Church Historian Dr. A. Mathias Mundadan Passes Away

World renowned Indian Church Historian Dr. A. M. Mundadan, General Editor of the prestigious History of Christianity in India series of the Church History Association of India (CHAI), and first president of the Dharmaram Pontifical Institute, Bangalore passed away at 4.30 p. m. yesterday the 31^st of August 2012 at Alwaye, Ernakulam.  The funeral will take place today 1^st September at 2.30 p. m. at the St. Ant[h]ony’s Monastery, Alwaye next to the railway station and a few metres away from the KSRTC station, where he was residing now for a number of years nursing the research institute Jeevass which was very close to his heart. A member of the editorial board of the St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India from 1971 and the organiser of a number of Christian Cultural and Historical Exhibitions, beginning with the exhibition at Dharmaram College, 1972, he has a number of publications to his credit including: The History of Christianity in India upto the Middle of the Sixteenth Century(CHAI 1984), The Arrival of the Portuguese in India and the Thomas Christians under Mar Jacob, 1498 – 1552 (1967), Sixteenth Century Traditions of St. Thomas Christians (1970), Indian Christians: Search for Identity and Struggle for Autonomy (1984). He was the Rector of Dharmaram College and the Provincial of the Sacred Heart Province, Rajagiri of the CMI Congregation for more than one term each. The last article he had completed was autobiographical in nature written for CHAI’s Platinum Jubilee Volume India’s Christian Heritage, edited by Oberland Snaitang and George Menachery. Bishop Gratian Mundadan is the younger brother of the deceased.  May his great soul rest in peace. The Church History Association of India is being represented at the funeral by Prof. George Menachery and Sebastian Edathikkavil CMI who will  convey  condolences on behalf of Dr. Oliver Jetti, President, Dr. George Oommen, Gen. Secretary, and D r. Francis Thonippara, Treasurer of the CHAI.