A Visit to the Icon Writing School of the Indian Orthodox Church

It was a great joy for the Orthodoxy Beyond Limits Forum to visit the Iconography institution of the Indian Orthodox Church on 29/5/2010. The delegation of Subin Varghese (Vice-Chairman & Secretary) and George Alexander (Spokesperson) visited Mar Baselius School of Icon Writing & Liturgy. This School is a part of the Mar Baselius Catholicos Academy of Research (BACA) owned by the Kandanad East Diocese (Ernakulam District of Kerala State – South India) of the Malankara Orthodox Church, which is under the auspicious leadership of His Grace Dr Thomas Mar Athnasius Metropolitan. This is the first and only Iconography School in the entire Indian Orthodox Church. The school started functioning in the year 2009 September. The Diocesan Bishop His Grace Dr Thomas Mar Athnasius Metropolitan wholeheartedly support the project. An amount has been allocated by the diocesan council for the development of the School.

OBL Forum delegation reached the Diocesan Centre by 11.3o am. Monk priest Fr Geevrghese Kouchuparambil (Ramban) welcomed the delegation with at most joy. George Alexander introduced the works and mission of OBL Forum which lead to a detailed discussion of a number of topics relating to Orthodoxy and Church Management. Fr Geevarghese hold an LLB (Law) form Symbiosis Law College, Pune and he is presently getting ready for an advanced study in Christian Theology at United Kingdom.The delegation presented Fr Geevarghese with the Kazan icon of Mother of God.

Later the delegation was introduced to Fr Boby Varghese, instructor of the Icon School and to Matushka Santhi, wife of Fr Benoy John who is also a student at the Icon School. In the local Malayalam language a Priest’s wife is addressed as ‘ Kochamma’ , especially in Central Travancore area, where as here they are addressed by the term ‘ Ammayi’. ‘Baskyammo’ is the Syrian term used for Priest wife. The delegation were lead to the icon School which functions on the first floor of the Bishop’s House. The Mission and works of OBL Forum was introduced. Fr. Boby spoke on the Iconography School, its aim and objectives. Father told that the institute aims at generating an awareness on the need and importance of Icons among the members of the Malankara Orthodox Church. The School aims at developing an Indian system of iconography as well as promoting icons in the entire Malankara Church.

Father Bobby presented us with a copy of the icon of St Peter and St Thomas, which conveys the meaning that all Apostles are equal and they share love and brotherhood. On Behalf of OBL Forum, Subin Varghese presented the Icon Writing School with a copy of the book ‘Holy Icons’ written by Bishop Nathaniel Pop of the Romanian Episcopate of the Orthodox Church in America. Also with two booklets on icon produced by the Concilliar Press and an article written on icons by Fr Thomas John (OBLForum Associate).

Everyone paused for a snap and lunch continued. The delegation thanked for the warm hospitality provided at the Diocesan Centre. Fr Bobby replied  that it is a great honour them, since it is the first ever visit made by an Orthodox organisation to the Iconagraphy School.

The delegation left to Kotamangalam to meet Monk Priest Fr Thomas Paul (Ramaban). On the way the delegation got down at Marthoma Small Church, which is one of the ancient Syrian Orthodox Churches in India (Under the Patriarchal See of Antioch and all East). The Tomb of St Eldo mar Baselius is kept inside the altar. It was great blessing for the OBL Forum delegation to visit and pray at the Church.

The delegation met Fr Thomas Paul at his residence, who is one of the youngest Monk Priest in the Indian Church.  Fr Thomas Paul is a heavily educated educated person, who holds two Masters Degree along with an Mphil. Discussions were made on several topics of mutual interest, especially on the up coming Centenary celebrations of the Catholicate. Fr Thomas Paul explained his experiences in Ethiopia were he has worked as the Faculty at Holy trinity Theological College, Addis Ababa as well as the secretariat of the Ethiopian Patriarchate. The discussion continued for three hours. A lot of interest was taken in discussing on the condition of the His Holiness Abune Antonios, the canonical Patriarch of Eritrea who has been detained since 2007. It was decided to file a petition on behalf of the OBL Forum to the Holy Episcopal Synod of the Indian Church describing the need to protest against the detention of the Patriarch.

We were really happy to hear about the recent conversion of fifty Syro Malabar (An Eastern Catholic Rite In India) families to the Indian Orthodox Church. This group of Eastern Rite Catholics were excommunicated by the Syro Malabar Rite. The Indian Orthodox Church accommodated them by constructing a Parish at Josegiri, Idukki District. The Parish is St Thomas Orthodox Church under the Angamali Diocese of the  Indian Church. As a token of love Subin Varghese presented Fr Thomas Paul with the Kazan icon of the Mother of God. Fr. Thomas Paul wished all support for the works of OBL Forum and it was also decided to establish further cooperation in the areas of mutual interest.

The Kandand East Diocese is well equipped with a number of talented Priest. The diocese under the blessed leadership of His Grace Thomas Mar Athanasius Metropolitan run a large number of people oriented projects and programmes. At present the Diocese have 19 establishments and projects which include schools, research centre, retreat centre, old age home, hospital and so on.

More in pictures:

Contact Details:

Fr Boby Varghese
Mar Baselius School of Icon Writing & Liturgy
Bishop’s House, Cathedral Road, Muvattupuzha,
Ernakulam District, Kerala, India- 686 661
Mob: 09961146492
Email: frboby_varghese@yahoo.co.in

George Alexander
Spokesperson
OBL Forum

Tagged as: Iconography School, OBL, Orthodox Church, Thomas Paul