Memorial Service Planned for Bishop Makarios
A memorial service celebrating the life and legacy of Bishop Dr.
Thomas Mar Makarios is scheduled for 1 p.m. Sunday, April 6 in the
Dunning Memorial Chapel at Alma College. All are welcome.
Bishop Makarios, founder and leader of the U.S.-Canada Diocese of the
Malankara Orthodox Church of India and a much-beloved professor of
religious studies at Alma College for 25 years, died Feb. 23 in
Newcastle, England. He was 81. Traditional church services and burial
took place in India March 2 and 3.
At Alma College, Bishop Makarios was a teacher, friend and
advisor to hundreds of students, faculty and staff members. His flowing
red robes made him a well-recognized and distinguished presence on
campus.
Bishop Makarios
He
came to the United States from India in 1963 as a priest to earn a
doctorate in religion. When he returned to India and was consecrated as
a bishop, he asked to return to the United States to minister to Indian
families he had met there. He received his S.T.M. degree from Virginia
Theological Seminary and his Th.D. from Union Theological Seminary in
Richmond, Va.
He began teaching at Alma College in 1983, launching a 25-year
association as professor of religious studies, committed to introducing
students to differences between Eastern and Western modes of religious
thinking.
His passion for students included introducing them to Indian philosophy
and culture. He helped develop the Alma India Program, which has a
relationship with the Mathen Mappilai Memorial Public School in the
village of Ayroor in the state of Kerala. Over the years, many Alma
College students performed volunteer work in the Mathen Mappilai
Memorial School and with other local organizations while also attending
classes at Mahatma Ghandi University.
The Bishop oversaw 75 churches and 7,000 families at the same time he
was teaching in Alma. He constantly was traveling to minister to his
churches and was a frequent guest of church leaders around the world.
In 1990, Alma College bestowed the honorary Doctor of Divinity degree
in appreciation of his contributions to the campus and church. He
continued to teach at Alma College until his passing.
Click here for more on Bishop Makarios.
Posted: Sat, March 15th, 2008 at 2:06PM
