bank of the River Meenachil was chosen for the Seminary. As a result of the friendly relationships with the then British Resident Colonel Munroe, it was possible to get the said land consisting of 16 acres of area without land tax and free of cost from the Travancore government. The timber required for constructing the Seminary was also acquired free of cost. The construction work was started in 1893 and completed in 1815. The Seminary building, which consists of two storeys on the southern and northern side and three storeys on the eastern and western side, is a 'Nalukettu' model construction that displays architectural skill. Itoop Ramban who founded the Seminary was not long after consecrated Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysios.He passed away on 24 November 1816 and was laid to rest in the Seminary.

C.M.S. Missionaries at the Seminary:

The C. M.S Missionaries who came to help the Syrian Church were appointed as teachers in the newly started Seminary. They were the ones who started here English Education for the first time. That was in 1817, this missionary co-operation, which began in good spirits later, turned out to be disastrous for the Church. The missionaries, who were unable to comprehend the beliefs and traditions of the Oriental Orthodox Church, started propagating their reformatory exhortations in the seminary. At last the activities of the missionaries were banned in the Seminary and in the Church. Later, a group for reformation took form and for a long period of time, the Seminary was under their control. In the legal battle which followed when the successor to the founder of the Seminary, Pulikkotil Joseph Mar Dionysius II won, the Seminary and the Church properties came under the control of the Orthodox Church.

New Phase:

In 1934, following the demise of Metropolitan Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius, the leadership of the Church was entrusted with His Holiness Geevarghese II Catholicose His Holiness took special interest in Theological studies. In 1942 new buildings were constructed on the premises of the M.D Seminary. There the Seminary was started. Since then till date the history of the Seminary is marked by remarkable progress and development. His Holiness the Catholicose appointed Cheria Madathil Skaria Malpan (Principal), Fr.K. Philipose (Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos Metropolitan), and V.K.Mathew (His Holiness Mathews I Catholicose) for the management of the newly started Seminary. The Seminary Training was according to the prescribed syllabus with a new vision. His Holiness the Catholicose attended to the day- to day matters of the Seminay.In 1959 the Theological Seminary was once again shifted to the Old Seminary.

New Builders:

Special mention must be made of the three of the benefactors of the Seminary responsible for progress of them the most important or foremost is His Holiness Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I Catholicose.He served as Principal for 15 years out of his 24 years service as teacher. Metropolitan Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos of the Angamali- Bombay diocese (1942-1967) strengthened these hands by giving him full support and co- operation.
Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan who was the Principal from 1967 to 1996 elevated the Orthodox Theological Seminary into a first grade Center for Theological studies in Asia.

The Seminary today:

The Seminary offers four year course leading to the Degree in Theological studies. The other course included: G.S.T. (Diploma), B.D. (Degree). Facilities for post graduate studies are also offered (M.T.H) . Students fro different denominations both from within and from outside Kerala are taking this M. TH course more facilities for pursuing research work in Theological studies are on the agenda.

Faculty Members:

Here we have an array of eminent and renowned teachers, of the 20 teachers, 13 are full timers while 7 are serving on a part time basis. Of these 11 have doctorate degrees. Two more are in the process of completing their doctoral theses. The potential and service of the Seminary Professors are made available in all the spiritual spheres of the Church.

Programme for training Priests:

The Seminary is affiliated to the University of Serampore for theological training in B.D., M.Th and D.Th. courses. Divyabodhanam, Sruthi School of Liturgical music, Prathyasa Counselling centre, etc. are projects run by the Seminary for the training of lay people.
The Seminary has also introduced various schemes for the spiritual training and theological scholarship of the priests in the Church.

a. Sophia Center:

The Sophia Center: The Sophia Center, which is adjaceent to the Seminary, has conducted several meetings, conferences, debates and seminars. Sophia center is an ideal place for conducting seminars and classes. This institution's main aim is lay training. The Holy Synod meets here as and when the occasion demands it.

b. Divine Studies (Divyabodhanam)

There is a Programme in Theological studies meant for the layman. It comprises a 2 year certificate courses (P.O.C.E) followed by 2 year Diploma course (D.O.C.B). On passing the course the candidate can take a Degree course (G.O.C.E). This scheme, which was started in 1984, has benefited many lay persons in the Church. Under the scheme over 32 theological books both in English and in Malayalam have been published.

c. Scriptural Exegesis (Bible Study Course):

