In loving memory of their sister, Sr Magdalen Margaret Abraham Vazhayil of the Knanaya Archdiocese of the Syriac Orthodox Church, the Vazhayil family has established a new endowment to support the tuition fees primarily for Knanaya seminary students (both men and women) at St Vladimir’s Orthodox Theological Seminary (SVOTS). The first recipient of scholarship funds from this endowment will be Semayon Lukose (M.Div. ‘24).
Sr Magdalen Margaret (Achammakutty Abraham) was born in Kunnankarry, Kerala, India as the seventh child of the late Chachykutty and T. Abraham Vazhayil. She came to the United States in the early 1970s and completed her bachelor's degree at the University of Massachusetts in Boston, Massachusetts. After receiving novitiate training at St Margaret’s Episcopal Convent in Boston, Massachusetts, she entered monastic life soon afterward and in 1980, became the first woman in the Knanaya North American community to be tonsured a nun.
Known in the Knanaya community as a woman of prayer, Sr Magdalen Margaret was very caring and strived to love and serve all people around her. She was instrumental in initiating programs for the women of the North American Knanaya Community and served as the founding Vice President of the North American Knanaya Women's Organization (NAKWO). She donated her time and resources to her community and was focused on serving the Lord. She was the driving force for spiritual activities such as the NAKWO Prayer line, retreats for families, and the publishing of the NAKWO church calendar. She was serving as the Vice President of the NAKWO at the time of her repose in the Lord.
May the memory of Sr Magdalen Margaret be eternal!
Donate to the Sr Magdalen Margaret Abraham Vazhayil Scholarship Fund
Adapted from a tribute provided by the family of Sr Magdalen Margaret.
