By Susana Barrera for ALC.   

"Allow me to express to you that I receive this distinction with all humility, which I want to offer to the men and women of the Episcopal Anglican Church of El Salvador and to my Salvadoran people, both those who live in the country as well as those that live in the diaspora throughout the world,” said Barahona to those present at the seminary’s graduation ceremony. 

Founded in 1817, the General Theological Seminary of New York is the oldest of all the Episcopal seminaries in the United States, and is the only one that has a direct relationship with the General Convention of the Episcopal Church in the country.  

In his short speech, the 68 year old bishop offered the merit “to the men and women of our beloved Anglican communion dispersed in the hemisphere and, in a very special way, to the men and women of the whole world that have dared, dare and will dare to be different," 

The seminary conferred the first Honoris Causa Doctoral Degree in 1885, and outstanding figures such as Nobel Peace Laureate Desmond Tutu have been awarded this title. 

"Two years ago Bishop Martín Barahona's witness was brought before the highest authorities of this theological academy and was carefully studied,” said the Reverend Lee Crawford, a priest who along with three other persons presented the Salvadoran prelate.   

The ceremony for the awarding of the diplomas included segments in Latin, and was recreated during the XIX century, and is followed today with few changes. General Seminary is greatly respected by the Episcopal Church of United States.  

Photo: Anglican Bishop of El Salvador, Martín Barahona