DOCSLIB.ORG

V.C. Samuel: the Person and His Work

Total Page：16

File Type：pdf, Size：1020Kb

Download full-text PDF Read full-text
V.C. Samuel: the Person and His Work V.C. Samuel: The Person and His Work By Fr. Dr. Ninan K. George CONTENT INTRODUCTION Birth and Childhood Education Higher Studies in Theology Parish Ministry Translation of Prayers Teaching Ministry Manjanikkara Malpan V.C. Samuel and His Family A Pioneering Pillar of Orthodoxy A Prophet of Truth A Pioneer Leader of Ecumenism V.C. Samuel and World Council of Churches V.C. Samuel and Unofficial Consultations between the Theologians of The Oriental and Eastern Orthodox Churches V.C. Samuel and Pro-Oriente V.C. Samuel in Indian Theological World CONCLUSION INTRODUCTION Writing on the historical and towering personalities who have rendered great, miraculous services for the welfare of society definitely needs ceaseless help from God; because one can succeed in his endeavors only because of God and His timely guidance. V. C. Samuel who lived in the 20th century was, truly speaking a man of intense vision on the content and future of his own religious community within which he was born and brought up. According to him, God is the cause of the tangible and intangible world. He strongly believed that everybody has the freedom to know God, provided God is also an object of study like all other studies, not based on reason and analysis but fully standing on faith in God. When anybody writes on V. C. Samuel this facet cannot be ignored. Throughout his life, he experienced God and God-events by becoming an ardent student of Theology, Christology, Ecclesiology and Church History. He never forgot to practice what he learned from his study materials. The following sub-topics speak more-about V. C. Samuel. Birth and Childhood Vilakkuvelil Cherian Samuel, known as V.C. Samuel, was born into a middle-class St. Thomas Christian family, Edayil House at Omalloor, Pathanamthitta, Kerala1, on 6th April 1912 as the fifth child among six sons and three daughters. His Parents were E. I. Cherian 2 and Annamma Cherian who were devout and pious Christians. The motivation of his parents and the spiritual environment of his family really enabled him to reach the heights of religious scholarship and prominence. Sunny Kulathakal one of his good wishers states: "His growth to religious scholarship and prominence was due to his inner compulsions and efforts on one hand and the atmosphere of religious devotion and Christian commitment in the family and the motivation of his Parents."3 The early years of his life were really miserable due to his weak constitution, but he gradually regained his health. He was ambitious to learn things in a scientific and systematic way that eventually helped him develop a mind which explored the depth of things, and it was very visible in his scholastic achievements. He would go to any extent of inquiry to acquire knowledge. When he was a young boy, education facilities were not easily available. Only a few villages had schools. Moreover, people were not very interested in sending children to schools. They were immersed in the peasant tradition. But V.C. Samuel's family background was different: They promoted education and established about fifteen schools. Education The young Samuel received his primary education in a school founded by his father in his own village.4 Despite his ill health, he was brilliant in his studies, which culminated with him completing his high school studies successfully with distinction.5 M.M. Thomas and V.C. Samuel represented two streams that belong to the St. Thomas tradition. They were two renowned theologians of the Indian Church and were classmates at St. Thomas English High School, Kozhencherry in 1930-31.6 On receiving the English School Leaving Certificate in 1931, V.C. Samuel started learning Syriac. This strengthened his interest in pursuing a systematic theological study, which was extremely successful, enabling the Indian church to witness Christological truth endangered by different heretical teaching that was prevalent in the early days of Christendom. He devoted himself to sixteen years of continuous study and research at the university level. He graduated with a Bachelor degree (first rank with gold medal) from the Travancore University and a Masters degree (first class) from Madras University, in Philosophy. After graduating with the Bachelor of Divinity degree from the United Theological College, Bangalore and winning several medals from Serampore University, he proceeded to the United States for further studies.7 Higher Studies in Theology V.C. Samuel had a long cherished desire to pursue higher studies in theology, especially in the Christological disputes of the East and the West he kept on asking the question "why does the church remain divided?" This search continued into his doctoral dissertation where he worked on 'The Council of Chalcedon and the