Historic first: Two women begin journey to priesthood in CSI Malabar Diocese

Kozhikode: In a historic first for the Church of South India’s Malabar Diocese, two women have been consecrated as deaconesses—marking the beginning of their journey toward priesthood in a traditionally male-dominated altar space.

At a solemn service held at Mananchira Cathedral, Bishop Dr Royce Manoj Victor ordained Saju Mary Abraham (52) and Nimshi David (25), both of whom are expected to be elevated to full priesthood after a year. The CSI Malabar Diocese spans from Palakkad to Kasaragod, encompassing 132 churches and over one lakh members.

As rows of male clergy stood behind the altar, the presence of the two women taking vows was quietly revolutionary. “This is not just about two individuals—it is about the whole church taking a step forward,” said Joyprasad Pulickal, a member of the Church’s executive committee.

Saju Mary Abraham, hailing from Ranni in Pathanamthitta, is a scholar with postgraduate degrees in physics, sociology and theology. She has taught in seminaries across Salem and Allahabad and is fluent in six languages, including Greek, Hebrew and Sanskrit. Her husband, Rev Reji George Varghese, is also a priest. Their daughter is pursuing law, and their son is an engineering student.

Nimshi David, the younger of the two, represents a new generation of women entering ministry. Born in Nagercoil and raised in Wayanad, she graduated with a gold medal in philosophy from Madras Christian College and later earned a theology degree in Chennai with distinction. Her father, Rev David Stephen, serves as vicar of St Paul’s CSI Church in Nedunkaran.

While women have been ordained in other CSI dioceses, this marks the first such ordination in the Malabar region—signalling a major shift in the church’s gender dynamics.
PTI