OLD TAPPAN, NEW JERSEY — July 23, 2026: Saint John’s Theological Seminary marked an important milestone with the official inauguration and blessing of its Headquarters Office at the Malankara Archdiocesan Headquarters, located at 236 Old Tappan Road, Old Tappan, New Jersey.
The new Seminary office was officially inaugurated and blessed by His Beatitude Mor Baselios Joseph, Catholicose of India, in the presence of hierarchs, clergy, Seminary leadership, faculty, students, and faithful.
Joining His Beatitude for the occasion were His Eminence Archbishop Mor Titus Yeldho, President of Saint John’s Theological Seminary and Archbishop of the Malankara Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church in North America; His Eminence Archbishop Mor Dionysius John Kawak, Vice President of the Seminary and Archbishop of the Eastern Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church; and His Eminence Archbishop Mor Sylvanos Ayub, Metropolitan of the Knanaya Archdiocese of USA, Canada and Europe.
Also present were Rev. Fr. Jerry Jacob, MD, PhD, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Saint John’s Theological Seminary; Rev. Fr. Dr. Jacob Joseph, Dean & Chief Academic Officer of the Seminary; Dr. Mathew Alapurath, Seminary Director; Very Rev. Dayroyo Saliba Er, faculty member of the Seminary; and Rev. Fr. Paul Thotakat, Secretary of the Malankara Archdiocese. They were joined by many other clergy members, faithful, and a number of students of the Seminary.
His Beatitude offered prayers and blessed the newly established office, invoking God’s grace upon the Seminary, its leadership, faculty, students, and all those who support its mission.
During the gathering, His Beatitude congratulated the Board of Trustees and leadership of Saint John’s Theological Seminary and expressed his appreciation for the work that has gone into establishing and developing the Seminary. He especially recognized the importance of establishing a Syriac Orthodox theological seminary in the United States that can serve students not only in North America, but throughout the world.
The opening of the Headquarters Office provides Saint John’s Theological Seminary with a permanent administrative home as it continues to grow. The office will support the Seminary’s academic administration, student services, communications, and other day-to-day operations.
Saint John’s Theological Seminary was established to provide faithful theological education rooted in the Holy Scriptures, theology, liturgy, history, spirituality, and Syriac heritage of the Syriac Orthodox Church. Through its programs, the Seminary brings together clergy, scholars, and students from different parts of the world, both men and women, in the study of the faith and tradition of the Church.
The presence of His Beatitude Mor Baselios Joseph made the inauguration especially meaningful for the Seminary community. His prayers, encouragement, and words of support were received with great joy by those gathered for the occasion.
The Seminary leadership expressed its gratitude to His Beatitude Mor Baselios Joseph for personally inaugurating and blessing the office and for his continued encouragement of the Seminary’s mission.
Gratitude was also expressed to His Holiness Moran Mor Ignatius Aphrem II, Patriarch of Antioch and All the East and Supreme Head of the Universal Syriac Orthodox Church, for his prayers, blessings, and support.
The inauguration of the Headquarters Office was a joyful and historic occasion for Saint John’s Theological Seminary and an important step in its continuing mission to provide theological education to students in the United States and around the world.
With the blessing of its new headquarters, Saint John’s Theological Seminary looks forward to continuing its service to the Church by helping students deepen their knowledge of the faith, grow in their spiritual lives, and prepare for meaningful service to Christ and His Holy Church.
