Thrissur: An eight-day lecture series on the topic ‘My Kerala, My Heritage’ by historian, educationalist, journalist, and writer George Menachery, in connection with his 80th birthday celebrations, concluded here on Sunday.

Addressing the valedictory function here on Sunday, Baselios Mar Thoma II, the Catholicos of the Orthodox Syrian Church, remembered Prof. Menachery as his English Professor at St. Thomas College, Thrissur. The Catholicos recalled Prof. Menachery’s contribution to research in Indian church history and mural arts.

Presiding over the function, Anil Vallathole, Vice Chancellor of Thunchath Ezhuthachan Malayalam University, noted Prof. Menachery’s studies concentrated on less-trodden paths. A historian of Syro Malabar Church and Kerala history, Prof. Menachery is the editor of St. Thomas Christian Encyclopaedia of India and Indian Church History Classics . He is recipient of Order of Saint Gregory the Great, known as Title of Chevalier.

He retired as postgraduate professor and Head of the Department of English from St. Thomas College, Thrissur.

He has been teaching theologians as visiting professor of Sacred Art (both Indian and Western Christian Art and Architecture) at Pontifical Theology Institute, Aluva, for the past 30 years. Winner of many awards, Prof. Menachery has written many books .

The eight-day lecture sessions dealt with various aspects of Kerala history, culture, traditions, customs, murals, wooden reliefs, architecture, anthropology, and archaeology.

(The Hindu)