St Thomas Apostolic Seminary, Vadavathoor, Kottayam
വടവാതൂർ സെമിനാരി, കോട്ടയം
About the Seminary
The St. Thomas Apostolic Seminary was erected on 26 April 1962 and began to function on 3 July 1962. It was the fulfillment of a long cherished desire and the realization of the great efforts of the visionaries of the Syro-Malabar Church to have the formation of her candidates to priesthood in the authentic tradition of the this Apostolic Church. The painstaking efforts of Rev. Dr. Placid Podipara CMI, Archbishop Mar Mathew Kavukatt, Mar Joseph Cardinal Parekkattil and the special interest of Eugene Cardinal Tisserant, the then Prefect of the Congregation for the Eastern Churches, were instrumental in the erection of this Seminary. It was intended for the formation and education of all the seminarians of the Syro-Malabar and the Syro-Malankara eparchies. The Seminary was open also to the seminarians of the Latin Church. With the recognition of the Syro-Malabar Church as a Major Archiepiscopal Church on 16 December 1992 the Seminary became immediately subject to the authority of the Major Archbishop and the Synod of Bishops. At present there are 281 seminarians and 20 resident staff.
Vision
The Seminary aims at providing a fully integrated priestly formation to the candidates of the Syro- Malabar eparchies, members of institutes of consecrated life and candidates of other Churches sui iuris taking into account the human, spiritual, intellectual, pastoral and missionary dimensions of priestly life.
Mission
Imparting Philosophical and Theological knowledge that will accentuate the study of the tradition and heritage of the Church of St. Thomas Christians and of the other Eastern Churches with due regard to the religious and cultural heritage of India.
History of the Seminary
1961 April 9: Mar Mathew Kavukatt, archbishop of Changanacherry laid the foundation stone of the Seminary
1962 July 3: The informal inauguration of the Seminary by Mar Mathew Kavukatt.
1962 July 4: His Grace Most Rev. Dr. James Robert Knox, the Apostolic Inter-nuncio to India visited the Seminary.
1964 December 9: Josyf Slipyj, Major Archbishop of the Ukrainian Greek Catholic Church visited the Seminary.
1965 June 1: The completion of Construction of the building of the theologians quarters and the commencement of the theology courses.
1968 February 25: The Consecration of seminary chapel and official inauguration of the Seminary by His Eminence Maximillian Cardinal de Furstenburg assisted by His Grace Archbishop Joseph Caprio Apostolic Pronuncio to India.
1968 December 18: The passing out of the first batch of students (33 new priests)
1970 January 8: His Grace Archbishop Maria Brini, the secretary to the Sacred Oriental Congregation visited the Seminary.
1970 October 14: His Eminence Valeran Cardinal Gracias, of Bombay visited the Seminary.
1972 March 29: His Eminence Joseph Cardinal Parecattil, archbishop of Ernakulam inaugurated the publication of the Biblical quarterly ‘Biblebhashyam’.
1972 October 6: A symposium and exhibition held in connection with the St. Thomas centenary celebrations.
1972 December 29: Field Marshall Sam Manekhaw visited the Seminary.
1973 January 8: The Seminary auditorium was named Cardinal Tisserant Hall during the meeting of the Syro Malabar Bishops’ Congrerence.
1976 January 19: Mother Teresa visited the Seminary.
1981 January 1: His Eminence Cardinal Rubin, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches visited the Seminary.
1981 July 2: The Theology Faculty in the Seminary was elevated to an autonomous Institute.
1982 December 14: Rev. Dr. Mathew Vellanickal was appointed first president of the Oriental Institute of Religious Studies( Paurastya Vidyapitham) Vadavathoor.
1983 October 26: The president of India, Giani Zail Singh inaugurated the Paurastya Vidyapitham.
1983 January 6: His Grace Archbishop Agostino Cacciavillan, Apostolic Pro-Nurcio to India and Nepal visited the Seminary.
1985 July 2: Blessing of the new Post-Graduate building and consecration of the chapel there by Archbishop Mar Antony Padiyara.
1986 June 3: Permission granted to admit sisters to the M.Th.course
1986 July 2: The re-dedication of the renovated chapel of the Seminary.
1987 August 13: His Eminence Simon Cardinal Lourdsamy, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches graced the Concluding session of the Silver Jubilee celebrations of the Seminary.
1988 May: CBCI meeting held in the Seminary.
1989 June 26: Paurastya Vidyapitham was recognized by the International Federation of Catholic Universities as a full member of it.
