https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?action=history&feed=atom&title=S._Christopher_VijayanS. Christopher Vijayan - Revision history2026-10-26T06:48:14ZRevision history for this page on the wikiMediaWiki 1.43.6https://en.bharatpedia.org/w/index.php?title=S._Christopher_Vijayan&diff=531203&oldid=prevLatonyaOconnor: adding stub2026-05-04T13:18:17Z<p>adding stub</p>
<p><b>New page</b></p><div>{{Short description|Church of South India bishop (born 1968)}}<br />
{{Use dmy dates|date=December 2025}}<br />
{{Use Indian English|date=December 2025}}<br />
{{Infobox Christian leader<br />
| type = Bishop<br />
| honorific_prefix = The Right Reverend<br />
| name = S. Christopher Vijayan<br />
| title = Bishop of Kanyakumari<br />
| church = [[Church of South India]]<br />
| diocese = [[Diocese of Kanyakumari of the Church of South India|Kanyakumari]]<br />
| term = 2025–present<br />
| predecessor = [[AR Chelliah]]<br />
| ordination = 29 August 1999<br />
| consecration = 7 December 2025<br />
| consecrated_by = [[K. Reuben Mark]]<br />
| birth_date = {{birth date and age|1968|7|25}}<br />
| birth_place = [[Maruthancode]], [[Kanyakumari district]]<br />
| previous_post = District Minister, CSI Church, Neyyoor<br />
}}<br />
<br />
'''Selvamony Christopher Vijayan''' (born 25 July 1968) is an Indian Protestant bishop. He has served as the seventh [[Diocese of Kanyakumari of the Church of South India|Bishop of Kanyakumari]] in the [[Church of South India]] since 7 December 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.anglicancommunion.org/structures/member-churches/member-church/diocese.aspx?church=south-india&dio=kanyakumari |title=Diocese of Kanyakumari |publisher=[[Anglican Communion]] |access-date=5 December 2025}}</ref><br />
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==Early life and education==<br />
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Vijayan was born on 25 July 1968 to G. Selvamony and V. Esther in [[Maruthancode]], [[Kanyakumari district]], [[Tamil Nadu]]. He was raised in the Christian faith.<br />
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He completed a [[Bachelor of Arts]] at [[Madurai Kamaraj University]], a Bachelor of Theology (B.Th) at [[Gurukul Lutheran Theological College]], Chennai, and a Bachelor of Divinity (B.D.) and Master of Theology (M.Th) at [[Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary]], Madurai. He subsequently completed a Doctor of Ministry (D.Min) at [[Senate of Serampore College (University)|Serampore University]], with a thesis on revamping the health and educational activities of the Christu Kula Ashram, Thirupatur, under the supervision of M. Peter Singh of Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary.<br />
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He is married to Seline Netto.<br />
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==Career==<br />
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Vijayan was ordained as a presbyter on 29 August 1999. He served at St. Peter's Church before completing a training and exposure programme organised by [[USPG]], London. He was subsequently placed as presbyter at Liberty CSI Church, Kadamalaikuntu.<br />
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During his early ministry he published a short biography of Bishop [[V. S. Azariah]] in Tamil. In 2003, he pursued an M.Th in the History of Christianity at [[Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary]], Madurai. Following this, he was appointed Director of Communications in the Kanyakumari Diocese, contributing to diocesan publications.<br />
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He later served as presbyter at the CSI Church in Muhilankuzhi and as Correspondent of the CSI VV Teacher Training Institute. He was then appointed Director of Mission and Evangelism at the CSI Synod.<ref>{{Cite web |title=South India's missionaries gather for training |url=https://www.anglicannews.org/news/2015/09/south-indias-missionaries-gather-for-training.aspx |access-date=3 May 2026 |website=Anglican News |language=en-gb}}</ref><br />
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He subsequently served as General Secretary of the [[National Missionary Society of India]] (NMSI), providing leadership in national-level mission programmes.<ref>{{Cite web |title=CSI Mission Directors and Board Members Meet 2018 |url=https://www.csisynod.com/news_view.php?Id=5813 |publisher=CSI Synod |access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=National Missionary Society of India: An Introduction |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KnxoRtivc4M |publisher=YouTube |date=22 September 2018 |access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Fact Check: No, Christian missionary has NOT occupied Hindu temple in Tamil Nadu |url=https://newsmeter.in/claim-that-christian-missionaries-occupying-temples-is-false |publisher=NewsMeter |access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref> He later served as District Minister at CSI Church, Neyyoor.<br />
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He was consecrated as Bishop of Kanyakumari on 7 December 2025 by the Most Reverend [[K. Reuben Mark]], Moderator of the Church of South India, succeeding [[AR Chelliah]], whose term ended on 7 July 2025.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.csisynod.com/deptnews_view.php?Id=6009&cat=C |title=CSI Synod: Bishop of Kanyakumari |access-date=5 December 2025 |archive-date=25 May 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210525094805/https://www.csisynod.com/deptnews_view.php?Id=6009&cat=C |url-status=dead}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=CSI General Synod Likely to Be Held in Bengaluru in Mid January |url=https://anglican.ink/2025/12/01/csi-general-synod-likely-to-be-held-in-bengaluru-in-mid-january/ |publisher=Anglican Ink |date=1 December 2025 |access-date=3 May 2026}}</ref><br />
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==References==<br />
{{Reflist}}<br />
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==External links==<br />
* [https://csikkd.org/ CSI Kanyakumari Diocese official website]<br />
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{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Christianity |portal3=India}}<br />
{{Dioceses in the Church of South India}}<br />
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Vijayan, S. Christopher}}<br />
[[Category:1968 births]]<br />
[[Category:Living people]]<br />
[[Category:21st-century Anglican bishops in India]]<br />
[[Category:Anglican bishops of Kanyakumari]]<br />
[[Category:Indian Christian clergy]]<br />
[[Category:Indian theologians]]<br />
[[Category:Madurai Kamaraj University alumni]]<br />
[[Category:People from Kanyakumari district]]<br />
[[Category:Tamil Nadu Theological Seminary alumni]]</div>LatonyaOconnor