Christology of Severus of Antioch'.8 At the Union Theological Seminary, New York, he extensively studied Severus of Antioch and submitted an excellent paper 'One Incarnate Nature of God the Word' and the thesis, 'The Christology of Severus of Antioch'. In 954, he did his Masters in Sacred Theology from the same Seminary. After three years of thorough research in the Divinity School of Yale University, New Haven, he obtained the Ph.D. for his dissertation titled 'The Council of Chalcedon and the Christology of Severus of Antioch'.9 After his Ph.D. program, he spent three years pursuing Post-Doctoral research in 'Hindu Christian Thought Comparison' of which two years were spent in India and one year at the University of Chicago as a Rockefeller Foundation Fellow.10 Parish Ministry V.C. Samuel was ordained priest in 1937 and his initiative deserves special attention in his parish ministry for he took pains to translate the Syriac liturgy into Malayalam, the vernacular of the people whom he served. A.C. Abraham one of his parishioners commented: By the arrival of Fr. Samuel, Malayalam became dominant in the liturgy wherein Syriac had been followed. Consequently, it was helpful for the people to understand the meaning of prayers, participate in liturgies with keen attention and ardent devotion.11 Administering liturgies in such a manner was a new experience for the people those days.12 It reveals his farsighted vision into the future of his own community. He was devoted to the spiritual nourishment of his community and he was a wonderful revolutionary.13 His association with United Theological College14, Bangalore was a blessing for the Indian Orthodox Diaspora. They were blessed to experience his pastoral love and concern, moreover his deep knowledge of the Orthodox faith. During his sojourn in Bangalore, the group of people who benefited most was none other than the flock of the Indian Orthodox Church.15 He was a great 'builder' of the Church.16 The testimony of M.K. Kuriakose in this regard is as follows: The Orthodox Christian community in Bangalore is, in a special way, indebted to Fr. V.C. Samuel for all that he has been and for all that he has done. Having settled in Bangalore, Fr. Samuel was in close fellowship with the growing community of Orthodox Christians in the city. The community owes him a lot for the pastoral and intellectual guidance he bestowed. In every important conference of the Youth and Student Movements, Retreats, Holy week services, women's League meetings and many other activities of the various parishes in Bangalore, Fr. Samuel has been an efficient leader.17 In his Bangalore ministry, there was an unforgettable contribution rendered by V.C. Samuel - he introduced the celebration of the Holy Eucharist in English for the first time, in addition to the introduction of Baptism and Matrimonial services in English.18 This shows his concern for the people of the Indian Orthodox Diaspora for whom Malayalam was not their first language. K.C. Abraham observed: V.C. Samuel believed that Christian life is sustained by the sacramental presence in the context of a community of worship. He was always conscious that young couples who came seeking the blessings of the Church would not understand the chanting the ancient, archaic phrases. But his brief introduction in English always made an impact on the couple and the whole congregation.19 Translation of Prayers From his childhood, V.C. Samuel was concerned about the significance of adhering to liturgies in Syriac, a foreign language, which was not known to the people.20 He found that it was not beneficial to the spiritual welfare of the people. While serving the church at Chengalam21 as a parish priest, he started translating the Syriac hymns and the liturgies on the Nativity of the Lord, Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday and Good Friday into simple Malayalam which could be understood by the common people, who started using them in their respective liturgies. In those days, the liturgical hymns of the Nativity of the Lord to the Liturgy of Pentecost were sung in Syriac, the original language while the prayers had already been translated into Malayalam.22 Hence, the liturgy became more meaningful and devotional.23 It is one of the revolutionary steps that he took for the bright future of his own Church; leading the people to a better understanding of the theological tenets of the Orthodox Church. It was his concern that liturgy should be ‘user-friendly'. He was not only engaged in translation work but after having translated the hymns, he spent his time teaching them to Sunday school students. If he wanted he could have made money through this work. Before he left for Union Christian College, Alwaye, Kerala for further studies, he handed over translated prayers and hymns to Father Mathews Vattakunnel24 and he said, "I could earn money by publishing these things, but that is not for my aim.
