14/10/2018
Speaker of the conference
Fr. Dr. O. Thomas is the Principal of the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam(Kerala). He has been professor at the Orthodox Theological Seminary since 1981. Having completed his Masters in Sociology from the Kerala University, he pursued his theological education (Bachelor in Divinity) from the Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam. Following this he joined the United Theological Seminary, Bangalore where he completed his Masters in Theology and Doctorate in Theology from the Senate of Serampore. This was followed by a Post Graduate Diploma in Practical Theology from Heythroop, London.
His principal area of teaching is Christian Ministry – Pastoral Counseling under which he covers Introduction to Psychology, Practical Theology, Pastoral Care and Counseling, Supervised Pastoral Counseling and Marriage and Family. Fr. O. Thomas was the Bursar at Orthodox Theological Seminary, Kottayam and the Staff Advisor for the Parish Mission activities of the Seminary.
Fr. O. Thomas is the Coordinator for the Pratyasha Counseling Training programme of the Orthodox Theological Seminary. Fr. O. Thomas was also the Director General of OSSAE and presently he is the Chief Editor of Doothan and Snehalokam. He also does counseling sessions at the Parumala Seminary on Saturdays.
Fr. O. Thomas was the General Secretary of the Orthodox Christian Youth Movement (1980-90), Principle of the St. Paul’s Mission Training Centre, Mavelikara (1986-1991), Priest Trustee of the Malankara Orthodox Church (2004-2007) and Member of the Managing Committee and Working Committee (2004-2012).
He had attended the CWME conference at San Antonio(USA) in 1998 and conference of International Association of Mission Studies at Buenos Aires(1996) and at Cape Town(2000).
He is a member of Catholic-Orthodox dialogue. Giving leadership to several family conferences , convetios, youth meetings, counseling groups in and around all diocese of Malanakara Orthodox Syrian Church.
Books authored by Fr. O. Thomas are:
Jeevitha Pathayil (Divyabodhanam)
Bhoomiyil Parudeesa (Divyabodhanam)
Manassum Jeevithavum (Divyabodhanam)
Avar Onnakunnu (Parish Mission - 1995)
Commentary on Pastoral Epistles
Kaivilakku
Pre – Marital Counseling – Guidance Book, “Pratyashayode Orumikan”, Editor.
