Malankara Mar Thoma Syrian Church is one among the churches which was founded
by St.Thomas, the Apostle in A.D.52. Even though the Church in Malabar has a
long heritage and tradition, the establishment of a Seminary to train the
clergy to minister the congregations was possible only in the 19th century. It
was established in 1813, on a property given to the church by the Travancore
Government through the influence of Col.Munro, the British resident who also
instituted an endowment, the interest of which was to be used for the training
of the clergy. This endowment was known as 'Vattipanam'. The first principal of
the seminary was Joseph Fenn, one of the first missionaries from the 'Mission
of help' sent by the Church Missionary Society of the church of England.
The training of the clergy of the Malankara
Church had been effective and fruitful during the time of Mathews Mar
Athanasius Metropolitan who was then the head of the Malankara Church. The work
and inspiration of the CMS missionaries were influential and helpful for a
better understanding of the word of God which was at that time translated into
Malayalam. A deeper understanding of the Bible, faith and practices of the
Church resulted in a remarkable reformation in the Malankara Church.
Two Syriac professors of the Seminary Palakkunnathu Abraham
Malpan of Maramon and Kaithayil Geevarghese Malpan of Kottayam felt the need
for a reformation and became pioneers to give leadership to the revival of the
Malankara Church. But that movement of reformation finally ended in a division
of the church.
The church of Malabar was divided into two sections one
favouring the reformation and the other not in favour. The reformed section
came to be known as the Mar Thoma Syrian Church, affirming the faith and
practices of the ancient church founded by St.Thomas, the Apostle. The division
of the church was followed by a prolonged period of litigation over the right
of possession of the Seminary and the property of the Malankara Church. As a
result of the decree of the Royal Court during the time of Thomas Mar
Athanasius Metropolitan the Mar Thoma Church lost its right over the Seminary
and much of the property of the Church. The church lost the old seminary which
is now known as the Orthodox Theological Seminary. For a few years then the
training of the clergy of the Mar Thoma Church was done at the CNI (Cambridge
Nicholson Institute) run by the CMS missionaries.
The Church felt the need of a Seminary of her own. During the
time of Metropolitan Titus-I, the foundation stone for the Seminary building
was laid at the Zion Hill Kottayam in 1896. But the church had to wait for
another 30 years to start the work of the Seminary. 3rd July1926 on the
St.Thomas Day the Seminary was established at Zion Hill, Kottayam as the
Episcopal Silver Jubilee Memorial of His Grace Titus-II Mar Thoma Metropolitan.
Needless to say that this was a turning point in the history of the Mar Thoma
Church. Mr.K.K.Kuruvilla a former professor of the United Theological College
served as its first Principal.
It is to be noted that the Seminary has been affiliated to
Serampore University from the very beginning. Initially the courses were
designed to fulfill the requirements of the Diploma in Licentiate in Theology
(L.Th). The Seminary was upgraded to B.Th degree in 1970. The contribution and
leadership of eminent leaders of the church, Most Rev.Dr.Juhanon Mar Thoma,
Rt.Rev.Thomas Mar Athanasius, Rt.Rev.Dr.Philipose Mar Chrysostom,
Rev.K.P.Philip, Rev.Dr.T.C.Thomas and Rev.C.V.John as Principals can never be
ignored.
The Seminary was further upgraded to B.D.degree in 1974 with
English as the medium of instruction. This was the fulfillment of the dream and
vision of Rev.C.V.John who served as Principal until 1974. Rev.Dr.V.P.Thomas, a
former professor of Leonard Theological College Jabalpur and a well known
theologian of his day, assumed the role of Principal since 1974. The
B.D.programme also started on July 3, 1974 on St.Thomas Day.
Another important stage in the growth of the Mar Thoma
Theological Seminary was the introduction of Post Graduate studies in 1980.
This was an ecumenical venture of three major Seminaries in Kerala, the
Orthodox Theological Seminary, The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary and the
Kerala United Theological Seminary, Trivandrum. This was a unique attempt in
the history of the churches and theological education in India where the
faculty of the three Seminaries work together to run the post graduate
programme under the title Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and
Culture (FFRRC). The vision and initiative of Rev.Dr.M.J.Joseph, the first
Registrar and His Grace Dr.Paulose Mar Gregorios Metropolitan, the first
chairman of FFRRC in this regard was so great and worth mentioning.
