Metropolitan Tikhon, seminary deans guests of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church
At the invitation of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, His Beatitude, Metropolitan Tikhon, will deliver an address during the bicentenary valedictory celebrations of the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, Kerala, India on Thursday, November 26, 2015. [Read related story].
Traveling with Metropolitan Tikhon are Archpriest Dr. Steven Voytovich, Dean of Saint Tikhon’s Seminary, South Canaan, PA, and Archpriest Dr. John Behr, Dean of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary, Yonkers, NY. Accompanying them is His Grace, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Metropolitan Tikhon also will speak at ceremonies that will be held in remembrance of the seminary’s founder, the late Metropolitan Joseph Mar Dionysius.
Through its seminaries, the Orthodox Church in America has developed a strong relationship with the Malankara Church in North America in recent years. Many Malankarese bishops, priests, deacons and lay leaders have studied at Saint Tikhon’s and Saint Vladimir’s seminaries. Metropolitan Zachariah is a member of Saint Vladimir’s Seminary Board of Trustees, while two Malankarese clergy, Priest M. K. Kuriakose and Priest Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, serve on the faculties of Saint Tikhon’s and Saint Vladimir’s seminaries respectively.
Metropolitan Tikhon and Fathers Steven and John also will attend ceremonies marking the opening of the Malankara Church’s Sopana Academy for Studies in Theology and Culture.
The ancient Malankara Church traces its origin to the Apostle Thomas. Headquartered in the southern Indian province of Kerala, it numbers about 1000 parishes in India and another 200 parishes in North America.