Kottayam Seminary THE ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY (OLD SEMINARY ) www.ots.org.in Seminary Report 2007 The first Orthodox Christian school of theology in Asia, the Orthodox Seminary, was founded in 1815 at Kottayam, in the state of Kerala (ancient Malabar) by Ramban Ittoop, a priest-monk of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. The learned monk from Kunnamkulam was carrying out with singular courage a major decision of the church made at Kandanadu in 1809 to start two schools of theology (Padithaveedu), one in the North and the other in the South of Kerala. Colonel John Manroe, the then British Resident in the Kingdom of Travancore offered his unreserved support for the initiative. Gowri Parvathi Bai, the queen of Travancore granted 16 acres of tax-free land, Rs.20,000 and the necessary timber for the construction of the Seminary. The work started in 1813 and the building was completed and classes begun in March 1815. The beginning of the Seminary synchronized with the arrival of Church Missionary Society (C.M.S) Missionaries to Kerala. For some years the relationship between the missionaries and the Church was one of cordial co-operation. The missionaries were allowed to teach English and biblical languages in the Seminary. The early missionaries who worked here - Norton, Baker, Bailey, and Fenn- rendered remarkable service. Instruction in the Seminary was primarily meant for the future priests of the Church. But lay people also were admitted as students because the Seminary was the first seat of English general education in the State of Travancore, and perhaps one of the earliest in the whole of India. After a time the relationship of the Church with the later missionaries became strained as they interfered in the doctrinal matters of the Church leading eventually to disputes and litigation. When the missionaries left the Seminary and moved to the hill, which now comprises the C.M.S College, Kottayam, the Seminary was closed for a short time. Since then it had a chequered history. It became the residence and headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan (Catholicos), the chief Prelate of the Malankara Church. The academic importance of the Seminary suffered when it became the centre of church administration. It had to bear silent witness to the many disputes and dissensions in the Church. Nevertheless, it continued the programme of training ordinands. Eminent Malpans (recognized teachers of theology and liturgy) rendered service to the institution. Some of the distinguished teachers include Mar Gregorios of Parumala, Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril, Konat Mathan Corepiscopa, Fr. Skaria Cheriamadam, Fr. Skaria Elavinamannil, Fr. Alexander Mattakkal, Augen Mar Thimothios (later Cathohcos Augen 1), Mathews Mar Athanasius (later Catholicos Mathews 1), Philipose Mar Theophilus and Paulos Mar Gregorious. In 1942 the Seminary entered its modern period. A systematised course of studies was introduced. A new generation of qualified professors of theology and biblical studies took responsibility for running the Seminary. Classes and students' residence were moved to the new buildings in the campus of the M.D. Seminary at Kottayam. When the Catholicos moved his residence from the Old Seminary to the present Devalokam, theological education was once again brought back to the "Old Syrian College". Since that date (1961) there is all round progress and development for the institution. In 1964 the Seminary became affiliated to the Serampore University for its B.D. degree course. 1965, the 150th year of its founding, was celebrated on a grand scale in the presence of ecclesiastical dignitaries and church leaders from abroad. The foundation stone of the new building was laid by His Holiness Vasken I, Supreme Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin on 23rd December 1963 during his historic visit to the Indian Orthodox Church. The generous contribution from the member churches of the World Council of Churches together with a matching contribution from the Malankara Orthodox Church members, made it possible to complete the building in a short period. His Beatitude Justinian, the Patriarch of Romania, declared open the new building on 7th January 1969, during his visit to the Malankara Orthodox Church. Other eminent visitors to the Seminary include Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia, Patriarch Pimen of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia and the Ecumeruical Patriarch Bartholomew I. In 1971, the then Principal Fr. Paul Verghese (later Metropolitan Paulos Mar Gregorios) in his annual report expressed a rather