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Photo: Liju Cherian

Photo: Liju Cherian

By Liju Cherian*

The Malankara (Indian) Orthodox Syrian Church Bangalore Diocesan headquarters on the outskirts of the city of Bengaluru in India has been transformed into a farmhouse during recent weeks due to a COVID-19 lockdown.

Dr Abraham Mar Seraphim, Bengaluru Diocese metropolitan, who was in lockdown at the Diocesan Centre for over two months, was personally involved in farming the land along with a few of his staff. Deeply influenced during his stay at the Monastic Republic of Mount Athos, Greece last year, he had observed how the monks leading an ascetic life also cultivated their agricultural land.

It was then that he thought to duplicate the same at his diocese home. The earlier plain barren land now has a green cover full of organic vegetables, fruit-bearing trees, coconut trees and plants.

Mar Seraphim says: “COVID-19 helped revive elements of monasticism in our life. Other than devoting more time in Bible reading, prayers and teaching, I also urged Orthodox Christian families to adapt to farming and bring a change in their lifestyles.”

The bishop further adds that the work revived man’s bonding with nature which is on the wane. Marketing of the fresh harvested vegetables to local markets is being planned in a phased manner after they are sold in nearby villages and also served in daily meals at the diocese.

Spread over 50 cents (about 2,000 sq feet), the agricultural land has grown a variety of organic vegetables, fruit-bearing trees and medicinal plants over the past few months. Aggressive farming has over the season yielded red spinach, yardlong (asparagus) beans, cabbages, capsicum, eggplant, lady’s finger (okra), tomatoes, chilies, cauliflower, bitter gourd and more. The farm also has a rich green cover in coconut trees, mango, and gooseberry.

The benefit of lockdown enabled the Metropolitan to tend to farming with his personal care and prayers.

A protégé of Metropolitan Philipose Eusebius (1931-2009) of Thumpamon Diocese, Mar Seraphim was very much influenced by life at St Basil Dayara, Pathanamthitta, Kerala state. At 51, he is the youngest Bishop of the Indian Orthodox Church and completed 25 years of faithful ministry in Christ this year.

* Liju Cherian is a print media journalist

WCC's Food for Life Campaign

WCC member churches in India