Message from the Principal - 2011

Address by The Principal Fr. Dr. Bijesh Philip on the occasion of the Re opening of  the seminary on 2nd July,2011 after the summer vacation.

This is  a unique meeting point.  Students from Delhi, Ahmedabad, Jaipur, Mumbai, Hyderabad, Chennai, Thrissur, Kollam etc. are meeting here.  We are indebted to our Lord who has called us to His ministry through Malankara Orthodox Church for this coming together.  And the seminary is facilitating this wonderful  union from diverse backgrounds.  
Presence of the eight dedicated newly ordained deacons is an added beauty to this union.  I wish that their angelic presence will contribute immensely to turn the seminary community into an ideal community.  I am taking  this opportunity to  congratulate Rev Deacons-  Paul Jacob, Cyril Varghese, Saju Thomas, Anu George, Basil Thomas, Bijoy Skhariah, Anish Issac, and B.M.Thomas and welcome  them  to the seminary.
Our new batch comprises of 19 students and it is for the first time such a big batch joins the seminary.  I wish that they could make use of the seminary for strengthening their calling and enriching their commitment to the Church and society.  I extend a warm welcome to all the first year students.
This year one student from Delhi Diocese who has completed two years’ BD programme at Bishop’s college Calcutta, has also joined our seminary.  He is Br. Joemon from Jaipur.  Another student from Thrissur diocese Br. Liju   who has completed his BD from Kannammula seminary has also come to the seminary   for special studies.  I welcome them as well as all the students who have come back after enjoying the vacation to resume their studies here.
As the mothers who placed their kids to Christ’s hands for blessing, the seminary place you all again to His hands.  After blessing you all, as he gave back the kids to the mothers, Christ gives you all to the seminary to raise you in his light.  
In our sacraments,  the offered objects become transformed to be blessed ones by Divine grace and the ordained ministers are becoming instruments in that process of transformation.  Likewise God must use the seminary especially the faculty to shape you to be dedicated ministers.
In today’s Gospel, we listened to our Lord’s teaching about the need of abiding in Him for bearing much fruit (St. John 15:4-5).  When the ethical foundations are shaken especially by the ‘gospel’ of materialism spread by the globalization, it is essential to affirm our foundation in Christ.  We can abide in Him by meditating the scripture especially the gospels, by being in touch with Him in prayer, by having Holy Qurbana and by being with the marginalized.  
Christ is always challenging the life of the individuals and the world as a whole.  International Ecumenical Peace Conference organized by the WCC in May 2011 in Jamaica communicated to the  world a powerful message of just peace,  much needed peace substantiated by  justice.  Without justice to the earth and the whole creation, without justice to the poor and without justice to the oppressed communities there will not be a lasting peace in this planet. Just war theory was criticized severely and just peace was highly glorified.  All these movements are in the light of Christ and his gospel.  Former Prime Minister of Norway shared how the light of Christ helped him to reject the request of Mr. George Bush, the then President of US, to Norway to join the Iraq war.  Jesus Christ is inspiring us to take  bold initiative to make this world and our communities more just, peaceful and loving.  
This is a unique period when we commemorate the blessed memory of the Apostles; On June 29th that of St. peter and St. Paul and on June 30th all the apostles and on July 3rd that of St. Thomas. They were men who offered their life sacrificially for Christ and His cause.
Your decision to become a minister of  the Church   is a mark of your sacrificial dedication to the Lord. But this is to be deepened by the efforts you take sacrificially to study and discipline yourself in the seminary.
There are many exceptionally beautiful places in our country and other parts of the world which we have not seen.  Those who leave their comforts to enjoy sightseeing are in search of such beauty spots. In our seminary studies we can have similar researches for  beautiful spots and glorious worlds hidden in various books, in the scripture and  liturgy, in various lives in the seminary and outside of it.  
Recently when a beggar passed away in Ajmer, the city of alms giving, police could find out notes for two lakh rupees in the various pockets of his garments.  There are many such books, persons, and liturgical practices which we neglect because of our prejudices.  An earnest search is essential for opening surprisingly the treasure houses of wisdom and spiritual life.   This is a search in constant union with the source of life and holiness.   I wish you all success in this endeavor and long process.
Prayers of bishops like HG Stephanos Mar Theodosius who  unceasingly taught us to equip ourselves to strengthen the new generations of the Diaspora of four Church in the Orthodox Christian Faith and also to reach out to serve the marginalized around us is with us.  And this vision of mission shared by a lot who were and are sensitive   to the needs of the  outer Kerala region is foundational to the existence of this new seminary.  
The fact that there are many who come forward to support the seminary especially in its attempt to fulfill Upasana, the dream project.  H. G. Mathews Mar Theodosisu donating ten thousand dollars to this is just one remarkable example to this.  Likewise last year H.G Dimitrios donated his valuable collection of around thousand books to the seminary.  
On the one side moving of Rev. Fr. Dr. Reji Mathew, Rev. Fr. Dr. Abraham Oommen and Rev. Fr. Ninan K Geoge , the senior faculty members of the seminary  to Kerala was  really a   loss to the seminary.  At the same time it is with gratitude to God that we remember the joining of new faculty members. For example last year Rev. Fr. P. C. Thomas and Rev Fr. Yohannan K and this year Rev. Fr. John Mathew and his wife Mercy John  have joined the faculty.  Presence of a lady teacher in our seminary is an epoch making event in the seminary training of the Malankara Orthodox Church.  Let me welcome this dedicated faculty couple to the seminary with immense joy. Their lovely kids Grace and Geethu are also with us.
We have just heard the Kalpana of the working president of the seminary H.G. Mar Coorilose which once again explains his concern for and commitment to the seminary.  A few of us the faculty members  were able once again  to experience directly  the very encouraging hope of H. G. Mar Osthathios about this seminary  during the summer vacation.  Even at the old age of 93 he is filled with the positive thinking of the Church and society and is constantly radiating this positive energy to all who visit him and read his books.   When the faculty and their families met H.H. Baselius Marthoma Paulos II two weeks ago, he conveyed his blessings and whole hearted support to the seminary.    
St. Basil the Great in a letter to his disciple Chilo  quoting various examples from the scriptures including that of Judas wrote  in fourth century thus:  “Learn then, brother, that it is not he who begins well who is perfect. It is he who ends well who is approved in God’s sight. Give then no sleep to your eyes or slumber to your eye lids…”(NPNF Vol8 Letter XLII p.144)  This exhortation concerning the Christian life is  very relevant regarding our seminary life also.  By keeping the end in mind let us begin and continue.
Wishing you all a blessed and fruitful new academic year and requesting you to make use of this God given golden opportunity to shape yourself  as the effective instruments of the Lord and dedicated priests of the Church, I close this opening address.