Load more

Recommended publications
  • Karl-Franzens-Universität Graz
    INSTITUTE OF ECUMENICAL THEOLOGY, EASTERN ORTHODOXY, AND PATRISTICS Head of Institute: Univ.-Prof. Dr. Dr. Pablo Argárate 8010 Graz, Heinrichstrasse 78, AUSTRIA Phone: +43-316/380-3181 E-mail: [email protected] CURRICULUM VITAE Education – Bachelor in Sacred Theology. Universidad Católica Argentina, Buenos Aires 1990 STB Thesis: “Maximos Confessor’s Μυσταγωγία in the Context of Early Commentaries on Liturgy” – Licenciate in Philosophy. Universidad Nacional de Córdoba, Argentina 1986 Lic. Thesis: “From Gabriel Biel to Sören Kierkegaard through Martin Luther: Faith and Reason” – Dr. phil. Universidad de Buenos Aires, Buenos Aires, Argentina 1996 Dissertation: “ Ἀεικίνητος Στάσις. The dynamic of being towards unity in the reflection of Maximus the Confessor” Advisor: Prof. María Mercedes Bergadá – Dr. theol. Universität Tübingen, Germany, 2003 Dissertation: “Der Heilige Geist bei Symeon dem Neuen Theologen” Advisor: Prof. Dr. Hermann-Josef Vogt – Dr. phil. cand. Cultures and Languages of the Christian East. Fakultät für Kulturwissenschaften. Universität Tübingen (1997-2001) Dissertation: “The Syriac Liber Graduum and Messalianism” Advisor: Prof. Dr. Stephan Gerö Teaching Experience 2011– Full Professor and Director of the “Institute of Ecumenical Theology, Eastern Orthodoxy, and Pa- tristics”. Faculty of Theology, University of Graz 2019- “Master of Arts in Syriac Theology”, University of Salzburg: “The Great Theologians of the Golden Time (5th-9th c.): Christology and Ecclesiology”. 2009–13 Cross-appointed to the Department and Centre for the Study of Religion. University of Toronto 2007–11 Director of the Eastern Christian Studies Program 2006 Tenure 2003–11 Professor of Patristics & Historical Theology. Faculty of Theology. St. Michael’s College. Univer- sity of Toronto, Canada 2002–03 Assistant Professor of Liturgy.
    [Show full text]
  • 1 Common Formula on Christology Mixed Commission of the Dialogue
    Common formula on Christology Mixed Commission of the Dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church "The Mystery of Redemption and Its Consequences for the Last Ends of the Human Person" FULL TEXT Report In the love of God the Father, by the grace of the Only Begotten Son, and by the gift of the Holy Spirit. On Friday, the 12th of February 1988, the mixed commission of the dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Coptic Orthodox Church met in the Monastery of Saint Bishoy, Wadi El Natrun, in Egypt. His Holiness Pope Shenouda III opened the meeting by prayer. His Excellency Giovanni Moretti, the Apostolic Pro Nuncio in Egypt, and Reverend Father Pierre Duprey, Secretary of the Vatican Secretariate for Promoting Christian Unity, attended this meeting representing His Holiness Pope John Paul II and enabled to sign this agreement. Also bishops delegated by His Beatitude Stephanos II Ghattas, Patriarch of the Coptic Catholic Church, were present and delegated to sign this agreement. We have rejoiced at the historical meeting that happened in the Vatican on May 1973, between His Holiness Pope Paul VI and His Holiness Pope Shenouda III. This was the first meeting since about 15 centuries between our two Churches. In that meeting we found ourselves in agreement on many issues of faith. In that meeting also a mixed commission was formed to discuss the issues of difference of doctrine and faith between the two Churches aiming at church unity. Previously in Vienna, September 1971, Pro Oriente arranged a meeting between theologians of the Catholic Church and those of the Oriental Orthodox Churches: the Coptic, the Syrian, the Armenian, the Ethiopian, and the Indian.
