Mar Walah East Syriac Acadamy

It was for the first time that the LRC initiated under the name of Mar w-lah Syriac Academy a one week intensive basic course on the East Syriac language from 27 April to 2 May 2015 at Mount St. Thomas, Syro-Malabar Major Archiepiscopal Curia, Kakkanad. The Mar w-lah refers to the Christological proclamation of Saint Thomas the Apostle “My Lord and My God” at the glorious moment of the Risen Lord’s personal invitation to touch and see His wounds and believe in his Resurrection. There were 29 participants but only 24 people attended regularly: 5 lay people, 3 Sisters, 5 Fathers and 10 Brothers from Ernakulam-Angamaly SH Minor Seminary.

Rev Dr Peter Kannampuzha, Executive Director of the LRC, welcomed the participants and inaugurated this new venture of the LRC.  Rev Sr Dr Jincy Othottil and Rev Dr Francis Pittappillil were the tutors. Rev Dr Pauly Maniyattu gave the orientation talk. Bp Mar Pauly Kannookadan, the LRC Chairman distributed the certificates to the regular participants. His Excellency concluded the session with a message highlighting the relevance of learning the East Syriac language which is also the heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church.

Mar W-lah Syriac Academy October Session 2015
The Mar W-lah Syriac Academy of the Syro-Malabar Research Centre organized the October Session of three days of Intensive East Syriac Classes at Mount St Thomas from 22-24 October 2015. There were 15 Students including lay people and seminarians. Interestingly a boy of 8 years old, named Ashok, a pupil in the third standard attended the course on his own initiative and this news was covered in the newspapers. The orientation talk and initial classes were given by Rev Dr Peter Kannampuzha. The regular classes were led by Rev Dr Francis Pittappillil. The co-coordinator of the Syriac session was Rev Sr Mereena, SD.  Rev Dr Antony Kollannoor, Chancellor of the Major Archiepiscopal Curia, awarded the certificates to the participants after having conducted the examination.

Mar W-lah Syriac Academy Summer Session (April 2016)
The Mar W-lah Syriac Academy conducted the one intensive East Syriac Summer Camp at Mount St. Thomas from 25-30 April 2016. There were 26 participants from all walks of life. The orientation talk and initial classes were given by Rev Dr Peter Kannampuzha. Rev Dr Francis Pittappillil, Rev Sr Dr Jincy Othottil and Rev Dr Peter Kannampuzha were the tutors. The co-ordinator of the Syriac session was Rev Sr Mereena, SD.

The Major Archbishop Mar George Cardinal Alencherry addressed informally the participants and inspired them to learn the East Syriac language. Bishop Mar Pauly Kannookadan, the LRC Chairman distributed the certificates to the regular participants. His Excellency concluded the session with a message highlighting the relevance of learning the East Syriac language which is also the heritage of the Syro-Malabar Church and leads us to enter into the first centuries of evangelization.