Vilakuvelil Cherian Samuel ( Malayalam: വി.സി. സാമുവേൽ; Hebrew :שְׁמוּאֵל ; Greek: Σαμουήλ; Arabic: صموئيل; Latin:Samūēl

Amharic Amharic ( or ; (Amharic: ), ', ) is an Ethiopian Semitic language, which is a subgrouping within the Semitic branch of the Afroasiatic languages. It is spoken as a first language by the Amharas, and also serves as a lingua franca for all oth ...

: ሳሙኤል1912–1998), called ''Samuel Achen'' was an

Indian Christian Christianity is India's third-largest religion with about 27.8 million adherents, making up 2.3 percent of the population as of the 2011 census. The written records of the Saint Thomas Christians state that Christianity was introduced to th ...

philosopher A philosopher is a person who practices or investigates philosophy. The term ''philosopher'' comes from the grc, φιλόσοφος, , translit=philosophos, meaning 'lover of wisdom'. The coining of the term has been attributed to the Greek th ...

, scholar, university professor, theologian, historian, polyglot and ecumenical leader. He was a priest of the Indian Orthodox Church. He was the author of many doctrinal books and papers including ''The Council of Chalcedon Re-Examined: Historical Theological Survey''.

Early life

Samuel was born 6 April 1912, at Edayil House - Cheekanal in the village of

Omallur Omalloor is a small town, about 3.5 km south of Pathanamthitta District headquarters, in Kerala. Omalloor is famous for '' Vayal Vanibham'' which is an annual farming fair held in the month of Meenam (October). People from both within and ou ...

, in the British Raj Province of Travancore, now

Pathanamthitta, Kerala Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...

, India. He was born in an Orthodox Syrian Christian family. He was the fifth child of nine children of his parents Edayil I. Cherian and Annamma. His father Edayil Cherian was a school teacher and educator, who established 15 primary schools when there were few facilities for modern education and a member of the Legislative Assembly (

Sree Moolam Popular Assembly The Sree Moolam Popular Assembly in the erstwhile state of Travancore was the first popularly elected legislature in the history of India. Its predecessor legislative council was formed in Travancore in 1888 with eight appointed members. Sri Mu ...

Education

Samuel had his primary education in a school founded by his father in his village and the Government English Middle School,

Pathanamthitta Pathanamthitta (), is a municipality situated in the Central Travancore region in the state of Kerala, India, spread over an area of 23.50 km2. It is the administrative capital of Pathanamthitta district. The town has a population of 37 ...

. Samuel obtained his secondary education at St. Thomas English High School ( St. Thomas Higher Secondary School Kozhencherry). He received his English School Leaving Certificate (E.S.L.C) in 1931 with distinction.

Seminary teacher and scholar

In addition to his general education, Samuel learned the

Syriac language The Syriac language (; syc, / '), also known as Syriac Aramaic (''Syrian Aramaic'', ''Syro-Aramaic'') and Classical Syriac ܠܫܢܐ ܥܬܝܩܐ (in its literary and liturgical form), is an Aramaic language, Aramaic dialect that emerged during ...

, which was the

ecclesiastical {{Short pages monitor
Official WebsiteEcumenical contributionvc samuel album
*Oriental Orthodox Churche

*A Brief Biograph

*My Elder Brother and Guru; Gevarghese Mar Osthathios

{{DEFAULTSORT:Samuel, V. C. Indian Christian theologians Malayali people 1912 births 1998 deaths Theological College of the Holy Trinity alumni Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church Christians Yale Divinity School alumni 20th-century Oriental Orthodox Christians People from Omallur