    [Show full text]
  • Dietmar Winkler Growing Consensus the Dialogue
    84 Dietmar Winkler Growing Consensus The dialogue between the Catholic Church and the Oriental Orthodox Churches In January 2004 in Cairo, for the frst time in history, the whole family of Oriental Orthodox Churches began to meet par cum pari with the Roman Catholic Church on an ofcial level for theological dialogue; before that the Catholic Church was only in ofcial dialogue with Oriental Orthodox Churches on a bilateral basis.1 However, these Churches have been meet- ing unofcially since 1971 on the initiative of the Foundation Pro Oriente (Vienna, Austria), where a considerable amount of theological work has been done and a lot of ecumenical material have been made available. In the present paper, it is not possible to refect on all these endeavors in an extensive way, but we might give an overview and focus on some theological aspects, since these themes have been discussed con variazio- ni in all the other dialogues, too. We shall frst introduce the Pro Oriente dialogue and focus on its Christological deliberations and disputed ec- clesiological topics. Second, we will have a glimpse to the ofcial Oriental Orthodox/Catholic bilateral dialogues and declarations before 2004, and fnally give insight to the present ofcial dialogue. I. The unofcial dialogue sponsored by Pro Oriente Two weeks before the third session of the Second Vatican Council (1962- 1965) came to an end with the passage of the Decree on Ecumenism (Uni- tatis Redintegratio), the then Archbishop of Vienna, Cardinal Franz König (1905-2004), on the advice of some Austrian intellectuals, decided to found Pro Oriente.
    [Show full text]
  • The Holy See
    The Holy See ADDRESS OF HIS HOLINESS JOHN PAUL II TO MEMBERS OF THE "PRO ORIENTE" FOUNDATION 29 March 1979 Lord Cardinal, Your Excellency, Ladies and Gentlemen, It is one of the unfathomable divine dispositions that you are only now able to pay to his successor the visit which, as delegation of the Board of Directors of the ecumenical Foundation "Pro- Oriente", together with your venerated founder and president, you already wished to pay to Pope John Paul I last year. I, therefore—representing at the same time also my unforgettable predecessor—receive you with all the greater joy and bid you a very hearty welcome, For fifteen years, "Pro Oriente"—completely in accordance with the name of the Foundation has—been concerned with dialogue with the Orthodox Churches, and in the last few years particularly with dialogue with the Old Eastern Churches. As I emphasized just recently in my first Encyclical, true ecumenical work means "openness, drawing closer, availability for dialogue, and a shared investigation of the truth in the full evangelical and Christian sense" (Redemptor Hominis, 6). Your many meetings, conversations, study sessions and publications have served this aim in a fruitful way. Through them, on the plane of personal contacts and specialized scientific research, you have contributed to better reciprocal acquaintance, to a deeper understanding of the different historical developments and traditions of the individual Churches of the East and of the West, and to a more conscious recognition of the rich common heritage which already exists. Looking back today, you can already point with joy and satisfaction to precious concrete results.
    [Show full text]
  • Born April 15, 1963 in Wolfsberg/Carinthia (Austria). 1969
    DIETMAR WERNER WINKLER Paris-Lodron University of Salzburg Center for the study of the Christian East Department Biblical Studies and Ecclesiastical History Universitätsplatz 1; A-5020 Salzburg, Austria-Europe Born April 15, 1963 in Wolfsberg/Carinthia (Austria). 1969 – 1973: Primary school. 1973 – 1981: Benedictine High School Academy of St. Paul's Abbey/Carinthia (Austria). RESEARCH FIELDS Past and present, theology, political contexts and culture of Syriac, Coptic, Armenian, Ethiopian and Indian Christianity; History and cultural exchange of Christianity along the Silk Roads (Persia, Central Asia, China); current ecumenical theological dialogues with Oriental Christianity; ACADEMIC BACKGROUND AND DEGREES December 2000 Habilitation (Dr. habil.) (University of Graz) for Patrology, History of Dogma and Ecumenical Theology. September 1998: Certificate in Syriac (Mahatma Ghandi University Kottayam/India). June 1995: Doctor Theologiae (Dr. theol., summa cum laude, University of Innsbruck). January 1991: Magister Theologiae (Mag. theol., summa cum laude, University of Graz). 1989 – 1990: Certificate in Ecumenical Studies (University of Geneva, Switzerland), Graduate School of Ecumenical Studies at the Ecumenical Institute of the World Council of Churches in Bossey. June 1989: Magister Philosophiae (Mag. phil., University of Graz/Austria). 1982-1989: Studies in Theology, Philology, Ancient History and Religious Pedagogics in Graz (Austria), Geneva (Switzerland) and Innsbruck (Austria) ACADEMIC POSITIONS Head of Department of Biblical Studies
