Peyyala Issac Vara Prasad

Issac Vara Prasad had nearly 30 years of parish service and was a senior Priest in his diocese. He stood in fray for bishopric of the Diocese and was elected to the panel constituted by the CSI Synod. He was declared elected as Bishop by CSI Synod and was consecrated on 22 February 2021 at CSI Central Church, Kadapa by Moderator, Dharmaraj Rasalam (Principal Consecrator) and Deputy Moderator K. Reuben Mark (Co-consecrator), which was witnessed by a host of Bishops from adjoining dioceses.

Much like any University Grants Commission-recognised institution, Vara Prasad learnt the nuances of academic learning in a semester system. He also learnt Biblical Greek and Biblical Hebrew from perhaps the best available Scholars in India in Serampore University system. During his three-year ministerial formation at Protestant Regional Theologiate in Secunderabad, Vara Prasad also came under the tutelage of Old Testament Scholar, G. Babu Rao, CBCNC,. Prasad was awarded a graduate degree during 1993 convocation of Senate of Serampore College (University), then under Registrarship of New Testament Scholar, D. S. Satyaranjan, IPC, held at Serampore College, Serampore.

Vara Prasad's began serving in parishes under the Diocese after his ordination in 1993, that comprised Churches established by Reformed Church in America, London Missionary Society and Society for the Propagation of the Gospel. He was in Kamalapuram, Yerraguntla, Kadapa, Adoni, Anantapur, Guntakal, Pulivendula, among other parishes. Vara Prasad went about his priestly duties as Pastor in ecclesiastical jurisdiction of Rayalaseema under the care of able Servants, comprising L. V. Azariah, C. B. M. Frederick, K. B. Yesu Vara Prasad and B. D. Prasada Rao.

Vara Prasad undertook spiritual studies as a fully-resident seminarian at Andhra Christian Theological College, Secunderabad, affiliated to nation's first University, the Senate of Serampore College (University), where he studied Bachelor of Theology during the academic years 1989–1992. He studied at the seminary at a time when cycle of principalship was rolling over from Suppogu Joseph, STBC to M. Victor Paul, AELC, both of whom were New Testament Scholars. Co-faculty comprised Systematic Theologians, Regunta Yesurathnam, CSI, B. J. Christie Kumar, STBC, G. Dyvasirvadam, CSI, as well as P. Joseph, STBC and G. T. Abraham, CSI, who taught Christian Ministry.

Bishop P. I. Vara Prasad (born 8.10.1962) is a silver jubilee Priest and current Bishop - in - Rayalaseema Diocese of the Church of South India. Ever since his ordination as Deacon/Presbyter in 1993 by then Bishop L. V. Azariah, he began his career as a Priest in Churches within ecclesiastical jurisdiction of CSI-Diocese of Rayalaseema that comprise parts of civil states of Andhra Pradesh and Telugu-speaking parts of Tamil Nadu. Vara Prasad is well versed in conducting Mass, following Presbyterian, Congregational and Anglican rites.