The Northeast American Diocese of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church joyfully announces the graduation of Mathew Varughese from St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary. Mr. Varughese was awarded the Master of Divinity (M.Div.) degree during the seminary’s 2025 Commencement Exercises held on May 25, 2025.
Commencement exercised were presided over His Beatitude Metropolitan Tikhon, Primate of the Orthodox Church in America, with the esteemed presence of His Eminence Archbishop Michael, Rector of St. Tikhon's Seminary, and His Grace Bishop Thomas of the Antiochian Orthodox Archdiocese.
Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos participated in the graduation ceremony and awarded the graduate with his degree from the seminary. Also present was Metropolitan Dr. Thomas Mar Ivanios of the Diocese of South-West America, to award the Rev. Dn. Ashich Mohan with his Master of Divinity.
St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary, one of the premier centers for Orthodox theological education in North America, has formed generations of clergy and lay leaders since its founding in 1938.
Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos of the Northeast American Diocese, commented on the recent graduation:
“The future of our Church in North America depends on well-formed, spiritually grounded, and pastorally sensitive leaders who are being formed within the very context they will be serving. Theological education is not merely academic—it is a path of transformation, preparing our seminarians to lead the faithful with humility, wisdom, and love. We are grateful to St. Tikhon's Seminary for nurturing these vocations with great care and dedication.”
Seminarians from our Diocese pursue academic and spiritual training at accredited Orthodox theological institutions, such as St. Tikhon’s Orthodox Theological Seminary and St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary. After their seminary education in the United States, students will spend one academic semester in the Orthodox Theological Seminary in Kottayam, Kerala, India to learn Malayalam, and receive liturgical training in the traditions and services of the Malankara Orthodox worship.
The goal of the Master of Divinity degree program in America, along with the liturgical training program in Kottayam, is to equip students with a deep understanding of Holy Scripture, Orthodox theology, Church history, liturgics, pastoral care, and spiritual discipline. These studies prepare them to faithfully serve the Church in the ordained ministry.
The Northeast American Diocese continues to invest in the education and spiritual development of its seminarians. It encourages young men and women discerning a call to serve the Church to consider theological studies as a sacred vocation.The Diocese offers its sincere gratitude to the Dean, the Very Rev Fr. Dr. John Parker, and the faculty and administration of St. Tikhon’s Seminary for their commitment to forming future leaders of the Church.