Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary
Encyclopedia
The Orthodox Pazhaya Seminary is a seminary
of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It was founded in 1815 by the priest-monk Ittoop Ramban to serve the then-unified Malankara Syrian Church. It was the first Syriac Orthodox school of theology in Asia.
Colonel John Monroe, the then British Resident in the Kingdom of Travancore
offered his unreserved support for the initiative. The Queen of Travancore granted 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) 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 began on 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.
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. Soon after some time it became the residence and headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan, the chief Metropolitan of the Malankara Church. The academic importance of the Seminary suffered when it became the centre of church administration. 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 St.Gregorios of Parumala( Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala), Dionysius of Vattasseril(Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril),Konat Mathan Corepiscopa, Skaria Cheriamadam, Skaria Elavinamannil, Alexander Mattakkal, Augen Mar Timotheos (later Catholicos Baselios Augen I), Mathews Mar Athanasios (later Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I), Philipose Mar Theophilus and Paulos Mar Gregorios.
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 Seminary ". 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 Vasken I, Supreme Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin on 23 December 1963 during his visit to the Indian Orthodox Church
. Justinian, the Patriarch of Romania, declared open the new building on 7 January 1969, during his visit to the Malankara Orthodox Church. Other eminent visitors to the Seminary include Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
, Patriarch Pimen I of Moscow of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
The M. D. Syrian 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.
Seminary
A seminary, theological college, or divinity school is an institution of secondary or post-secondary education for educating students in theology, generally to prepare them for ordination as clergy or for other ministry...
of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It was founded in 1815 by the priest-monk Ittoop Ramban to serve the then-unified Malankara Syrian Church. It was the first Syriac Orthodox school of theology in Asia.
Colonel John Monroe, the then British Resident in the Kingdom of Travancore
Travancore
Kingdom of Travancore was a former Hindu feudal kingdom and Indian Princely State with its capital at Padmanabhapuram or Trivandrum ruled by the Travancore Royal Family. The Kingdom of Travancore comprised most of modern day southern Kerala, Kanyakumari district, and the southernmost parts of...
offered his unreserved support for the initiative. The Queen of Travancore granted 16 acres (64,749.8 m²) 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 began on 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.
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. Soon after some time it became the residence and headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan, the chief Metropolitan of the Malankara Church. The academic importance of the Seminary suffered when it became the centre of church administration. 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 St.Gregorios of Parumala( Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala), Dionysius of Vattasseril(Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril),Konat Mathan Corepiscopa, Skaria Cheriamadam, Skaria Elavinamannil, Alexander Mattakkal, Augen Mar Timotheos (later Catholicos Baselios Augen I), Mathews Mar Athanasios (later Catholicos Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I), Philipose Mar Theophilus and Paulos Mar Gregorios.
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 Seminary ". 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 Vasken I, Supreme Catholicos of the Armenian Apostolic Church of Etchmiadzin on 23 December 1963 during his visit to the Indian Orthodox Church
Indian Orthodox Church
The Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, also known as the Indian Orthodox Church, is an autocephalous Oriental Orthodox church centred in the Indian state of Kerala. It is one of the churches of India's Saint Thomas Christian community, which traces its origins to the evangelical activity of Thomas...
. Justinian, the Patriarch of Romania, declared open the new building on 7 January 1969, during his visit to the Malankara Orthodox Church. Other eminent visitors to the Seminary include Emperor Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie I of Ethiopia
Haile Selassie I , born Tafari Makonnen, was Ethiopia's regent from 1916 to 1930 and Emperor of Ethiopia from 1930 to 1974...
, Patriarch Pimen I of Moscow of Moscow and All Russia, Patriarch Ilia of Georgia and the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I.
The M. D. Syrian 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.