A series of books of commentary of the Bible titled "Thiruvachana Bashyam" consisting of 15 chapters in meditative style of the New Testament have been published for the benefit of the laymen.

d. Parish Mission:

During X'mas vacation and summer vacation teachers and students jointly conduct in different parishes weekly missionary activities. This Programme consists of house visits, classes for children and elders, film show and evangelical talks. Booklets that help to strengthen the Orthodox faith and controvert the false teachings that creep into the minds of the members of the Church are published under the supervision of the Parish Mission.

e. Sruthi School Of Liturgical Music:

Sruthi School of Liturgical Music offers training in Music with the objective of making our worship, touching and systematic. Numerous talented believers undergo training in musicology.

f. Book Shop:

Attached to the Seminary, there is a Book Shop which distributes books written by the teachers of the Seminary, the various publications of the Church and books in different languages such as Syriac, English and Malayalam.

g. Prathyasa Counseling Center:

The Prathysa Counseling center started in 1995 is a vacation counseling course offered under the leadership of the Seminary teachers for the benefit of priests and laymen.

h. M.G.F.

Mar Gregorios Foundation was established for publishing books and research papers of Metropolitan Dr. Paulose Mar Gregorios.

i. A Memorial Complex

In the seminary construction of a centre, which reflects the antiquity of the church and its vision for the third millennium, has begun. The memorial complex consists of His Holiness Baselios Marthoma Mathews I Memorial Managing Committee Hall, Dr. Philipose Mar Theophilos smaraka Ecumenical Study Center and Dr.Paulose Mar Gregorios smaraka Library and Research Wing. It has been Christined as "Heritage 2000- Smrithi" Mandiram.

j. Tombs

The Mortal remains of the late Metropolitans,the founder of the Old Seminary Pulikkotil Joseph Mar Dionysius II,M.D. Seminary founder Pulikottil Joseph Mar Dionysius V, Malankara Sabha Basuran Vattasseril Geevarghese Mar Dionysius VI and Paulose Mar Gregorios are entombed in the Seminary Chapel.

Principal : Rev.Fr.Dr.K.M.George
Vice Principal : Rev.Fr.Dr.M.Jacob Kurian
Manager (Old Seminary) : Rev.Fr.K.V.Joseph
Address:
Orthodox Theological Seminary, P.B No. 98, Kottayam - 686 001.
Phone:+91 481 566526, 568500, 568083, 566650, and 302571

2. St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur:

On 14 September 1995, Metropolitan Dr. Stephanos Mar Thevodosios started the St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary in Bhilai.The Seminary was functioning in the primeses of the St.Thomas Ashram,Bhilai from 1995 to 1999.On July 7th 1999 the seminary was moved to Nagpur.

Inauguration of the New Seminary:

The new seminary complex at Kalmeshwar (22 km from Nagapur) is still being built.Seminary hostal was consecrated on 7th December by H.G Thomas Mar Themothios Metropolitan,H.G Dr.Stephanos Mar Theodosios, H.G Thomas Mar Athanasios and H.G Geevarghese Mar Coorilose.

Objectives:

Its objectives is to give training to the students in theology to serve for the various parishes of outside Kerala dioceses and creating missionaries for mission work in North India. Training is being given for activities for village uplift in Macodia, and Bhilai and for translating the syriac order of worship into English and Hindi. The steps to shift the Bhilai Seminary to Nagpur were taken up on 9 December 1997 as per the decision of the Holy Synod.

Faculty:

The Seminary is blessed with an elite stream of faculty members,including Metropolitans and priests of our Church and professors and professionals from related fields. The seminary has a regular team of seven dedicated resident faculty and a visiting faculty from various related fields and institutions, including Old Seminary Kottayam and R.C.D.R.C. Raipur. Dr. Stephanos Mar Thevodosios (Principal), Fr. Brijesh Philip (Vice- Principal) and Fr. Philip Kuruvilla (Dean of Administration are the chief office bearers of this seminary) HG Dr.Yakob Mar Irenios,Very.Rev.Yoohanon Remban,Rev.Fr.George Mathew,Rev.Fr.Ninan K George,Rev.Fr.Shaji P John,Rev.Fr.P.C Thomas,Rev.Fr.Alex Daniel and Rev.Fr.V.C Varghese are the faculty members of the Seminary.

