Diocese of Delhi is going to host a historic Retreat next
weekend on 10-11 of Feb in Aravali Retreat centre under the auspices of the
Indian Orthodox Diaspora.
It will be the first time that we will be hosting and listening from the world
famous speaker Rev Fr K M George.
He will be with us all through the weekend for personal
interaction and faith learning.
Do not miss this
opportunity.
A short profile of K M George achen is
shared here.
Fr. Dr. K. M. George born in 1946 October 11.
Now he is the Director of the Sopana Orthodox
Academy in Kottayam, Kerala, India.
After completing his college education in SB College
Changanasserry and CMS College Kottayam, he studied theology at Orthodox Theological
Seminary and Serampore University.
He obtained a Master’s degree from Louvain and a
Doctorate from Paris. He was
Professor at the Bossuet Ecumenical Institute in Geneva and served as moderator
WCC programme committee 1998-2006.
He was also interested in painting and studied
painting from the ‘Ecole de beaux arts’ fine arts school, Paris.Fr. Dr. K. M.
George has in-depth knowledge in many languages-French, Syriac and Latin.
His books in Malayalam and English are widely
read, appreciated and recognized.An erudite
scholar, thinker and writer, Dr. K.M.George has published a number of books and articles
in English and Malayalam besides several speeches and presentations made in
international forums.
Some of his major works are:
God-Language: A Patristic Perspective; Ethics of Just Peace-An Orthodox Perspective from an Asian Context; Gospel and Culture; Why Turn to East for Prayer; Wheel within a Wheel: An Eco-Irenic Understanding of God’s Earth; The Threat of HIV/AIDS: Some Theological Considerations; and Guru Gregorios; Irupatthonnam Noottandile Vichara Silppikal;Aadhunika Vichara Silppikal; Silent Roots; Pravaasathinte Naalukal; Janathayude Prakasam.
The series of
lectures he delivered at different centres in Kerala on ‘Makers of Thought in
the 21st Century’ gained much popularity and were collected into a volume
published by DC Books Kottayam.
The lectures
dealt with the philosophical contributions of James Lovelock, Carl Sagan,
Fritjof Capra, Edward Wilson, Poulos Mar Gregorios, Peter Burger, Samuel Huntington,
Rupert Sheldrake, Deepak Chopra, and Amartya Sen.
Commenting on the book,
Sukumar Azhikode, the doyen among cultural critics said, ‘Dr.K.M.George has led
the Keralites by the hand into the courtyard of a global dialogue and debate.
He has set before
us a platform for the articulation of the freshest ideas and thoughts that take
us beyond the limits of modern thought.
Dear Ones,
As we look towards the joy of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at Easter, we have to first go through the desert experience of the Great Lent.
Why does the Church mandate such a long fast? How are we expected to keep this lent in the midst of our busy lives? Can we retreat from our schedules for a day or two, to straighten our lives in accordance to God’s will?
Friends, this year we have a Lenten Retreat being held on 10th & 11th February 2018 with the theme ‘From Death to Life’ focussing on the salvific mystery that is in Christ and as it applies to us. As St. Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians 15:22 says ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.’
We are privileged this year to have a world renowned theologian in Rev. Fr.Dr. K. M. George to lead us in this journey of exploration. Having been the Principal of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and Professor at the Ecumenical Institute of Bossey, Switzerland, who holds his doctorate from Paris besides Masters from Louvain, Belgium, we can look forward to thought provoking discourses from Achen.
As the Venue for the Retreat we are fortunate to have the Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios Retreat Centre at Aravali in Haryana, within comfortable driving distance from the Capital and yet away from the pollution of Delhi. This scenic venue in nature’s lap has at the hill top, the St Dionysius Chapel providing a solemn environment for prayer, singing, worship, meditation and even possibly confession in preparation for the Great Lent which starts on 12th February.
You could join the retreat for breakfast around 9:30am on Saturday the 10th or even earlier for Holy Qurbana that is celebrated every 2nd Saturday there. While we are fortunate to have George Achen for three main sessions over the week end, we would be also blessed to hear from our own endearing Metropolitan in His Grace Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrius as well throughout the Retreat. Representatives from the Diaspora would also be addressing the gathering in the context of the challenges they face during Great Lent. Along with guidance from Thirumeni, Achens and laity leaders, we would all be engaging in discussions to enlighten ourselves in God’s will for us. A Jacob’s Ladder Nature Walk and a short film screening on a current social theme of Girl Child Education is also being planned before and after evening prayer. Morning would see us celebrating the English Qurbana for the 1st Sunday of the Great Lent followed by the session led by KM George Achen. The Retreat would come to a close with lunch there that day.