    [Show full text]
  • PRO ORIENTE Summer Course 2018 Information
    PRO ORIENTE Wien | Salzburg | Graz | Linz Hofburg, Marschallstiege II 1010 Wien, Österreich +43 1 5338021 1 [email protected] www. pro-oriente.at Summer Course 2018 The World Council of Churches (WCC) Commemorating 70 Years of Ecumenism Vienna, July 9-12, 2018 After the Second World War, the World Council of Churches (WCC) was founded in 1948 as part of a grand peace project after the wartime atrocities. Leading persons from the ecumenical moment such as Willem Visser’t Hooft and John R. Mott intended a fellowship of churches which confesses the Lord Jesus Christ as God and Saviour according to the Scriptures. Today the churches in the WCC pursue the vision of ecumenism as they seek visible unity in one faith and one Eucharistic fellowship. The WCC promotes common witness in work for mission and evangelism, and engages in Christian service by meeting human need, breaking down barriers between people, seeking justice and peace, and upholding the integrity of creation. In the beginning most of the member churches were from Europe, including the Ecumenical Patriarchate and some Eastern churches. During the 1960s, the influx of the Orthodox Churches from then communist Eastern Europe and the churches from southern Africa brought new perspectives. It is a challenge that the Catholic Church is not a member of the WCC. However, it is a full member of the Faith & Order Commission and has representatives participating in many working groups and national ecumenical institutions. The PRO ORIENTE Summer Course focuses on: − The history of and changes in the ecumenical movement − The Joint Working Group between the Catholic Church and the WCC − New churches – new members − Local and national ecumenical work − The document ‘The Church: Towards a Common Vision’, published by the Faith & Order Commission in 2013 DVR-Nr.: 0029874(004) Speakers: − Rev.
    [Show full text]
  • Projektarbeit Im Rahmen Des Universitätslehrganges Library and Information Studies Grundlehrgang 2017/2018 an Der Universität Wien
    Projektarbeit im Rahmen des Universitätslehrganges Library and Information Studies Grundlehrgang 2017/2018 an der Universität Wien Bibliographische Datensätze der Bestände der Oberin-Gleixner-Bibliothek: Bestände zur Thematik Ökumene Bestände mit Widmungen, Notizen und Beilagen Eingereicht von: Daniela Böhm BA, Mag. Ursula Havlicek Betreut von: Mag. Dr. Alfred Friedl Fachbereichsbibliothek Theologie der Universitätsbibliothek Wien Datum: Wien, im August 2018 Erläuterungen zum Dokument Das vorliegende Dokument ist ein Ergebnis des im Rahmen des Universitätslehrganges Library and Information Studies durchgeführten Projektes zur „Oberin-Gleixner-Bibliothek“. Geschichte der Oberin-Gleixner-Bibliothek Christine Gleixner, 1926 in Wien geboren, kehrt nach ihrer Ordensausbildung und langjähriger Tätigkeit im Bereich der Ökumene in Holland, 1962 nach Wien zurück und übernimmt hier die Leitung des Ordens „Frauen von Bethanien“. Die kleine Gemeinschaft lebt und arbeitet in einer geräumigen Altbauwohnung in der Wipplingerstraße im ersten Wiener Gemeindebezirk. Die Arbeits- und Studienbibliothek, die auch StudentInnen und Interessierten zur Verfügung steht, wird bis 1996 von der Mitschwester Helene Czejka betreut, die einen Zettelkatalog (Nominal- und Schlagwortkatalog) führt. Nach dem Tod von Oberin Christine Gleixner (2015) wird die Niederlassung des Ordens in Wien und somit auch die Bibliothek aufgelöst. Die Bibliotheksbestände (ca. 110 Laufmeter) wurden 2016 von ihrer Kollegin Dr. Sigrid Mühlberger der Fachbereichsbibliothek Theologie der Universität Wien zur Verfügung gestellt. Das Projekt Ein Ziel des Projektes war, die „Oberin-Gleixner-Bibliothek“ soweit zu sichten und zu erschließen, dass eine nachfolgende Entscheidung über die Aufnahme von Titeln in den Bestand der Fachbereichsbibliothek Theologie ermöglicht wird. Von besonderem Interesse für die Fachbereichsbibliothek waren inhaltlich der Thematik Ökumene zuzuordnende Titel, sowie Bände, die persönliche Vermerke von Christine Gleixner oder anderen Personen enthalten (Widmungen, Notizen, Beilagen).
