Ruhalaya is the Major Seminary of the Missionary Society of St. Thomas the Apostle (MST).
It is situated in Ujjain, a city of historical and religious importance in Madhya Pradesh, India. Ruhalaya Philosophate was started in 1986 and the Theologate in 1997. Ruhalaya Philosophy faculty provides three year Philosophy course and facilitates a secular B.A Degree (English Literature, Philosophy, and Sociology) as regular students of Nirmala College affiliated to Vikram University, Ujjain. Ruhalaya Institute of Theology is affiliated to Paurastya Vidyāpītham, Vadavathoor, Kottayam, Kerala through the Decree No. 1068/2006/4 of the Congregation for Catholic Education, Rome, dated 15 September, 2006.
The name Ruhalaya is the combination of the Syriac word Rūha (Holy Spirit) and the Sanskrit word ālaya (house, abode), meaning Abode of the Holy Spirit, placing the seminary rightly in its proper ecclesial and cultural milieu. In this House of the Holy Spirit, the future priests and missionaries are enlightened, equipped, and formed for the missionary apostolate.
Ruhalaya imparts formation to priesthood, with special emphasis on human, spiritual, intellectual and missionary training, firmly rooted in the ecclesial traditions of the Syro-Malabar Church and fully adapted to the missionary context of India. Although Ruhalaya is primarily intended for the priestly formation of the future missionaries of MST, it is open to the students of all Syro-Malabar eparchies and arch-eparchies. Students of other sui iuris Churches are also admitted.
