->Ryan phillip at 17:54, 12 November 2021

2021-11-12T17:54:13Z

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{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2018}}
{{Use Indian English|date=October 2015}}{{Infobox church
| icon =
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| name = Orthodox Theological Seminary
| fullname =
| other name = Pazhaya Seminary
| native_name = പഴയ സെമിനാരി
| native_name_lang =
| image = Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam 2015 stamp of India.jpg
| image_size = 200px
| caption = A 2015 stamp dedicated to the 200th anniversary of the Orthodox Theological Seminary
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| location = [[Kottayam]], [[Kerala]]
| country = [[India]]
| denomination = [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]
| religious institute = 
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| former name = Kottayam Seminary,
Kottayam College, Syrian Seminary
| bull date =
| founded date = 1815
| founder = Pullikottil Dionysius I ([[Mar Dionysius II|Dionysius II]])
| consecrated date =
| cult =
| relics = Tombs of
[[Mar Dionysius II|Pullikottil Dionysius I]] - 10th [[Malankara Metropolitan]]

[[Pulikkottil Joseph Dionysious II]] - 14th [[Malankara Metropolitan]]

Vattasseril [[Dionysius VI]] - 15th [[Malankara Metropolitan]]

[[Paulose Mar Gregorios]] - Former Principal of the Seminary and Metropolitan of Delhi diocese of Malankara Church
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| bishop = Patron and Custodian of the Seminary is the Malankara Metropolitan , presently Baselios Marthoma Mathews III
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| priestincharge = Fr. Dr. Reji Mathews (Principal)
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| website = http://www.ots.edu.in
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The '''Orthodox Theological Seminary''' also known as '''Old Seminary''' (Pazhaya Seminari) is a [[seminary]] of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]. It was founded in 1815 by Colonel [[John Munro, 9th of Teaninich|John Munro]] with the help of the priest-monk Pulikkottil Joseph Ittoop Ramban (later [[Mar Dionysius II]]) to serve the [[Malankara Church (Puthenkur)|Malankara Syrian Church]] and to invite [[Church Missionary Society|CMS]] missionaries to teach theology. At that time deacons were ordained as priests without an organized theological education. After the arrival of CMS missionaries, theological education was organized for the priests.<ref name=Official>{{cite web|title=Official Website|url=http://www.ots.edu.in/|access-date=4 January 2014}}</ref>

[[John Munro, 9th of Teaninich|John Munro]], the British Resident in the Kingdom of [[Travancore]] offered his unreserved support for the initiative and upon his insistence the Queen of Travancore granted {{convert|16|acre|m2}} of tax-free land, Rs.20,000 and the necessary timber for the construction of the Seminary.<ref>{{cite journal |title=History of Cochin Royal Family |website=cochinroyalhistory.org |url=http://cochinroyalhistory.org/personalities.php?perid=6}}</ref><ref name="Colonel John Munro in Travancore">{{cite journal |last1=Tovey |first1=Phillip |title=Colonel John Munro in Travancore |url=https://www.academia.edu/15029987 |language=en}}</ref> The work started in 1813, and the building was completed and classes began in March 1815.

By Munro's invitation, the [[Church Missionary Society]] (C.M.S) Missionaries arrived in Kerala, to help as teachers in the seminary.<ref name="Colonel John Munro in Travancore"/> For some years the relationship between the missionaries and the Church was one of cordial co-operation. The missionaries taught the Bible and biblical languages in the Seminary. The early principals were [[Benjamin Bailey (missionary)|Benjamin Bailey]] and Henry Baker.

After some time the relationship of the church with the later missionaries became strained as they wanted to introduce Anglican doctrines in the church which eventually led to disputes and litigation. The missionaries separated from the Malankara Church and established the Anglican Church in Kerala.

The seminary was the residence and headquarters of the Malankara Metropolitan, the chief metropolitan of the [[Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church]]. It was also the previous Head Quarters of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. It continued the programme of training ordinands. Eminent Malpans (teachers of theology and liturgy) rendered service to the institution. Some of the distinguished teachers include Abraham malpan, [[Gheevarghese Mar Gregorios of Parumala|Gheevarghese Gregorios of Parumala]], [[Geevarghese Mar Dionysius of Vattasseril|Geevarghese Dionysius of Vattasseril]], Konat Mathan Corepiscopa, Skaria Cheriamadam, Skaria Elavinamannil, Alexander Mattakkal, Augen Mar Timotheos (later [[Baselios Augen I]]), V.K.Mathews (later [[Baselios Mar Thoma Mathews I]]), Philipose Theophilus and Paulos Gregorios.<ref name=Official />

In 1942, the seminary was modernized. 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 Malankara Metropolitan moved his residence from the old seminary to the present site in Devalokam, [[Kottayam]], theological education was once again brought back to the old seminary. In 1964, the seminary became affiliated to the [[Serampore University]] for its B.D. degree course. In 1965, the 150th year of its founding, was celebrated in the presence of ecclesiastical dignitaries and church leaders.

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 Malankara Syrian Church. [[Patriarch Justinian of Romania]], declared open the new building on 7 January 1969, during his visit to the Malankara 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 II of Georgia]] and the Ecumenical [[Patriarch Bartholomew I]].

The M. D. Orthodox Seminary, in an ecumenical collaboration with the C.S.I Seminary (KUT) Trivandrum and the, Marthoma Seminary, Kottayam, runs the Master's and Doctoral programmes under the banner of the Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture.<ref name=Official />

On 21 April 2015 a postage stamp commemorating the 200 years of the Orthodox Theological Seminary was released by the [[President of India]] [[Pranab Mukherjee]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Postage Stamp commemorating 200 years Old Kottayam Seminary released|url=http://news.biharprabha.com/2015/04/postage-stamp-commemorating-200-years-old-kottayam-seminary-released/|access-date=21 April 2015|publisher=news.biharprabha.com|date=21 April 2015}}</ref>

==See also==
*[[St. Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary, Nagpur]]

==References==
{{reflist}}

{{coord missing|West Bengal}}

[[Category:Malankara Orthodox Syrian church buildings]]
[[Category:Seminaries and theological colleges affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University)]]
[[Category:1815 establishments in India]]
[[Category:Educational institutions established in 1815]]

Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam - Revision history

->Ryan phillip at 17:54, 12 November 2021