    [Show full text]
  • A Short Biography of Rev. Dr. V.C. Samuel
    A Short Biography of Rev. Dr. V.C. Samuel By Sunny Kulathakkal CONTENT Family and Religious Background Education Teaching Work Association with the Ecumenical Movement Publications Some Personal Data Family and Religious Background Rev. Dr. V. C. Samuel was born into a middle-class St. Thomas Syrian Christian family, Edayil at, Omalloor, Pathanamthitta in Central Travancore, which now forms part of the State of Kerala, India. He was born on 6th April 1912 as the fifth of six sons and three daughters of Late E.I. Cherian and late Annamma Cherian, both of them were persons of sterling character and deep Christian dedication. Samuel did, not start his life at a high level. During the early years of his life, he was sickly, but gradually he regained his health. His growth to religious scholarship and prominence was due to his inner compulsions and efforts on one hand and the atmosphere of religious devotion and Christian commitment in the family and the motivation of his parents. Late E. l. Cherian was by profession a school teacher and a recognized leader in the community. Conversant as he was with both the Sanskrit and Tamil languages, besides Malayalam, he had a collection of books in those languages which he used to read regularly as much as his Bible and other Christian writings. While he was a young man, Cherian came to appreciate the interest which the government of Travancore was expressing for the spread of education in the country. That was a time - towards the end of 19th and the early part of the 20th century – when children in around his native village had very little facilities for schooling.
    [Show full text]
  • The Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches in Austria: Inter-Church Relations and State Recognition
    The Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches in Austria: Inter-Church Relations and State Recognition Andreas Schmoller Mashriq & Mahjar: Journal of Middle East and North African Migration Studies, Volume 8, Number 1, 2020, pp. 76-102 (Article) Published by Moise A. Khayrallah Center for Lebanese Diaspora Studies For additional information about this article https://muse.jhu.edu/article/785284 [ Access provided at 24 Sep 2021 13:46 GMT with no institutional affiliation ] Mashriq & Mahjar 8, no. 1 (2021) ISSN 2169-4435 Andreas Schmoller1 THE SYRIAC ORTHODOX AND COPTIC ORTHODOX CHURCHES IN AUSTRIA: INTER-CHURCH RELATIONS AND STATE RECOGNITION Abstract This article explores the inter-church and church-state relations of the Syriac Orthodox and Coptic Orthodox Churches in Austria. The strong historic role of the Catholic Church in Austria's political landscape provides the central framework to understand the “story of success” regarding relations with both the Catholic Church and state authorities in Austria. Summarizing the history of migration and establishment of diaspora churches in Austria, the article explores the impact of the support of the Catholic Church in the process of institutionalization. In addition, state recognition and examples of church- state interaction are highlighted. The findings support the conclusion that minority churches from the Oriental Orthodox tradition have benefitted strongly from their relations with the majority church and the state. However, their authority in both religious and political contexts also affects personal leadership and internal affiliations which can lead to divisions within the church communities. INTRODUCTION Patriarch Mor Ignatius Aphrem II Mor Karim on his first visit to Austria from 4–8 December 2014 declared: “Austria has embraced us.”2 This potentially included both church and state actors.
