Dr. Paul Samuel Ordained a Sub-Deacon

by Shroro Editorial Board

Shroro editorial board is delighted to announce the ordination of Dr. Paul Samuel from Thiruvananthapuram, as sub-deacon (apodiyakno) on August 12, 2006, at Michael Mor Dionysius Dayro chapel at Adoor by H.G. Mor Theodosius Mathews. The ordination was attended by H.G Mor Milithose and many priests from the diocese of Nirnam, Kollam & Thumpamon of Malankara Archdioceses of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church. 

Dr. Paul Samuel, son of Mrs. & Mr. M. Samuel (Pakalomattom Thondalil), is one of the resident editors of Shroro. He also serves as one of the moderators of SOCM forum and advisory committee member for Viswasasamrakshakan.org, and is an active member of the St. Peter’s Simhasana Church at Thiruvananthapuram and vice-president of parish Youth Association. He had his schooling in Thiruvananthapuram and won the Gold Medal for the Highest Marks in SSLC in Malankara and also was the winner of Mor Ahatalla Bava memorial Award for the same. He also passed the JSSLC in flying colors with 10th rank in Malankara and the Highest Mark in the Southern Dioceses. He obtained his M.B.B.S degree (2002) and Post Graduate Diploma in ENT (2006) from Thiruvananthapuram Govt. Medical College). He is going to join the DipNB course in ENT at Thiruvananthapuram Govt. Medical College currently. It is very unusual in our church that a physician or such a person with a professional qualification chooses to become a priest to serve the church. (We have at least two other deacons with medical degree who serves the church, two doctors currently working as priests, one of them a MD (Pediatrics).

In fact, it was his long cherished ambition to be a priest. We are very proud of the choice he made to serve the church in the position of a priest, along with his profession in the future. We thank God for leading him to the first step to his ambition and pray for blessings to reach his goal. 

Amidst his busy life as a physician, he finds time to serve the Holy church and its community in several ways. Dr. Paul has been a regular contributor to SOCM forum and Shroro magazine. He is a guest faculty in Bioethics at the Malankara Catholic Seminary in Thiruvananthapuram and also serves as a resource person for the pre-marital counseling course of the dioceses of Kollam and Thumpamon and marriage preparatory course under the Roman Catholic Changanacherry diocese. He also representing the JSOC for the interfaith dialogue on AIDS awareness and control. He also serves as the secretary for Syrian Orthodox Biblical and Liturgical Study Center, headed by Comm. Chev. Dr. C. A. Ninan. He also serves the Sunday school as a Syriac teacher. Among his academic achievements, he is the Gold Medal winner for the Best PG paper presentation in ENT in the state level for two consecutive years. 

On this holy occasion, the editorial board of Shroro, along with the whole SOCM-net family congratulates Rev. Dn. Dr. Paul Samuel. May our Lord shower him with more blessings and strengthen him to serve the church. 

Ordination pictures are available at the following URL: 

http://www.syrianchurch.org/Photos/DrPaulOrd_12Aug06