On Friday, September 23, 2022, at a special academic convocation, His Holiness Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, Catholicos of the East & Malankara Metropolitan, was awarded an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree.
His Holiness was received by the Very Reverend Chad Hatfield, President of the Seminary, along with the faculty, and students on this historic first since his enthronement. The Catholicos & Malankara Metropolitan of the ancient Oriental Orthodox Church offered prayers in Three Hierarchs Chapel, and then processed to the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building for the academic convocation. Clergy and faithful from all across the Northeast American Diocese were present to witness this joyous and historic event for our Church, including Metropolitan Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios of the Delhi Diocese.
On behalf of the seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos awarded His Holiness, Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. His Holiness Catholicos Mathews III, who is on his first Apostolic Visit to the Northeast American Diocese, also offered a powerful address to the seminary community. His Holiness spoke on the virtues of love and forgiveness which will help communicate the Truth of the Gospel to the broken world. His Holiness reminded the seminary community of our calling to "grow in perfection in unconditional love, in mutual forgiveness. It is this experience man is seeking, which is in the life of the Church. "
His Holiness cited St. Vladimir's Seminary vision for unity between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches through their word and deed with Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as a member of the Board of Trustees, the presence of Saint Thomas Malankara Chapel, and having Rev. Fr. Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, as the Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies.
His Holiness was received by the Very Reverend Chad Hatfield, President of the Seminary, along with the faculty, and students on this historic first since his enthronement. The Catholicos & Malankara Metropolitan of the ancient Oriental Orthodox Church offered prayers in Three Hierarchs Chapel, and then processed to the Metropolitan Philip Auditorium of the John G. Rangos Family Building for the academic convocation. Clergy and faithful from all across the Northeast American Diocese were present to witness this joyous and historic event for our Church, including Metropolitan Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrios of the Delhi Diocese.
On behalf of the seminary's Board of Trustees and faculty, Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos awarded His Holiness, Moran Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathews III, the degree of Doctor of Divinity, honoris causa. His Holiness Catholicos Mathews III, who is on his first Apostolic Visit to the Northeast American Diocese, also offered a powerful address to the seminary community. His Holiness spoke on the virtues of love and forgiveness which will help communicate the Truth of the Gospel to the broken world. His Holiness reminded the seminary community of our calling to "grow in perfection in unconditional love, in mutual forgiveness. It is this experience man is seeking, which is in the life of the Church. "
His Holiness cited St. Vladimir's Seminary vision for unity between the Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches through their word and deed with Metropolitan Zachariah Mar Nicholovos as a member of the Board of Trustees, the presence of Saint Thomas Malankara Chapel, and having Rev. Fr. Dr. Varghese M. Daniel, as the Assistant Professor of Malankara Studies.
St. Vladimir's Orthodox Theological Seminary has educated numerous clergy and lay leaders of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, especially the Northeast American Diocese. Currently, there are eleven students from the Malankara Church enrolled in different theological degree programs at St. Vladimir's Seminary.
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