    [Show full text]
  • Severus of Antioch and His Search for the Unity of the Church
    Invitation for the Opening Session and the Conference: Severus of Antioch and his Search for the Unity of the Church: 1500 Years Commemoration of his Exile in 518 AD Opening Session February 7th 2018, 3 pm Bibliotheksaula, Hofstallgasse 2-4 Conference February 8th– 9th, 2018 Theological Faculty Salzburg, HS 101 (Icon: Abdo Badwi, OLM) Patriarch Severus of Antioch (512-38) is one of the most prominent theologians of the Syriac Golden Age, who worked tirelessly for the reunion of the imperial Church after the Council of Chalcedon (451). After six years as Patriarch in Antioch he fled from Emperor Justin I (518-27) to Egypt. With the 1500th anniversary of Severus’ expulsion into exile in 518, the aim of the conference is to draw attention to the significant role Severus played in Syriac Christianity, to study his theological and historical texts, to point out some of the aspects of his indefatigable work for the reunification of the Church and to reflect on the impact of his expulsion from Antioch on the history of Syriac Christianity. His Holiness Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Syriac Orthodox Patriarch of Antioch, will give the inaugural address. Suryoye Theological FB Bibelwissenschaft Seminary und Kirchengeschcihte Salzburg Sektion Salzburg Opening Session: Wednesday 7th February, 15:00 (Bibliotheksaula) Luigi Boccherini (1743-1805) Minuet from The String Quintet in E major, Op. 13, No. 5 Welcome Aho Shemunkasho |Professor Syriac Theology Greeting Addresses Alois Halbmayr | Dean of the Theological Faculty Dietmar W. Winkler | President of Pro
    [Show full text]
  • The 'Nestorian' Church: a Lamentable Misnomer
    THE 'NESTORIAN' CHURCH: A LAMENTABLE MISNOMER S.P. BROCK THE ORIENTAL INSTITUTE, UNIVERSITY OF OXFORD According to a very widespread understanding of church history the christological controversies of the fifth century were brought to a happy conclusion with the Definition of Faith issued at the Council of Chalcedon in 451. This definition was accepted as normative by both Greek East and Latin West (and hence, subsequently, by the various Reformed churches of the West). Only a few obstinate Orientals (so this conventional picture would have it) refused to accept the Council's Definition of Faith, whether it be out of ignorance, stupidity, stubbornness, or even separatist nationalist aspirations: these people were, on the one side of the theological spectrum, the Nestorians, and at the other end, the Monophysites - heretics both, the former rejecting the Council of Ephesus (431) and believing in two persons in the incarnate Christ, the latter rejecting the Council of Chalcedon and holding that Christ's human nature was swallowed up by the divine nature. It need hardly be said that such a picture is an utterly pernicious caricature, whose roots lie in a hostile historiographical tradition which has dominated virtually all textbooks'of church history from antiquity down to the present day, with the result that the term 'Nestorian Church' has become the standard designation for the ancient oriental church which in the past called itself 'The Church of the East', but which today prefers a fuller title 'The Assyrian Church of the East'. Such a designation is not only discourteous to the modern members of this venerable church, but also - as this paper aims to show - both inappropriate and misleading.
    [Show full text]
  • Thinking About Christian Life in the Turmoil Times of the Middle East
    „Studies in the Middle East“ is a one-year programme at the Near East School of Theology in Beirut (NEST). In honour of its 20th anniversary, academics and Martin Tamcke, teachers from the NEST and from Germany met at Georg-August University Claudia Rammelt (Eds.) in Göttingen and in the nearby Coptic Orthodox Monastery in Höxter-Brenk- hausen to discuss the current situation in the Middle East and possible ways to initiate a spiritual new beginning in this crisis and war-ridden region. The Thinking about Christian Life in the present volume offers various contributions that were made on the subject. Turmoil Times of the Middle East Insights and Reflections from East and West Thinking about Christian Life in the Turmoil Times of Middle East Thinking Tamcke/Rammelt (Eds.) ISBN: 978-3-86395-443-7 Universitätsdrucke Göttingen Universitätsdrucke Göttingen Martin Tamcke, Claudia Rammelt (Eds.) Thinking about Christian Life in the Turmoil Times of the Middle East Dieses Werk ist lizenziert unter einer Creative Commons Namensnennung - Weitergabe unter gleichen Bedingungen 4.0 International Lizenz. erschienen in der Reihe der Universitätsdrucke im Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2020 Martin Tamcke Claudia Rammelt (Eds.) Thinking about Christian Life in the Turmoil Times of the Middle East Insights and Reflections from East and West 6th International Consultation of “Study in the Middle East” (SiMO) and Near East School of Theology (NEST) Göttingen, April 24 – 27, 2019 Selected contributions Universitätsverlag Göttingen 2020 Bibliographische Information der Deutschen Nationalbibliothek Die Deutsche Nationalbibliothek verzeichnet diese Publikation in der Deutschen Nationalbibliographie; detaillierte bibliographische Daten sind im Internet über <http://dnb.dnb.de> abrufbar.
    [Show full text]