V. C. Samuel; Malayalam: V C ശമുവേൽ; Hebrew שְׁמוּאֵל; Greek: V C Σαμουήλ; Arabic: صموئيل; Latin: Samūēl;
“Those who are wise will shine like the brightness of the heaven and those who lead many to righteousness, like the stars forever and ever” Daniel 12:3
“Generations to come, it may well be, will scarce believe that such a man as this one ever in flesh and blood walked upon this Earth.” Albert Einstein, on Mahatma Gandhi's 70th birthday.
The True Saintly Servant of God The Perfect Guru of Generations The Prophet of Truth The Pillar of Orthodoxy Bharata Sabha Ratna The Pioneering Leader of Ecumenism Doctor of the Church Guru of Gurus The epitome of Wisdom and Knowledge A place to learn about The Blessed Very Rev. Dr. Prof. V.C. Samuel, whose extraordinary prophetic and messianic discourses and legendary contributions; which broke the barriers of time and space and attained the privileged position of a Cosmic Guru; Whose varied interests, works, mission, vision and philosophy as an outstanding student-researcher and academician, dedicated Priest - Malpan, Professor, Guide, Philosopher, Theologian, Christologian, Historian, Patristic Scholar, Exegetic, Liturgical and Canonical Expert, Thinker, Writer, Biographer, Critique, Translator, Polyglot; a Prophet of justice, peace and love, a Humanist and Activist and above all a Pioneer Leader of Ecumenism - interfaith- interreligious and cultural harmony (Manavikatha); Treasures of wisdom and knowledge.
It is not often the true greatness of a person; particularly a saintly personality, who never wished for any accolades for praise for he was convinced that he is a ‘Servant of the Lord’ who comes down this world not to be served but to serve, is understood and appreciated properly in his own lifetime. Jesus Christ himself, the true Light and Savior of the world is the example ‘par excellence’. Most of His contemporaries considered Him simply the son of a carpenter turned rebel, to be despised and deserving to be crucified. Other examples of a similar kind are many in history. The Great Father V.C. Samuel is one such!
When I look back my past life, there is an incident, which never fades from my memory. I was eight or ten years old boy, my father once called me nearer to him and asked me to read the First Book of Prophet Samuel, chapters one to three from the Bible. Then he said something like this: ‘There is a purpose behind giving you the name ‘Samuel’. The meaning of that name is “God heard”. What I expect from you is to neither become a rich person and protect me in my old age nor become very famous in the world. You should become a ‘Servant of God’ like Prophet Samuel and serve the Lord in the whole lifetime. This is my ambition for you. I would be very happy if you fulfill my expectation in your life.’ Needless to say, it is that the insight behind this statement was not clear to me at that time. Nevertheless, I used to understand its message gradually. I have been thinking about this many a time later in my life. It was inspiring me a lot when I used to re-gather this incident.I took a decision in my life to speak it out frankly without fear, those things which I am convinced and to live accordingly. It is this incident, which I consider as the foundation of my life. (V.C. Samuel -1954)
‘Ecumenism’ is a word adopted in the English language from Greek original Oikoumene. The purpose behind this is the efforts for conciliar unity among different Christian denominations and communities, which stand divided. The original Greek word Oikoumene has a wider meaning than this. The term signifies the idea of unity between the entire human race and the whole cosmos/universe rather than the unity among Churches and Christians (V.C. Samuel 1986)
I had come to realize that the Church was a mystery which, on the one hand, represents the entire human race as it was redeemed by Jesus Christ and guided by the Holy Spirit, and on the other includes in its actual membership on the historical plane all those who had committed themselves to lead a life in this faith. Accordingly, I have not since then taken the Church in juridical terms of viewing it merely as an institution which its administrative set-up or as a body of people bound together by means of a code of regulations called ‘the canon laws’. On the other hand, the Church viewed theologically and spiritually, is a community of people, men, and women, who have committed themselves to live in obedience to Jesus Christ in the power of the Holy Spirit, to the glory of God the Father. Administrative arrangements and canon laws have been evolved by the community within the historical and cultural context to enable to the realization the church’s purpose of existence. Therefore, they are not an end in themselves. In fact, they are all not only changeable according to the need of the Church but should change in proportion to the new understanding of life and its demand, in order to enable the Church to carry forward its mission in the world. The Church is not exhausted by the administrative arrangements in force nor by the body of legal provisions that are in operation at any time. The beginning and the end of the Church is God, the Holy Trinity, and man’s goal in life is to realize conformity with His will and purpose. Any administrative set-up or canon lows that do not in truth in conforming to this goal is the idol.