modest desire: "Both for inviting students from abroad and for the Master's degree programme, we need to enlarge and strengthen our present faculty with at least three teachers with doctoral degrees. In fact, this is necessary if we are to continue as a B.D. College" (Prospectus 1971-72). We are grateful to God that teachers on our faculty with earned doctoral degrees currently number 14. The building up of a strong Orthodox Faculty, foremost in India in the family of Serampore University, owes a lot to the vision of Mar Gregorios and his predecessors. The Orthodox Seminary, in a unique ecumenical collaboration with the Marthoma Seminary and the C.S.I Seminary, Trivandrum, runs the prestigious Master's and Doctoral programmes under the banner of the Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture. With the starting of a new Seminary in North India (St. Thomas Orthodox Seminary, Nagpur), the visionary decision of the Church made at Kandanadu almost 200 years ago "to start two Seminaries" was fully realized. Obviously the ancient Church of Malankara has grown to be a nation wide Indian Church. This Seminary will specially be oriented to the pastoral care of the parishes in North India as well as to the mission front of the Church. The mother seminary at Kottayam continues to provide all possible help to the new seminary in terms of faculty and resources. Students from Nagpur spend a semester at the Kottayam seminary. We envisage a regular exchange of students and faculty between the two seminaries in the near future. As we look ahead Although the Kottayam Seminary enjoys the status of a university college in affiliation to Serampore University since 1964, several leaders of the Church have expressed their desire to promote it to the status of an autonomous Orthodox Academy where study, research and publication can be carried out at an advanced level and on a broader basis. With the introduction of the Masters and Doctoral programmes under the banner of the Federated Faculty, we are already moving ahead with this goal in mind. Library The Library of the Seminary has a good collection of theological and other works especially for the courses offered. At present the Library contains over 25000 books and more than 300 periodicals many of which are international publications. There is also a microfilin library as well as an archive containing rare collections. New Building Projects A new three partite building comprising a proposed library cum archives, an auditorium and an ecumenical heritage hall is now coming up under the name SMRITI. The immediate funds amounting to Rs one crore for the construction have been raised largely with the help of the Indian Orthodox parishes in the UAE and the USA. Realization of the total project will require Rs.2 Crore. A well-equipped research Library as envisaged here will greatly promote the post-graduate studies as well as foster the general academic environment of the Seminary. Another project envisaged is to create adequate residential facilities for the post-graduate students and their families. Fr. Dr. K. M. George, Principal, Orthodox Theological Seminary Kottayam. Seminary Day on Oct 7 Bava Thirumeni's Kalpana about Seminary Day Prayer for the Seminaries Nagpur Seminary ST. THOMAS ORTHODOX THEOLOGICAL SEMINARY, NAGPUR (STOTS ) Introduction The St.Thomas Seminary is gradually growing as a centre of the Orthodox Church in Central and North India. Not only does it cater the needs of the diaspora population meaningfully but also does it create a new vision about the mission of the Church in a multi-lingual and multi-religious context. Moreover, the Seminary offers a stage for fruitful dialogues of Christian theologians with people of other faith affirmations. In future, women of the Orthodox Church, who wish to study theology and to reflect to the challenges of the world will find it as a place, where their ideas will be influencing the theology of the Church. For Communications: Principal St. Thomas Orthodox Orthodox Theological Seminary Brahmani P.O., Kalmeshwar 441 501, Nagpur, India Tel. 07118-271696 (office), 271994 (principal) 271991 (hostel) E-Mail: nagpurseminary@rediffmail.com rejiachen@rediffmail.com How to reach the Seminary? Nagpur situates in the middle of India and all the four metropolitan cities have an equal distance from there. There are daily flights from Calcutta, Delhi and Mumbai. The Seminary is about 35 Km away from the air-port and 25 Km way from Nagpur railway station. All the trains from south to north of India pass through the Nagpur station. There are buses from Nagpur city to the place where the Seminary situates in every 15 minutes. Those who