Met. Seraphim Turns 51 as Bangalore Diocese Completes a Decade Amid Challenges
Pic- FB
L J- Chief Editor – OCP News Service
BENGALURU-INDIA: “Many more happy returns of the day, Thirumeni Appacha,” is a 15-minute YouTube video made by Deepthi Jiji Mathew, the talented artiste and spiritual daughter of His Grace Dr Met. Abraham Seraphim, Bangalore Diocese Metropolitan, as the youngest Bishop of Indian Orthodox Church turns 51, on December 28.
The YouTube link is available online at https://youtu.be/mYSkguLXNlE
The video while congratulating the Bishop also has voices from V A Mathews and Annie, the Metropolitan’s parents to vicars from Bangalore Diocese who speaks volumes about the simple life of Met. Seraphim as a student to total devotion to the ministry of Christ.
Deepthi, a member of St Stephen’s Orthodox Church, Vijayanagar, has worked tirelessly over the past few months towards putting together the video for this special occasion.
The clergy and faithful people wish our beloved Diocesan Metropolitan, a protege of LL HG Daniel Philexinos, a wonderful 51st birthday.
In a year hit by COVID-19, Met. Seraphim had said in a series of online interviews during lockdown that the pandemic helped revive elements of monasticism in our life.
2020 was also all the more special for the Diocese as it completes a decade of its establishment as well as the 75th year of the commencement of worship in the Bangalore region.
As he steers the diocese in 2021, Met. Seraphim needs the support and prayers to implement this vision for the church. His Grace desires an Orthodox perspective and to adopt a holistic approach, implement leadership training programmes and develop lay ministry for men and women in the church.
We hope and pray that his vision for the church is realised finally.
May God grant Met. Seraphim many more years, and shower His choicest blessings and wisdom to continue to lead our church. May the Lord continue to preserve our Metropolitan as he continues to shepherd the Holy Church.
PROFILE: Born on December 28, 1969, as the son of ‘Puthenveedu’ V A Mathews and Annie, His Grace is a member of St George Valiyapally, Eram, Thumpamon Diocese.
After graduating with a Bachelor’s Degree in Science from Mahatma GandhiUniversity, he joined the Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS), Kottayam, for theological studies. From OTS, he received a Graduate Degree in Sacred Theology (GST) and Bachelor of Divinity (BD) from the Senate of Serampore University, Calcutta.
He also obtained his DTh from Chicago Theological Seminary, US, before which he took his MTh from Dharmaram Theological College, Bangalore.
His Grace took several key positions of the church as General Secretary, Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Movement of India, Member, Managing Committee, Orthodox Church, Member, Governing Board Thadakam Ashram, Coimbatore, Director, Santhinilayam Counselling Centre, Pathanamthitta. He was elected as the Metropolitan candidate on February 17 at the MalankaraAssociation held at Sasthamkotta, Kollam district.
His Grace was consecrated as Metropolitan on May 12, 2010 at Mar Elia Cathedral, Kottayam and presently serves as the Bangalore Diocese as its Metropolitan from the Diocese HQ located at:
Bishops House, # 1 Malankara House, Behind Sharma Farm House, Doddagubi, Bangalore 560 077 Ph: +91-9611353977 Email: marseraphim@gmail.com.
Source:
OCP News Service