Rt.Rev.Dr.J.W.Gladston served as the first Treasurer of the programme. The
purpose was to provide opportunities of doing biblical studies and theology in
our own context. It was its goal to provide quality higher education with
minimum cost. The professors of those three seminaries continue to teach
courses and guide the research students with dedication without required
remuneration. The formal inauguration of the programme was held on 3rd July
1980 on St.Thomas Day.
The FFRRC became a doctoral centre in 1999. Candidate from
different parts of India and from different denominations make use of these
facilities for M.Th and D.Th studies in various subjects such as Old Testament,
New Testament, Christian Theology, Christian Ministry, Religions, Church
History and Liturgical studies. Under the guidance of God and through the good
will of the three churches and institutions, the FFRRC has grown as a premier
post graduate centre under the Senate of Serampore College.
The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary is very ecumenical in its
approach and perspectives. The Seminary is maintaining its ecumenical
relationships with churches in India and abroad. We had students from CSI, CNI,
Malabar Independent Church, Thozhiyoor and the church of the East in the
B.D.programme. We had student exchange programmes with Princeton Theological
Seminary, USA, Bishops College Culcutta, Gurukual Lutheran Theological College,
Eastern Theological Seminary, Jorhat and so on. We also had several eminent
scholars from abroad to teach different subjects . Dr.Charles Rayerson
(Princeton) Rev.Dr.Philip L.Wickeri, Dr.Paul Younger Rev.Dr.V.T.Samuel,
Dr.Brian Grant, Dr.George Zachariah (Washington) are some of them. The Seminary
celebrated its platinum Jubilee in 2001. The Senate Board meetings, the
Convocation and other programmes were held at our Seminary in connection with
the Jubilee celebrations. The book 'Ministry and Spirituality'was published on
this joyful occasion.
Theological education in India should be done taking the context
and challenges of our time seriously. Study and research are to be done in such
a way that the findings of the future scholars may be useful to promote wider
ecumenism, harmony and mutual respect among the people of India. Jesus
inaugurated the kingdom of God and it is our responsibility to share the
message of the kingdom with the people of India. We need to stand not only for
the liberation of our people from various kinds of bondages but also for the
liberation from narrow mindedness and selfishness. What the churches in India
need today is a renewed understanding, a spirit of love and a spirit of
reconciliation. It is our hope that our sharing of thought and discussions on
theologies, hermeneutics and spirituality will enhance our understanding and
our perspectives to achieve this goal. The Seminary was further upgraded to
B.D.degree in 1974 with English as the medium of instruction. This was the
fulfillment of the dream and vision of Rev.C.V.John who served as Principal
until 1974.
Rev.Dr.V.P.Thomas, a former professor of Leonard Theological
College Jabalpur and a well known theologian of his day, assumed the role of
Principal since 1974. The B.D.programme also started on July 3, 1974 on
St.Thomas Day.
The formal inauguration of the programme was held on 3rd July
1980 on St.Thomas Day. The FFRRC became a doctoral centre in 1999. Candidate
from different parts of India and from different denominations make use of
these facilities for M.Th and D.Th studies in various subjects such as Old
Testament, New Testament, Christian Theology, Christian Ministry, Religions,
Church History and Liturgical studies. Under the guidance of God and through
the good will of the three churches and institutions, the FFRRC has grown as a
premier post graduate centre under the Senate of Serampore College.
The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary is very ecumenical in its
approach and perspectives. The Seminary is maintaining its ecumenical
relationships with churches in India and abroad. We had students from CSI, CNI,
Malabar Independent Church, Thozhiyoor and the church of the East in the
B.D.programme. We had student exchange programmes with Princeton Theological
Seminary, USA, Bishops College Culcutta, Gurukual Lutheran Theological College,
Eastern Theological Seminary, Jorhat and so on. We also had several eminent
scholars from abroad to teach different subjects . Dr.Charles Rayerson
(Princeton) Rev.Dr.Philip L.Wickeri, Dr.Paul Younger Rev.Dr.V.T.Samuel,
Dr.Brian Grant, Dr.George Zachariah (Washington) are some of them. The Seminary
celebrated its platinum Jubilee in 2001. The Senate Board meetings, the
Convocation and other programmes were held at our Seminary in connection with
the Jubilee celebrations. The book 'Ministry and Spirituality'was published on
this joyful occasion.