Fr Varghese Lal Lectures on ‘Religious Harmony in India’ at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki 

OCP News Service – May 2014

Thessaloniki: Fr Varghese Lal (Media Manager and Director of the Information Serves of the Indian Malankara Orthodox Church) lectured at the Aristotle University of Thessaloniki during the month of May 2014. He was invited by Prof Nikos Magioros and Prof Hans Hausreitherat to give the lecture to student specializing in irreligious dialogue.

Fr Lal made his presentation on the topic ‘Religious Harmony in India’ where he spoke on the coexistence of several thousand caste and religious beliefs. He focused on the special nature of the Indian Subcontinent and the relevance of religion and the importance of dialogue between religion and political entities.

He also stressed on the Christianity and Orthodoxy in India, particularity the struggle of Orthodox Christianity by the hands of Western Imperial and religious powers. He introduced the Oath of Leaning Cross which is considered to be the first ever freedom struggle in India by Orthodox Christian community against the imperial domination  of Portuguese authorities and the Roman Catholic Church.

Fr Lal is one of the youngest Priests of the Indian Orthodox Church who holds a  major in Cinema  and Televisions  and  has secured state level rank for his studies and is presently perusing Masters by research programme in Media at the Mahatma Gandhi University in Kerala.  He is planning to direct is first secular movie and will be the first ever Orthodox priest in India to achieve the landmark. The preliminary works of the movie are underway and he hopes to begin shooting  at the earliest.

Source:
OCP News Service