RESUMEPersonal Details Name: Fr. Dr. CHIRATHILATTU Biji Markose (Theol.)
Citizenship: Austrian
Date and Place of Birth: 31 May 1967, at Puthenchantha, India
Profession: Priest of the Syriac Orthodox Church, Lecturer
School and University Education 1972 – 1982
Secondary School Leaving Certificate, JMHS, Vakathanam, India
1982-1985
Pre-Degree, University of Kerala, Trivandrum, India
1985- 1988
Bachelor of Arts (BA) in English Language and Literature, S B College, Changanacherry (Mahatma Gandhi University, Kottayam), India.
1989-1992
Bachelor of Divinity (BD), United Theological College, Bangalore (Serampore University, Calcutta) India
1992
Course in Christianity and Culture, University of Copenhagen, Denmark:
1996-1997
Course in Syriac Language, Syriac Orthodox Seminary, Damascus, Syria
1997-1998
DSH Course of German Language, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
1998-2002
Doctorate in Theology, Philipps University Marburg, Germany
Doctoral Thesis Title: “
Prayers and Fasts according to Bar Ebroyo, A Study on the Prayers and Fasts of the Oriental Churches“Professional Experience 1992-1996
Lecturer, Parish Priest:
IndiaLecturer at the Malankara Syriac Orthodox (MSO) Seminary in Mulanthuruthy, India (1992-1996)
Parish Priest, Kottayam Diocese, India (1995-1996)
1997-2013Vicar
, Religion’s teacher, Lecturer, Part-time Assistant:
Austria- Vicar, St. Mary’s Malankara Syriac Orthodox Parish, Vienna (1997-2008)
- Religion’s teacher in different schools in Vienna (2003-2013)
- Private lecturer, Catholic Theology Faculty of Karl- Franzens University, Graz (2008 Feb-June)
- Vicar, St. Basil MSO Congregation, Vienna (2009 Oct- Aug 2013)
- Part-time Assistent Attendant in Haus Jona of Caritas Vienna, Cumberlandstr. 51, 1140 Vienna. ( 2009 Sept- 2010 September)
- Private Lecturer, Faculty of Protestant Theology, University of Vienna (2011 March-June)
- Vicar (2013 November to 2017 March)
- Vicar (2017 April onwards)
- Regaining Independence Assistant, RIS, Essex Cares, New Tyne Resource Centre, BN 13 2TF Worthing (2013 November - 2017August)
2013 November - Onwards Vicar
, Religion’s teacher, Regaining independence Assistant:
UK
1.St. Thomas Malankara Syrian Orthodox (MSO) Church, Portsmouth
2. St. George MSO Church, Aberdeen
3. St. Mary’s MSO Congregation, Edinburgh
4. St. Mary’s MSO Church, Leicester
5. St. Basil MSO Congregation, Derby
6. The MSO Congregation, Maidstone
7. St. Mary’s MSO Church, Leicester
8. St. George MSO Congregation, Poole
9. The MSO Congregation, Maidstone
Organization skills Organized many events (seminars, meetings, courses, question paper setting for University, family conferences, ecumenical activities) in India Europe and UK.
- Conducting University examinations (collecting/setting question papers for different examinations, evaluation of answer sheets, collating and reporting results etc.)
- Organizing/delivering seminars, lecture series, curriculum courses innovatively as lecturer and Faculty secretary of the MSO Seminary, Mulamthuruthy, Kerala, India
- Conception and organization of the first conference of all Syrian Orthodox families from Europe in Vienna (2004). It was so successful that it became an annual tradition.
- Providing assistance in the organization of family conferences in Europe every year
- Complete charge of organizing UK family conference in Aberdeen in 2015 (venue, identification of speakers, course leaders, programs, cultural events, accommodation, catering, travel etc.). This highly successful event had 150 participating families.
- Active organizer for different ongoing events and courses for youth of the Church.
- Organized Jacobite Syriac Orthodox Student Movement UK’s seminar camps at Cefn Lea, Wales in 2014 and Oxford in 2015. Hundreds of youth participated and the complete organization of the events (accommodation, food, classes, games, cultural programs, networking) with a lot of fun was done by my clergy colleagues and I.
- In charge of the Sunday schools of UK Parishes (making outline of the courses for different groups based on the age, teaching, training and monitoring Sunday school teachers etc.)
Language Proficiency: Malayalam, English, Hindi, Tamil, German, Hebrew, Greek, Syriac
IT Proficiency: Basic knowledge in Word, Excel, Power Point, Photoshop and Internet Explorer
Published Works: "Prayers and Fasts according to Bar Ebroyo, A Study on the Prayers and Fasts of the Oriental Churches", Lit Verlag, Münster, 2004.
