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Rev. Fr. VC Samuel

 Today marks 25 years since the death of Rev. Fr. VC Samuel. From the first time I heard about Achen, he has awe-struck me. His life was dedicated to teaching the doctrines and uniting the churches. Christology has been a topic of controversy since the early days of the church; the dual nature of Christ and the usage of terminologies like Theotokos or Christakos has divided the church. The schism was also caused by a misunderstanding of language that was exploited by politics, not a real difference regarding the essential faith. In this context, the most significant contribution is his support of the pre-Chalcedonian Christology. This was the result of his profound scholarship in the writings of the Greek and Syriac fathers. Titled The Council Of Chalcedon Re-Examined, his doctoral thesis on the Alexandrian-Antiochian Christological controversy is an asset for the Ecclesia.

All through his life, he was firm in his ecumenical convictions. Achen's role in WCC and other ecumenical forms truly represented the Indian church. He expressed the desire to see the unity of the Indian churches that belong to the Syrian tradition. Achen helped the orthodox church in building ecumenical relations with other churches, especially other Oriental and Eastern Orthodox churches. His ecclesiology has its roots in the Orthodox tradition. Still, he encourages Orthodox and other churches to communicate openly. So all can live as a single, dynamic movement of God's mission that anticipates and moves toward the eschaton.
The Church in the 1990s was blessed with 3 eminent theologies, Paulose Mar Gregorios of blessed memory, Dr M.M Thomas and Fr. Dr V.C Samuel; their contributions were not just limited to the Indian church but were to the entire ecclesia. Their memories are blessed.

Joel Srambican



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