Acknowledgements
This book is a revision of my doctoral thesis, The Christ who Embraces: An Orthodox Theology of Margins in India (University of Divinity, 2020) under the supervision of Rev Associate Professor John Flett, (the principal supervisor) and Rev. Dr. Duncan Reid (the associate supervisor). There are a host of supporters helped me to complete this research. I am indebted to Professor John McDowell and Dr. Suman Kashyap for their timely guidance extended from the University office. My thanks are also due to the faculty and staff of Pilgrim Theological College, Melbourne. I am grateful to Rev Associate Professor Sean Winter, Associate Professor Katharine Massam, Rev Associate Professor Monica Melanchthon, Rev Associate Professor Geoff Thompson, and Ms Erlinda Loversed for encouraging my research project.
Many international scholars have generously shared their knowledge and wisdom with me over the past few years. I would particularly like to mention Dr. Sebastian Brock, Dr. Yonatan Moss, Dr. Sathianathan Clarke, Dr. P.T. George, Dr. P. Sanal Mohan, Dr. Gudrun Löwner, Dr. Robert Kitchen, Dr. Santhosh Kumar, Dr. Jayakiran Sebastian, Dr. Francis Clooney, Dr. Stephen B. Bevans, Dr. Peniel Rajkumar, Dr. George Zachariah, Dr. Y.T. Vinayraj, Dr. George Pati, Dr. Raj Bharat Bhatta, Dr. Jobin Chacko, Abuna Boutros Touma Issa, Fr. Jithin James, and Mr. Aziz Maud.
My gratitude also goes out to the staffs of the following libraries: Oxford University Library, Manchester University Library, United Theological College Library, Bangalore; Dalton McCaughey Library, Parkville; St. Paschal Library, Box Hill; St. Athanasius College Library, Donvale. I would especially want to thank Mrs. Deborah Decru from St. Athanasius Library and Mr. Stephen Connelly, Ms. Sabine Voermans, T. Marshal, and Ms. Tosca Waerea from Dalton McCaughey Library. I am also grateful to Mr. Kuriakose Kurian from Canberra for the book’s exquisite formatting.
I would like to express my appreciation to the bishops, priests and parishioners of the Malankara Syrian Orthodox Church in India, the United States of America, United Kingdom, Australia, and Ireland for their guidance and support in preserving my spirit of research. Specifically, I express my heartfelt gratitude to His Holiness Ignatius Aprem II, the Patriarch of Antioch and all the East, their Eminences Mor Malatius Malki Malki, Dr Mor Severus Roger, their Graces Mor Athanasios Geevarghese, Mor Militius Yuhanon, and Mor Ireneous Paulose for their ongoing prayers and blessings. I am grateful to Dr. Mathew Samuel, Mr. Binoj Mathew and Mrs. L. Varghese for assisting me access in obtaining several endowment funds to cover my tuition at the University of Divinity.
I am deeply indebted to my family whose love and prayers made all this possible: my mother, Ammini Joseph, mother-in-law Mrs. Lissamma Mathai, and siblings Mr. Thomas Kutty and Eliyamma and families; Mr. Varghese M.A. and Mrs. Lissy Varghese and family, Mr. Thomas Mathai and family, and Ms. Cijy Mathai; and to some who have already departed this world for their heavenly abode, namely my father Mr. P.T. Joseph, father-in-law, Mr. Thomas Mathai and my brother Mr. Lassar V.J.
Words cannot do justice to the thanks I owe my beloved wife Deepa Jacob, and children Hansel Joseph Jacob and Georgy Mathew Jacob. Throughout this journey, they have compromised their time and social enjoyment, and sacrificed so much in various other ways to allow me to accomplish this dream. Finally, and most importantly, I wish to thank God Almighty for enabling me to author this book.