Thiruvananthapuram: The only woman priest in Kerala has retired from the post at the age of 67 on Tuesday. Kerala CSI Church Rev Omana Victor joined the Kerala United Theological Seminary at Kannammoola in Thiruvananthapuram in 1990.

She had led the holy mass and prayers at CSI Church in Elakkode West in Thiruvananthapuram. The devotees used to address her as 'Achan' (father).

Omana hailed from Kattakkada and got married in 1978 to a priest of CSI church, Rev Robert Victor. From then on, she was active in church activities along with her husband. Later, she grew attached to the believers. 

During that time, the CSI South Kerala diocese allowed women to join seminaries. Omana believed that the opportunity to become a priest was the greatest blessing in her life. Omana had three or four women classmates, but nobody else was willing to join the priestly duties in the church. 

Later, in 1998, she received ordination from CSI church and became the second woman to hold the position. The first woman priest in the history of the church is Marathakavalli David, who was ordained in 1989. She passed away at the age of 60 in 2011. From her school days, Marathakavalli wanted to become a priest and was influenced by the lives of Florence Nightingale and William Carey, who strove to serve mankind braving all odds.

Omana has two sons, Shaji Victor, who works in the Kerala Assembly and Reji Victor, who works in a private firm.