Students:

A mixed blend of qualified, graduates and Post graduates, talented students from diverse backgrounds of Calcutta, Mumbai, Delhi, Chennai and Kerala, who have committed their lives in the service of Christ, constitute the young eagles of the seminary. Today the seminary is proud to have a strength of 36 dedicated labourers, 11 of whom have already been ordained as Sub-deacons, after the successful completion of three years at the Seminary.

Activities

The five year seminary programme provides training in Orthodox worship, in three languages (Malayalam, English and Hindi), in the context of the pluralistic India. Basic classes for Music, Computer, Accountancy, Typewriting, Yoga, Administration etc. are given besides lectures for theological subjects according to the syllabus of the Senate of Serampore. Classes for Language and Pastoral ministry is also conducted for the completion on the Seminary Degree of Graduate in Sacred Theology (G. S.T) and related subjects for the completion of Bachelor of Christian Studies (B. C. S).

During the Holy Qurbana and canonical prayers the seminary uses the languages Malayalam, English and Hindi, alternatively in weekly schedule. The same language is followed for all conversations within the campus. However English remains the medium of academic instructions. It is noteworthy that the Holy Week services in 1998 and 1999 were conducted in English.

One who visits the seminary will be impressed by the calibre of the students and the family atmosphere prevailing in the campus. Moments of games and entertainment add colour to the busy schedule of the seminarians.

Seminary outreach:

Along with the studies, each student has to spend one full year in the missionary fields like hospitals, villages, schools, orphanages, old homes, centers for Bible translation etc. By seeing the Parish Mission conducted by the seminary students many would say, this is the kind of priesthood that we need in the Dioceses of Delhi, Calcutta, Mumbai and Madras in the new millennium.

The students are given a missionological trust during the Seminary days. The students visit various parishes on weekends throughout the year and give leadership to spiritual activities. The students also give their services in the Makodiya village, Leprosy Colony in Bhilai and Samat Pipriya in Jabalpur. One cannot forget the role played by the seminary students in building 60 houses under the Jabalpur Earthquake and Relief Project as a joint venture with the Diocese of Calcutta. When I visited the Seminary in March 2001, I was told that a team of the students are in Gujarat, as a part of the mission work at the site of recent earthquake.

The Seminary has been effectively able to provide basic literacy to the children of rural village of Kurud, through a school named Jeevan Jyoti Vidayalaya. It is praise worthy, to mention the role of Mrs. Bibi Kuruvilla and Mrs. Seena Bijesh, (wives of two priests of the seminary) and the sisters of St. Thomas Ashram, Bhilai, who laboured with perseverance to impart education, love and care.

The study cum exposure program is aimed at the training of students at various centers like orphanages, slums, rural villages, hospitals, old age homes, leprosy centers etc. Not only does it give a motivation for the future Orthodox Priests to do something in the field of the mission of love but also is it a chance for those centers to see the aspirations of a future theologian. The students are trained and given sufficient exposure to reflect the love of God, not only to the migrated Syrian Christians but also mainly to the unreached and marginalised people of India through this mission.

The New Seminary:

A Section of the first phase is being constructed; Rs.75 lakhs has already been spent. The already finished rooms are used a dormitory, classrooms, office and chapel To limit day to day expenses, more care is given to the farming of the 15 acres of the seminary land. I was indeed happy to note that the seminarians grow most of what they eat - Wheat, a variety of vegetables, Onions, Mangoes, etc. etc.

Our Needs:

The seminary needs Rs.85 lakhs immediately to complete the hostel building and the kitchen area. The construction of a seminary chapel is not to be postponed. The Seminary aims at a web site to give information about the activities of the Seminary and convey the importance of such an Institution in North India, which at the moment calling for generous support from all the people particularly the Malankara Orthodox Sabha Makkal around the Globe.

The seminary faculty and the students are able to given effective and fruitful leadership to very many youth meets and MGOCSM conferences in North India. The role of the seminary students in leading the OVBS in various diocese was stressed by many priests from the north.

Address:
St. Thomas Orthodox Seminary,
P.B.No. 24,
Bhilai 490 001
Phone: 011-91-788- 356309/ 381309 or 381949

or
P B No.27
Nagpur 440001
Maharashtra
Ph: 07118 - 71696

Fax: 011-91-788-383266

Email:
M.P.C.C.E&T@mantraonline.com
stots@satyam.net.in
orthoseminagpur@hotmail.com