AHMEDABAD: HG Pullikkottil Dr Geevarghese Mar Yulios, Metropolitan of the Indian Orthodox Diocese of Ahmedabad, is the new Vice Chairman of Henry Martyn Institute (HMI).
For the first time, the Council Meeting of HMI which met on July 30, 2015 at its Hyderabad campus, has elected an Orthodox Bishop as their Vice-Chairman.
The 10-member board which met at the recent board of directors meeting in Hyderabad elected the Metropolitan for a three-year tenure as the Vice Chairman till 2018.
Later, at its maiden board meeting held the next day, Dr Mar Yulios chaired a meeting as the new Vice-Chairman and discussed various aspects with the members of the board.
Henry Martyn Institute is primarily an international centre which deals with research, interfaith relations and reconciliation and an ecumenical Christian organisation, dedicated to the objective study and teaching of religions, promotion of interfaith relations and reconciliation.
In his role as Vice Chairman, Dr Mar Yulios will primarily have to attend HMIs board meetings, academic sessions and other related important meetings. The appointment will also enable the Metropolitan to represent HMI at national and international forums wherever it is needed in future.
Dr Mar Yulios says that HMI as an institution always welcomes changes and this would be done whenever necessary during his tenure. Also under his leadership, HMI will further work towards religious dialogue and inter-religious harmony and not tackle inter-denominational issues.The Metropolitan will also chair sessions and lead useful dialogue at various conferences hosted by HMI.
Henry Martyn Institute (HMI) was founded in 1930, and has established a long record of teaching and research, with an ever-widening circle of research scholars from both within the country and abroad who use the Institute’s facilities for Master’s, Doctoral and Post-Doctoral research.
Dr Mar Yulios expertise as a professor of the Nagpur-based St Thomas Orthodox Theological Seminary (STOTS) will come in handy.
The Metropolitan’s wide experience can be used for the well-qualified faculty at HMI which is also a major centre for research and teaching on matters related to the study of major religions. They are also additional resources for scholars in the field of Islamic studies and interfaith dialogue.