I believe that any Orthodox theologian will not dispute this brief statement about the Church, and I have tried to keep this conviction in faith during the many years. In my major decisions and programs of action, I have sought to remain loyal to it. Though I do not claim not to have faltered in my routine activities on innumerable occasions, my basic steps in life have all been guided by it. I evaluate the litigation in our Church only from a theological point of view because the Church is a theological reality and not a juridical entity. (V.C. Samuel 1976)
Louis Fisher the American biographer of Mahatma Gandhi notes that while leaders like Hitler and Stalin had an aura of formidableness about them. Gandhi was simple and approachable and had no ‘air terror’ about him. Nonetheless, Gandhi was a world leader of high moral stature, in many ways greater than many world ‘leaders’ whom Fisher considered and juxtaposed with Gandhi. The humanness of Gandhi and simple determination in the dealings are only too well known to our countrymen who called him the ‘Father of Nation’. Father V.C. Samuel was a rare radiance in Philosophy, Theology, Christology, History, Ecumenism, and classical languages; However, despite his vast scholarship and varied interests, he never assumed ‘airs’ and was much lovable and approachable personality. Though he was rightly conscious about his exemplary ability resource, he never boasted about his rare endowments but would come down from the heights of his excellence and he was ever simple and benign. Scholars are there who would dare to venture down the ivory heights of his academics – Dr. V.C. Samuel would never be snobbish to be one among them. More...(Dr. Yacob Mar Irenaeus)
Prof V.C. Samuel’s Theological work is a major contribution towards clarifying the complex development after the Council of Chalcedon +451. And more than that: his work is not only historical and analytic but theological and constructive. Fr. Samuel basis significant theological propositions and positions on his penetrating analysis into the reasons and logical conditions of the various components of the Christological development in the 5th, 6th and 7th centuries. We the Western World are profoundly grateful for such interpretations and constructive work… Father Samuel’s life-long scholarly work is a tremendous contribution to such discovery. His publications are great ecumenical importance to the relation between the ancient Chalcedonians and the non-Chalcedonians. And the Western World can learn directly from this constructive discourse. Patristic scholarship can learn to reassess the movement traditionally labeled ‘monophysite’. Moreover, theology in the East and West can take up the challenge and revisit the genuine incarnation theologies of the 4th, 5th and the 6th centuries in order to equip itself with powerful instruments for overcoming the dualistic concepts in cosmology, anthropology, and political ethics. More... (Dr. Prof. Dietrich Ritschl)
There is an adage in English that the ideal teacher and the ideal student are the same people. Dr. V.C. Samuel was a lifelong searcher after knowledge and truth – a student researcher, a teacher, a research guide, all rolled in one. He was the PERFECT GURU, who keeps on learning, divinely discontent with the available theories on many theological and historical issues. Our admiration for Samuelachen is tremendously augmented as we skim through the pages of his Autobiographical piece, SWANUBHAVAVEDIYIL. Usually, people tend to document only their pleasant experience in their autobiography. However, Samuelachen would never be hypocritical in his account of himself. There in black and white, he shares his joys and sorrows, hopes and anxious, dreams and disappointments with us. Two immediate parallels in autobiographical sincerity are Gandhiji’s ‘The Story of My Experiment with Truth’ and K.P.S. Menon’s ‘My World’. There is absolutely no attempt to hide things or to take the reader for a ride with the assistance of ‘masalas’ of language and diction. More...
V.C. Samuel, throughout his life, expressed his desire to see the unity of the Indian churches that belong to the Syrian tradition. Unity with the 'Jacobite Faction' of the Indian Orthodox Church was given priority. Besides an ecumenical unity even with the churches belonging to the Catholic and Protestant traditions was also envisaged. As an Indian Christian V.C. Samuel advocated the need for fostering wider ecumenism with other faiths in general and Hinduism in particular. More... Dr. Kuncheria Pathil
