The Reverend Sister Virginia Rajakumari, SAB [1] Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne, Bangalore (SAB) [2] | |
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Born | Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu October 8, 1965 [1] |
Nationality | Indian |
Other names | V. R. Sandiyagu |
Occupation | Spiritual Formator |
Years active | 21st century |
Known for | Scholarship in Biblical Studies |
Title | The Reverend Sister |
Board member of | |
Relatives | Fr. Ignatius Anthappa |
Academic background | |
Education | |
Alma mater |
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Thesis | Women as Eyewitnesses to the Christian Kerygma: The Galilean Women in the Redaction of Luke: An Exegetical Study of Luke 8:1-3 (2008) |
Doctoral advisor | Dr. Reimund Bieringer |
Other advisors | Fr. Lucien Legrand, MEP, Fr. P. A. Sampath Kumar |
Influences | Feminism |
Academic work | |
Era | 21st century |
Discipline | Biblical Studies |
Sub-discipline | New Testament |
School or tradition | Theology |
Institutions |
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Main interests | Women's participation in the Church |
Notable ideas | Women in Christianity |
Influenced | Biblical hermeneutics |
Virginia Rajakumari Sandiyagu (born 8 October 1965 [1] ) is a Biblical scholar belonging to Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne,Bangalore (SAB). She teaches Sacred Scriptures at Kristu Jyoti College,Krishnarajapuram,Bangalore. Rajakumari is known for Biblical hermeneutics, [12] especially her research on re-reading [13] scriptures that hitherto relegated women to the background. Her re-interpretation has shed new light on importance [14] of women in Old Testament and New Testament.
Sandiyagu,V. R. professed as a Nun on 21 May 1985 [1] with Sisters of St. Anne of Bangalore (SAB). She studied in Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram,Bangalore,graduating in 1995 [2] with a B.Th. degree. She continued her studies in St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary,enrolling in a postgraduate course leading to M.Th.. The faculty included Lucien Legrand,MEP and P. A. Sampath Kumar. Sandiyagu graduated in 1997. [2]
In the 2000s,Sandiyagu enrolled with KU Leuven in Leuven,Belgium,where she was guided by Reimund Bieringer. In 2004, [6] she graduated with a M.A. [6] degree and continued her studies at KU Leuven,enrolling in a doctoral programme. She studied in Maria-Theresia College. [7] During her time at KU Leuven,Sandiyagu also took part in an International research project Mary Magdalene and the Touching of Jesus. An Intra- and Interdisciplinary Investigation of the Interpretation of John 20,17 in Exegesis,Iconography and Pastoral Care. [15] In 2008,Sandiyagu graduated with a Ph.D. degree. Her dissertation was listed in fr:Revue théologique de Louvain. [16]
Sandiyagu teaches Sacred Scriptures at Salesians of Don Bosco-run Kristu Jyoti College,Krishnarajapuram as a permanent faculty. She also teaches as a guest faculty at St. Peter's Pontifical Seminary,Malleswaram, [2] National Biblical,Catechetical &Liturgical Centre,Banaswadi [9] and Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram,Bannerghatta Road [9]
As a scholar in Biblical Studies,Sandiyagu is engaged in scripture engagement as Secretary of Bible Commission,Karnataka Regional Catholic Bishops' Council [3] In November 2024,she got elected as President of Society for Biblical Studies in India for biennium 2024-2026,succeeding Old Testament Scholar,K. Jesurathnam,STBC.
She is on the Council of Congregation of Sisters of St. Anne,Bangalore as General Councilor. [4] Sandiyagu is also Governing Councilor of St. Anne’s Educational Society,Bangalore that manages St. Anne's First Grade College for Women in Bangalore. [5]
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Bachelor of Philosophy is the title of an academic degree in philosophy that usually involves considerable research, either through a thesis or supervised research projects. Unlike many other bachelor's degrees, the BPhil is typically awarded to individuals who have already completed a traditional undergraduate degree.
Joseph Augustine Fitzmyer was an American Catholic priest and scholar who taught at several American and British universities. He was a member of the Society of Jesus (Jesuits).
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Dharmaram Vidya Kshetram Pontifical Athenaeum of Philosophy and Theology also known as DVK Pontifical Athenaeum is an institution of higher learning established by the Syro-Malabar Catholic congregation of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI) and is located in Bengaluru, India. It is a Pontifical Athenaeum with degree-granting authority validated by the Vatican, empowered to grant degrees, including Licentiate and Doctorate in Philosophy and Theology.
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Kristu Jayanti College, founded in the year 1999, managed by "Bodhi Niketan Trust", formed by the members of St. Joseph Province of the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI). The college is affiliated to Bengaluru North University. The college is recognized by UGC under the category 2(f) & 12(B). The college was accorded autonomous status in 2013 by the University Grants Commission, Government of Karnataka & the Bengaluru North University. The National Assessment and Accreditation Council (NAAC) has accredited Kristu Jayanti College (Autonomous) with A++ grade. The college has been rated with a cumulative grade point average (CGPA) of 3.78 out of 4 in the third cycle of accreditation. It is the second institution in the country and the first in Karnataka to achieve the highest CGPA. The college is ranked 60th among colleges in India by the National Institutional Ranking Framework (NIRF) in 2024.
Thomas Aykara CMI is the rector of Dharmaram College in Bengaluru, India. He is a Catholic priest of the Syro-Malabar Church. He joined the Carmelites of Mary Immaculate (CMI)Carmelites of Mary Immaculate congregation, St. Joseph's Province Kottayam in 1954. He is a philosopher, theologian and religious. He is a scholar, teacher, author and thinker. Several academic centres in India and abroad originated through the efforts of Thomas Aykara.
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Jan Lambrecht was a Belgian Catholic priest of the Society of Jesus, Professor Emeritus of New Testament and Biblical Greek at the Faculty of Theology and Religious Studies, KU Leuven, Belgium and a member of the Pontifical Biblical Commission. As a theologian, biblical scholar, and prolific author, he contributed numerous studies on almost all the books of the New Testament, but focused especially on the Gospels and the Pauline letters. His publications included books and articles written in English, Dutch, and French.
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