Former Vicar Professed as Ramban (Monk) by H.H. The Catholicos

The vicar and members of St. Thomas Indian Orthodox Church, Greater Washington are proud to announce that Rev. Fr. Dr. M.S. John, former parish vicar from June 1999 through August 2001, was professed as Ramban (Monk) on Wednesday, May 9, 2007 by His Holiness Baselius Mar Thoma Didymus I in Parumala. Fr. John hails from the Mannilayathu family in Thumpamon. After obtaining his postgraduate degree (M.A., M. Ed.) in Education from Kerala University, he received B.D. and M.Th. from Serampore College. John “Achen” (Malayalam word meaning ‘Father’) was ordained to the priesthood in 1982, and served parishes in both the Bombay and American Dioceses. While in the U.S., Achen completed his Doctorate of Ministry at St. Vladimir Orthodox Theological Seminary in New York. It was at that time that our Vicar, Fr. G. Ninan, decided to return to Kerala. Our parish contacted John Achen, who willingly agreed to come to Washington DC to conduct services for the twenty-seven families in the parish. The Diocese Metropolitan soon afterwards appointed John Achen as our vicar.