Bishop D. N. Samuel was the fifth Bishop - in -

Dornakal Diocese of the Church of South India Dornakal Diocese is a diocese of the Church of South India in Telangana state of India. It is among 22 dioceses of the Church of South India.The diocese mainly covers the pastorates in Warangal, Nalgonda, East Godavari and Khammam districts a ...

who occupied the

Cathedra A ''cathedra'' is the raised throne of a bishop in the early Christian basilica. When used with this meaning, it may also be called the bishop's throne. With time, the related term ''cathedral'' became synonymous with the "seat", or principa ...

in the CSI-Epiphany Cathedral in Dornakal from 1986 until his sudden death on 13 July 1996 resulting in an unexpected sede vacante. Samuel studied joined the Andhra Union Theological College (AUTC), Dornakal in 1963 but within a year, he moved along with the College to Rajahmundry as the AUTC together with other Seminaries formed the

Andhra Christian Theological College Andhra Christian Theological College (ACTC) is a seminary in Telangana which was founded in 1964. It is affiliated with India's first university, the Senate of Serampore College (University) (a university under section 2(f) of the University G ...

in Rajahmundry in 1964. Samuel was awarded a Licentiate in Theology in 1966 and upgraded his academics by pursuing a Bachelor of Theology as well as a

Bachelor of Divinity In Western universities, a Bachelor of Divinity or Baccalaureate in Divinity (BD or BDiv; la, Baccalaureus Divinitatis) is a postgraduate academic degree awarded for a course taken in the study of divinity or related disciplines, such as theology ...

degree through the

which by then relocated to its present campus in Hyderabad. The

, Hyderabad where Samuel studied is affiliated to the Senate of Serampore College (University), India's first The Senate of Serampore College (University) is a University within the meaning of Section 2 (f) of the UGC Act, 1956 under which a University means a University established or incorporated by or under a Central Act, a Provincial Act or a State Act, and includes any such institution as may, in consultation with the University concerned, be recoginsed by the Commission in accordance with the regulations made in this behalf under this Act. The UGC took the opinion that the Senate fell under the purview of Section 2 (f) of the said Act since ''The Serampore College Act, 1918'' was passed by the Government of West Bengal. with degree-granting authority validated by a Danish Charter and ratified by the

Government of West Bengal The Government of West Bengal also known as the West Bengal Government, is the subnational government of the Indian state of West Bengal , created by the National Constitution as the state's legislative, executive and judicial authority. The ...

. Noah Samuel studied at the CSI- Noble College at Machilipatnam taking a Secondary School Leaving Certificate in 1949 and continued his studies by passing the Matriculation Examination offered by the Andhra University and worked as a civilian with the Singareni Collieries Company. Akin to the early Church Fathers, in this case, Bishop Ambrose,

Bishop of Milan The Archdiocese of Milan ( it, Arcidiocesi di Milano; la, Archidioecesis Mediolanensis) is a Latin Church ecclesiastical territory or archdiocese of the Catholic Church in Italy which covers the areas of Milan, Monza, Lecco and Varese. It has lon ...

, Noah Samuel left his civilian work in 1963 and enrolled for spiritual studies. On his ordination as Deacon on 24 April 1966 followed by his ordination as a Pastor in 1968 by Bishop P. Solomon, he served at the parishes of the

Diocese of Dornakal Dornakal Diocese is a diocese of the Church of South India in Telangana state of India. It is among 22 dioceses of the Church of South India.The diocese mainly covers the pastorates in Warangal, Nalgonda, East Godavari and Khammam districts a ...

. In 1985 when Bishop G. S. Luke retired on attaining superannuation, the

became sede vacante following which the

Church of South India Synod Church of South India Trust Association (CSITA) Director board is the highest administrative body of CSI (Church of South India). Synod (CSI Synod) is the annual general meeting of CSI. Moderator of the Synod is a Bishop who is a presiding officer ...

appointed D. N. Samuel as the fifth Bishop - in - Dornakal to succeed Bishop G. S. Luke who was principally consecrated by I. Jesudason, Moderator,

in the presence of

Sundar Clarke The Rt. Rev. Sundar Clarke (d 2010) was an Indian bishop A bishop is an ordained clergy member who is entrusted with a position of authority and oversight in a religious institution. In Christianity, bishops are normally responsible for t ...

, Deputy Moderator,

and the co-consecrator.

References

Further reading