Professional ExperienceMission Activities (India) Undertaken several Mission activities during the theological studies and during my professional career as a teacher in Theology as well as Parish Priest/Vicar
- Worked as trainee in the mission centres of the North Kerala diocese of the Church of South India (CSI) for one month. We worked for the spiritual upliftment of the individual and community in the villages. Simultaneously created labour centres for improving the life and living standards of the jobless and downtrodden. The villagers realized the motivation behind the selfless help rendered as true Christian Love and many eventually became followers of Christ
- Worked in a similar manner in mission centres in Andhra Pradesh and Tamil Nadu (one month each)
- Worked with the fishermen in Alleppey coast of Kerala during my tenure as lecturer in Theology in MSO seminary during 1992-1996. This was a part of the students work experience program which was my responsibility. The fishermen were mostly uneducated and led a hand-to-mouth existence. The food in their home each day came from selling the fish caught on the day. A day with no fish caught meant a day without food for the family. But even in the midst of acute hunger and poverty they were living in a culture of sacrificial sharing and love. One specific incident during our stay with the community remains etched in my memory even after several years. It was lean days and fish was scarce. Many families were living in the border of penury. A group of 12 fishermen came back from fishing with just five fish as their catch which were offered very high price at the shore.They declined the offers and took the fish to a house in the coast. On discussions with the men later, we found out that there was an ailing man in death bed who wished to eat fresh fish and these men offered the fish to his family ignoring their own pressing needs. This incident touched me deeply. It was easy to talk to them about the sacrificial love of Jesus in the light of their own wonderful compassion for those suffering and needy.
- As a parish priest, I was in charge of two poor parishes in the high ranges of Kerala. These were farming communities, most of the population born Christians. However, their knowledge about Jesus was minimal. The work here involved enlightening them on the true aspects of Christianity and Christian life. The youth and children were given special attention, inspired and motivated to pursue higher goals in life and academics. My consistent effort resulted in a decrease in of alcohol/drug abuse which was prevalent in those areas.Many of them started excelling in their schools and colleges and chose to live a better happy life based on Jesus Christ and His love.
- I took initiative in bringing together three Christian parishes in the area (Catholic, CSI and Marthoma) and we four priests worked together to reform the society. We were successful in saving many families from the consequences of alcohol and drug abuse and in generating some job opportunities. Provided assistance to families for digging wells for drinking water and building hygienic toilets. We preached in our parishes only and not in public places, but our love and care inspired many friends from other religions and attracted them to our churches and to Christianity.
Mission Activities (Syria) Had opportunity for encountering and acquainting with Islamic religion, faith and culture. Interacted with the Muslim fraternity in Syria, in the Patriarchate and Seminary. The Grand Mufti of Damascus was an honoured guest of the Cathedral during major Christian Feasts and our Bishops used to visit the Syrian President and Grand Mufti. I was a member of the entourage during these visits. This provided me tremendous opportunity to interact with the dignitaries, and understand how mutual respect, friendliness and openness to other religions contribute to the development of a mission atmosphere.
- Interacted with Muslim labourers in Syria, generated an awareness in them about Syrian Christianity in India, the faith and practices while learning about their faith.
- Successful in building bridges between Muslim labourers in the locality and the inmates of the seminary and the patriarchate.
- Interacted closely with children, youth and families and was instrumental in guiding them lead the life of true Christians.
- Developed strong friendships with Hindu and Sikh communities and guided their children academically and morally. Some Hindu children occasionally attended my Christian Religious Education classes in their schools. These friendships left a deep Christian impact about love and care in their lives and often my presence was seen as a blessing for them.
Mission Activities (Austria) I was a parish priest and teacher in Vienna, fortunate to be a Christian Witness in manifold dimensions.
Mission Activities (England) In England I have dual role; priest at different Parishes and RIA (Regaining Independence Assistant)
- In the Parishes I minister, Adolescents and Youth are given special attention. They often struggle under pressure of dual cultural backgrounds, peer pressure from school. The children/youth are many times bullied by their Christian (born) peers for practising Christian faith. The conflicting environment and values which they are exposed to is highly confusing to the adolescents/youth. A little care and guidance at this crucial period can totally redirect their life towards the path of academic excellence, moral integrity, Christian faith and values. It is a very satisfying experience to watch these children grow up as responsible citizens of the world practising Christianity. I am very proud that our youth all over UK contact me regularly for guidance and strength in confusing/conflicting situations in their life. It gives me immense happiness and satisfaction that I can strengthen and guide them to be true Christians even in our radically changing and secular world.
- The engagement as RIA provided me opportunity to assist vulnerable people at their home and training them to regain independence at whatever level possible. I worked hard to develop in them a positive approach to life in the midst of all the suffering and grievances. My friendly, kind, cheerful and patient assistance induced in them the desire to know me more and understand about my faith. I used to tell them that I am an instrument in the hands of the Lord and he has sent me to help them. This developed a desire in them to know more about the Lord and follow Christianity in true spirit. Most of them were Christians for the name sake and I could bring some cheer and meaning in their lives.
Worthing, 04-10-2017 Fr. Dr. Chirathilattu Biji Markose (Theol.)