reach the railway station can take a rickshaw to Lohapool (Rs 10), where the buses towards Katol have stops. They can purchase a ticket for Kalmeshwar/Brahmani (Rs 12). For emergencies in Nagpur people can contact the vicar of St. George Orthodox Church in the Nagpur city (0712-2581459). History of STOTS a) Launching of the Seminary The history and destiny of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church weighs much on its theological seminaries. The Old Seminary at Kottayam was founded in 1815 and it contributed much to the development of the Church in the past two centuries. However, the leadership of the Church felt that to cater the needs of its diaspora parishes in different parts of India and to steer the missionary works of the Church in the multi-religious context of India a new theological institution should be started. This was brought to the attention of the Holy Episcopal Synod of July 1994 (5th to 9th July) and it appointed a sub-committee consisting of six bishops to study the case. The sub-committee presented a report in the Synod of February 1995 and the latter decided to start a Seminary in North India for catering the above mentioned needs of the Church. The Holy Episcopal Synod accepted the offer of H.G. Dr. Stephanos Mar Theodosius, the bishop of Calcutta Diocese for using the infrastructure of his diocesan centre for starting the Seminary. Thus the inception of the Seminary happened on 14th September 1995 in the St.Thomas Ashram at Bhilai. In the July Synod of 1996 the Bhilai Seminary was conferred autonomous status. The Synod named the Seminary as the St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary. On 25th September 1996 the Seminary was officially inaugurated by H.G. Dr. Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, the President of the Mission Board of the Malankara Church, in the presence of H.G. Stephanus Mar Theodosius and H.G. Geevarghese Mar Ivanius (Kottayam). b) From Bhilai to Nagpur However, the Church purchased a land of 15 acres in Kalmeshwar a village situated 25 kms away from Nagpur city for building a permanent set up for the Seminary. Nagpur was accepted as the place for the New Seminary not only because of its location in the centre of India but also because of its proximity to all the four outside Kerala dioceses. His Holiness Moran Mar Baselious Mar Thoma Mathews II laid the foundation stone for the New Seminary building in Kalmeshwar on 10 Dec 1997. The Seminary functioned in Bhilai till the summer of 1999 under the leadership of Bishop Theodosius as its principal. On 7th July 1999 the Seminary was shifted to Nagpur. Fr.Dr. Reji Mathew was appointed as the new principal. Since the basic infrastructure was not available at Kalmeshwar the Seminary functioned in the Halls and Parsonage of St. George Orthodox Church, Nagpur during the summer semester. On 9th November 1999 the faculty and the students shifted their residence to Kalmeshwar. H.G. Thomas Mar Thimotheus, the Catholicose Designate, inagurated the New Hostel in the presence of H.G. Mar Theodosius, H.G.Thomas Mar Athanasius (Chengannur) and H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilose (Mumbai). The seminary is situated in the middle of 15 acres of land. We have a small farm maintained by our staff and students, from where we get a part of our daily bread. Those who have visited our seminary have noticed that the construction of the Seminary is only halfway through. The whole building will have 80 rooms in two wings (in two floors also) and it may look like a butterfly in the end. However, the facilities of the Seminary were limited and everything was working in the rooms of the students’ hostel. H.G. Stephanus Mar Theodosius laid the foundation stone of the Seminary Chapel on 29th October 2002. The main expenses of the Chapel was sponsored by St. Thomas Church Dubai. By the Grace of God the construction could be completed by February 2004. H.H.Moran Mar Baselius Mar Thoma Mathews II will consecrate the Chapel on Thursday, 19th of February 2004 with the assistance of H.G.Mar Osthathios, Mar Theodosius and Mar Coorilos. c) STOTS Milestones July 1995 - Decision of the Synod about a Seminary in North India September 14 1995 - Inception of the Seminary at Bhilai October 19th 1995 - Inauguration of Bhilai Seminary July 1996 - Synod confers autonomous status to Bhilai Seminary December 10th 1997 - Laying of foundation stone at Nagpur July 7th 1999 - Shift of Seminary from Bhilai to Nagpur Church December 7th 1999 - Inauguration of STOTS hostel at Kalmeshwar October 10th 2002 - Visit of Serampore Commission October 29th 2002 - Laying of foundation stone of Seminary Chapel February 