1990 February 5: Cardinal Francis Arinsae, the president of the commission for dialogue with other religions, visited the Seminary.
1990 June 5: Blessing of the Annex Building of the Seminary by His Eminence Mar Antony Cardinal Padiyara.
1990 December 2: Solemn Reception to all bishops of the Syro Malabar Hierarchy.
1991 June 18: Blessing of the newly built Convent in the Seminary campus
1991 July 8: Inauguration of the Museum in the Seminary
1991 October 11: His Holiness Moron Mar Baselios Marthoma Mathew II Catholicos of Syrian Orthodox Church visited the Seminary.
1991 Dec 13: Very Rev. Fr. Dr. Clarence Gallangher S.J, The Rector of the Pontifical Oriental Institute in Rome visited the seminary.
1992 September 8: The Pontifical Commission Members led by Archbishop Thomas A. White visited the seminary and he released the Indian edition of the English translation of the Code of Canons of the Eastern Churches.
1993 January 29: The supreme authority of the Church expressly recognized the Syro-Malabar Church as a Major Archiepiscopal Church and Mar Antony Padiyara was appointed the first Major Archbishop. Mar Abraham Kattumana was appointed Pontifical Delegate to the Syro-Malabar Church and Chancellor of Paurastya Vidyapitham.
1993 February 25: Reception to Mar Antony Padiya the First Major Archbishop of the Syro-Malabar Church and the celebration of the 25th anniversary of the blessing of the Seminary chapel.
1993 October 28: Bishop’s Conference held in the Seminary.
1996 February 8: His Eminence Cardinal Aquile Silvestrini, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited the Seminary.
1996 February 13: His Beatitude Rafel Mar Bidawid, Caldean Patriarch, visited the Seminary.
1996 February 19 : The New Chancellor of Paurastya Vidyapitham and Apostolic Administrator of the Syro-Malabar Church, Archbishop Mar Varkey Vithayathil CSSR visited the Seminary.
1998 July 2 : The newly put up Statue of St. Thomas in front of the Seminary was blessed.
1999 November 11 : His Eminence Cardinal Paul Jean, His Grace Archbishop Joseph Tikang from Taiwan and His Grace Archbishop Joseph Chennoth the Apostolic Nuncio to Central African Republic, visited the Seminary.
2000 August 24 : Newly appointed Apostolic Nuncio to Ghana and Togo Mar George Kochery visited the Seminary.
2001 January 12 : Cardinal Joachim Meisner Archbishop of Colonge visited the Seminary.
2002 August 15 : Blessing of Sannidhanam in the Seminary
2002 November 9 : First Suhruthsangamam was conducted.
2004 January 8 : His Beatitude Cardinal Ignace Mousa I Daoud, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches visited the Seminary.
2004 June 3 : Inauguration of the new Library Building and the inauguration of the Administrative block of Paurastya Vidyapitham.
2006 July 3 : Inauguration of Silver Jubilee year of Paurastya Vidyapitham.
2007 June 16 Major Archbishop Mar Varkey Cardinal Vithayathil visited the Seminary on the occasion of the valedictory function of the Silver Jubilee Celebration of the Paurastya Vidyapitham.
2007 July 3: Inauguration and blessing of the new Santhom Museum.
2008 November 8: His Eminence Leonardo Cardinal Sandri, Prefect of the Congregation for the Oriental Churches, visited the Seminary
2009 September 6: Archbishop Cyril Vasil, Secretary of Congregation for the Oriental Churches visited the Seminary
2011 July 4: Inauguration of the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Seminary
2011 October 7-9: The All Kerala Youth Convention in connection with the Golden Jubilee Celebrations of the Seminary.
2011 December 9: OIKOS
2012 January 14: Grand Finale of the Golden Jubilee
2012 September 22: His Beatitude Moron Mar Bechara Boartol Al Rai, Patriarch of the Maronite Syrian Catholic Church, visited the Seminary
2013 February 2: His Eminence Zenon Cardinal Grocholewski, Prefect of the Congregation for Catholic Education, visited the Seminary
2013 June 6: Inter Church Council Meeting held in the Seminary
2014 February 2: Grand Ecumenical Meet inaugurated by His Eminence Kurt Cardinal Koch, President of the Pontifical Council for Promoting Christian Unity
2014 February 9: A group of bishops attending CBCI meeting in Palai visited the seminary
Phone : 0481 257 8319
Email : info@santhom.org
Address: Seminary Rd, Vadavathoor, Puthuppally, Kerala 686010
Nelson MCBS 