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Sam Mathew
Church of South India bishop From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
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Sam Mathew (8 October 1936 – 16 April 2016) was the bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) from 1993 to 2001.[1][2] The CSI is a United Protestant church that is part of the Anglican Communion.[3]
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Early life and education
Mathew was born the son of V. M. Mathai and Mariamma to the Anglican Syrian Christian family of Valiathottathil in Kodukulanji.[2][1][4] He graduated from N. S. S. College, Pandalam.[1] Afterwards, he earned the Bachelor of Divinity degree from Bishop's College, Calcutta.[1]
Ordinations
Sam Mathew was ordained as a deacon on 06 June 1965 in Alappuzha.[1] He was ordained as a presbyter on 01 April 1966 in Puthuppally.[1] On 01 September 1993, he was consecrated as the bishop of the Madhya Kerala Diocese of the Church of South India, at the CSI Holy Trinity cathedral, in Kottayam.[1][5][6] The then CSI Moderator Vasant P. Dandin, Dy. Moderator Jason Dharmaraj, Mar Thoma bishop Zacharias Theophilus and others, performed the consecration.[4] Sam Mathew served as the diocesan bishop for eight years, until his retirement on 08 October 2001.[1][5][6]
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Public life
Bishop Sam Mathew was an executive member of the CSI Synod, as well as the chief editor of the Njananikshepam magazine.[1] A torchbearer of ecumenism, he was the secretary of the Nilakkal Ecumenical Trust.[1][2] He also served as the president of the Kerala Council of Churches for six years.[2][5] He was a champion of the temperance movement.[7][1][2] He was a campaigner for the environmental movement too.[7][6] In recognition of Mathew's pastoral ministry, ecumenical leadership and missionary zeal, the California-based Vision International University conferred on him an honorary Doctor of Divinity degree on 03 September 1995.[4]
Family
Mathew married Kunjamma of the Vettasseril family of Keezhuvaipur. They had three children. Santhi and Annie are their daughters, and Christy is their son.[1][2][5]
Death and burial
After a period of sickness, Sam Mathew died on 16 April 2016 at the age of 79.[6][7][2] The funeral took place at the CSI Holy Trinity Cathedral, Kottayam on 20 April 2016.[1][2][8] Rt. Rev. Dr. Thomas K. Oommen, the then Dy. Moderator of the Church of South India led the service.[8] Bishops of other churches like Zacharias Mar Polycarpos and Thomas Mar Timotheos participated in the service.[8] Bishop Thomas K. Oommen read out the condolence message sent by Justin Welby, the Archbishop of Canterbury.[8] Bishop Mathew was buried in a specially prepared tomb in the cathedral's premises.[8][9] Thousands of mourners took part in the funeral procession and rites.[8][9]
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See also
References
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