2003 - Serampore Senate affiliates the Seminary February 18 2004 - First Convocation February 19th 2004 - Consecration of Seminary Chapel Academic Programme The Academic Programme The seminary aims at the spiritual as well as academic formation of our future priests and missionaries. A meaningful transmission of our spiritual traditions to the cultural and social contexts of the modern Indians is our dream. On the one hand we try to maintain the traditions of our fathers in a meaningful way, but on the other hand we help the youngsters to find answers for the questions of the new millennium. Courses It was a long cherished wish of the Church to affiliate the Seminary to the Serampore University. A commission of the University visited the Seminary on 9th and 10th October 2002 to evaluate its credentials for affiliation. The commission recommended positively and the Seminary was declared as an affiliated college of the Senate of Serampore in February 2003. We offer two courses of the Senate of Serampore College. First is a pastoral training course called Bachelor of Christian Studies (BCS) and the second is Bachelor of Divinity (BD). However, the syllabus of BCS is more or less the same as that of BD. It is our dream that the seminary should not remain just as a centre for training our priests as per the Serampore curriculum. Therefore more weightage is given to the Orthodox traditions and a mission oriented curriculum. The theological training of the lay people in general and that of women in particular will be started soon. Those who follow the complete requirements as stipulated by the Holy Episcopal Synod will be granted a diploma called Graduate of the Sacred Theology (GST) and they will be eligible for the ordination as priests of the Orthodox Church in India. 24 students have already completed the course till this day and they are serving in various parts of our country. The first convocation of the GST will be conducted on Wednesday, 18th February 2004. Prof. Dr. Karl Christian Felmy, head of the department of Orthodox Theology at Friedrich-Alexander University of Erlangen (Germany) gives the convocation address. For more details Visit: www.stots.org/ Constitution THE CONSTITUTION OF THE MALANKARA ORTHODOX CHURCH The church had no written constitution until 1934, but was governed by consensus, traditions and precedence. It was the vision of Mor Dionysius, Vattasseril to have a clearly defined uniform constitution to govern the church administration. He initiated action in this regard and appointed a sub-committee with O. M. Cherian as convener to submit a draft constitution. The committee members had discussed the fundamental issues with the Metropolitan in several rounds. However it was not finalized and passed (materialized) in his life time. After his demise, the constitution was presented in the Malankara Christian Association meeting of Dec 26, 1934, held at M. D. Seminary. It was adopted and brought to force. Three times the constitution was amended to meet specific situations and needs. It only shows that the church is alive to meet the challenges that arise from time to time. The validity of the constitution was challenged by the Patriarch party in the Court, but the Supreme Court has given its final verdict declaring the validity of the Constitution. Every member of the Church is bound by the rules and regulations laid down in the Constitution. The Constitution upholds the autonomy and autocephaly of the Malankara Orthodox Church. It is Episcopal in its (polity) and not congregational. At the same time it upholds democratic principle by safeguarding the rights and privileges of the lay people. It was framed at a time when the Patriarch of Antioch was held in high esteem and hence his limited role is included. The constitution enshrines the fundamental features of the Church, provides direction for its internal administration and preserves its integrity and autonomy. The essential features of the Church are provided in the preamble. The first article emphasizes the bond of relationship between the Church of Syria and Malankara. The second article deals with the foundation of the Malankara Church by St. Thomas and the primacy of the Catholicos. The third article refers to the name of the church and the fourth about the faith, traditions etc., and the fifth about the canons governing the administration of the Church. The whole constitution conceives the Malankara Church as self –sufficient in all her requirements, be it temporal, ecclesiastical or spiritual in nature and upholds that the Malankara Orthodox church is rightly autocephalous in character. Download The Constitiution of Malankara Orthodox Church.