Old Seminary, Kottayam

April 21, 2015

A commemorative postage stamp on the 200 years of the Orthodox Pazhaya Seminari (M.D. Seminary), a seminary of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church in Kottayam, Kerala :

Issued by India

Issued on Apr 21, 2015

Issued for : Department of Posts is happy to issue a commemorative postage stamp on the occasion of the Bicentenary celebrations of Old Seminary, Kottayam.

Credits :
Stamp/FDC/Cancellation : Alka Sharma

Type : Stamp, Mint Condition

Colour : Multi Colour

Denomination : 500 Paise

Stamps Printed : 0.6 Million (0.1 million for the proponent)

Printing Process : Wet Offset

Printer : Security Printing Press, Hyderabad

About :

The foundation of Orthodox Theological Seminary (OTS), known as Old Seminary or Cottayam Syrian College, was laid in February, 1813. The Seminary is run by the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church, the St. Thomas Christians, commonly known as ‘Malankara Nazranis’. This is a heritage monument recognized by the Government for its importance as a two hundred year old quadrangular edifice where English education was started for the first time in the state of Kerala. The institution, which once served as a co-ordinating centre of public education under the Christian missionaries continues to serve as the earliest non-Roman Catholic Seminary for Christian Priests.
Besides the serene Chapel of the Seminary, the structure holds the Nalukettu (four sided courtyard made of wood) depicting the rich architectural beauty of the 18^th and 19^th centuries. The Nalukettu structure today houses a heritage museum which acts as a repository of 2000 years of Christianity in the country. According to the Department of Archaeology, Government of Kerala, the Old Seminary Building which is approximately 200 years old and is one of the earliest public institutions in Kerala, has a historical significance in the context of Kerala’s socio cultural history.
A modern phase of the history of the Seminary began in 1965 when it assumed the status of a theological college affiliated to the University system of the senate of Serampore (West Bengal). The present day campus houses:
- Federated Faculty for Research in Religion and Culture (FFRRC) which is a joint ecumenical programme of Orthodox, Mar Thomas and CSI Seminaries in Kerala, for Research-oriented higher studies in Theology.
- Sruti School of Music which is a recognized centre of Christian music-studies with special emphasis on Syriac Music.
- Mar Gregorios Foundation (M.G.F.) which is a centre to promote the ideals and philanthropic services of the late Dr. Paulos Mar Gregorios, the former Principal and world renowned thinker.
- Pratyasa Counselling Programme which is a centre to cater to the counselling studies and needs.
- Divyabodhanam which is a centre to promote and train in the faith needs of clergy and the laymen.
- Saroopya School of Art which is a centre to train clergy and laity in ancient art forms, and
- Smriti which is a campus which houses an auditorium, a media-room, an ecumenical hall and modernized library cum archives.
Text : Based on the material provided by proponent.