We at the Indian Orthodox Diaspora (IOD) are organizing this retreat given our focus on serving the needs of those who are comfortable with English and Hindi, especially the 2nd and 3rd generation of the Diaspora of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This includes those who have married into the church from other faiths and are in need of nurture in Orthodoxy. However the Retreat is OPEN TO ONE AND ALL!
Please do join us and pass information on this rare opportunity to others.
We would provide humble accommodation and food at the Centre for the week-end. Incase comfort is a concern then hotels are also available nearby. Early bookings for stay at the venue have already begun. Please feel free to call our Retreat Convenors Ajo (9350844581) and Stanley (9899665194) to book accommodation or for any further query like combined travel options.
Parish priests are helping members to prepare for the retreat and to facilitate group transport to the venue. The participants can also directly reach Aravali through the help of Google maps. A route map is attached for your help to reach the venue.
Looking forward to seeing you there, God willing!
Fr. Ferdinand Pathrose
Vice President, Indian Orthodox Diaspora, New Delhi.
(8882241969, fpathrose@yahoo.com)
Hills of Aravalli beckon for a Retreat with the Lord!
Dear Ones,
As we look towards the joy of the resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ at Easter, we have to first go through the desert experience of the Great Lent.
Why does the Church mandate such a long fast? How are we expected to keep this lent in the midst of our busy lives? Can we retreat from our schedules for a day or two, to straighten our lives in accordance to God’s will?
Friends, this year we have a Lenten Retreat being held on 10th & 11th February 2018 with the theme ‘From Death to Life’ focussing on the salvific mystery that is in Christ and as it applies to us. As St. Paul in his 1st letter to the Corinthians 15:22 says ‘For as in Adam all die, so in Christ all will be made alive.’
As the Venue for the Retreat we are fortunate to have the Dr Paulos Mar Gregorios Retreat Centre at Aravali in Haryana, within comfortable driving distance from the Capital and yet away from the pollution of Delhi. This scenic venue in nature’s lap has at the hill top, the St Dionysius Chapel providing a solemn environment for prayer, singing, worship, meditation and even possibly confession in preparation for the Great Lent which starts on 12th February.
You could join the retreat for breakfast around 9:30am on Saturday the 10th or even earlier for Holy Qurbana that is celebrated every 2nd Saturday there. While we are fortunate to have George Achen for three main sessions over the week end, we would be also blessed to hear from our own endearing Metropolitan in His Grace Dr. Youhanon Mar Demetrius as well throughout the Retreat. Representatives from the Diaspora would also be addressing the gathering in the context of the challenges they face during Great Lent. Along with guidance from Thirumeni, Achens and laity leaders, we would all be engaging in discussions to enlighten ourselves in God’s will for us. A Jacob’s Ladder Nature Walk and a short film screening on a current social theme of Girl Child Education is also being planned before and after evening prayer. Morning would see us celebrating the English Qurbana for the 1st Sunday of the Great Lent followed by the session led by KM George Achen. The Retreat would come to a close with lunch there that day.
We at the Indian Orthodox Diaspora (IOD) are organizing this retreat given our focus on serving the needs of those who are comfortable with English and Hindi, especially the 2nd and 3rd generation of the Diaspora of the Malankara Orthodox Church. This includes those who have married into the church from other faiths and are in need of nurture in Orthodoxy. However the Retreat is OPEN TO ONE AND ALL!
Please do join us and pass information on this rare opportunity to others.
We would provide humble accommodation and food at the Centre for the week-end. Incase comfort is a concern then hotels are also available nearby. Early bookings for stay at the venue have already begun. Please feel free to call our Retreat Convenors Ajo (9350844581) and Stanley (9899665194) to book accommodation or for any further query like combined travel options.Parish priests are helping members to prepare for the retreat and to facilitate group transport to the venue. The participants can also directly reach Aravali through the help of Google maps. A route map is attached for your help to reach the venue.
Looking forward to seeing you there, God willing!
Fr. Ferdinand Pathrose
Vice President, Indian Orthodox Diaspora, New Delhi.
(8882241969, fpathrose@yahoo.com)
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