The Maramon Convention, widely regarded as Asia’s largest annual Christian gathering, concluded on Sunday, February 19, at Maramon near Kozhencherry, Kerala.

The 117th Maramon Convention saw tens of thousands of people in attendance, travelling from different corners of the country and around the world.

The week-long convention came to a close with the valedictory message delivered by Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Joseph Mar Thoma.

In his message, Joseph Mar Thoma challenged the mammoth crowd to keep firm faith and follow Christ’s teachings to confront wider problems within the family and society.

Addressing lack of spiritual and moral values can help tackle some of society’s vexing problems, such as crime, corruption and violence, he observed.

Organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the theme for this year’s convention was “Arise, let us be going”.

In addition to the Metropolitan, priests and bishops of the Mar Thoma Church, world renowned speakers addressed this year’s convention.

Biblical discourses were given by renowned speakers, such as Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana from South Africa, Rev Kang-San-Tan from Malaysia and Rev Martin Alphons from the United States.

Earlier, the opening session was attended by Chief Minister Oommen Chandy, Ministers P J Joseph and Adoor Prakash, among other politicians.

Launched in the year 1896, the ecumenical event is held annually by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, which is the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church.

The week-long event brings some 200,000 Christians belonging to different church denominations. Prayer, singing, preaching and Bible study occupy the major part of the convention programme.

Distinguished speakers who addressed the convention in the past include Rev Thomas Walker, Sadhu Sunder Singh, Dr G Sherwood Eddy, Dr E Stanley Jones, John R. Mott, Dr Bob Pierce, Dr John Haggai and a host of others

The youth meet held as part of the 117th Maramon Convention, billed as Asia’s largest annual Christian congregation, on the banks of river Pampa at Maramon near Kozhencherry has called upon the Churches to strive for the personality development and upliftment of the socially backward sections of the society.
 
Delivering the keynote address, Dr George K. Alex, academic and thinker, said the socially backward sections of the society should be provided with the opportunity to make creative contributions in the fields of liturgy and social development.
 
The Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam president, Joseph Mar Barnabas, presided. Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa delivered the keynote address at the forenoon session.
 
The Mar Thoma Sevika Sanghom meet was held in the afternoon. Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana, evangelist from South Africa, inaugurated the meet.
 
Rev Kang-San-Tan, evangelist from Malaysia, delivered the keynote address, later, in the evening.
 
Bible classes were held separately for men and women at the convention venue from 7.30 am to 8.30 am.
 
The annual religious retreat will come to a close on Sunday.

The Mar Thoma Metropolitan, Joseph Mar Thoma, will deliver the valedictory message at the concluding session to be held at 2.30 pm on Sunday.

“A bell is no bell till you ring it, a song is no song till you sing it and love is not love till you give it away,’’ said Bishop Thomas Samuel of the Church of South India.

The CSI Bishop was delivering the keynote address at the Ecumenical Meet of the 117th Maramon Convention at its traditional venue on the riverbed of Pampa at Maramon near Kozhencherry on Wednesday.

He said ecumenism is a mass movement, a motivation to the entire humanity.

“I have other sheep too that are not in this sheepfold. I must bring them also.’’ These words of Jesus Christ should be taken as a call for unity of the Churches and the entire humanity, the Bishop said.

He said Indiana University professor Elinor Ostrom, Nobel laureate in Economic Sciences, stressed the need to protect the forests to save the life on earth and humanity which was a great philosophy of unity.

The CSI Bishop said not only the Christians, but the entire humanity was also bound to protect the forests at a time when the flora, fauna and the entire creation were craving for help. He said the Nilackal Ecumenical and Dialogue Centre was a paragon of unity.

According to him, as far as the Church is concerned, unity is a coincidence of the Jesus Christ in resurrection. Believers in China are trying to overcome the factionalism among churches, realising the truth that unity in life is a great experience, he adds.

Bishop Thomas Samuel said the Anglican Theological Commission Report of 2008 stressed the need for dialogues to achieve the goal of unity of Churches. Development of the Information Technology in the modern times could be effectively utilised for the unity of the Churches, he said.

Quoting the Archbishop of Canterbury, Rowan Williams, the CSI Bishop said “Church is a place where Christ becomes visible.

Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church , presided the meet.

Meet against social evils

Joshua Mar Ignatius, Mavelikkara Bishop of the Syro-Malankara Catholic Church, delivered the keynote address at the meet against social evils held in the afternoon.

Gregorios Mar Stephanos Episcopa addressed the gathering, later, in the evening.

From  Maramon convention :  Supreme head of Marthoma Church Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan has said that progress achieved in society over the years has caused grave problems like corruption, violence, exploitation and harassment of women and the aged.

Inaugurating the 117th Maramon convention, organised by the Marthoma Evangelistic Association, on the sand-bed of Pampa� near Kozhenchery on Sunday, Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan said that the people across the world face grave problems consequent to materialistic progress.

Joseph Marthoma said that the people have now distanced themselves from the path of God due to the improvement in the standard of living and are clamouring after excessive materialistic satisfaction.

The Metropolitan said that development in education facilities had resulted in improved earnings and the consequent exploitation of the less privileged. Hence, the progress achieved in recent times had created more problems than virtues for the people, Joseph Marthoma said.

The metropolitan said even evangelists prefer to work in foreign countries instead of serving the poor and backward class people for their upliftment.

Valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostum delivered the benedictory address. Evangelistic Association president Thomas Mar Thimothios presided over the meeting. Association general secretary Rev Abraham P Oommen welcomed the gathering.

Rev Martin Alphonse delivered the discourse. Geevarghese Mar Athanasios, Geevarghese Mar Theodosios, Joseph Mar Barnabas, Abraham Mar Paulose, Mathews Mar Markarios, Gregorios Mar Zephanos, Thomas Mar Timothios, CSI Bishop Sam Mathew, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana and Rev Kang-San-Tan were present at the inaugural meeting.

Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,  Ministers P J Joseph and Adoor Prakash, MPs P J Kurian, Anto Antony and Kodikunnil Suresh, Chief Whip P C George, MLAs K Sivadasan Nair, Raju Abraham and P C Vishnunath, District Panchayat president Babu George, District Collector P Venugopal, Annapoorandevi, P Mohanraj, Peelipose Thomas,� D K John, Rev Sam T Mathew,P P Achenkunju and Thomas T George were among those who were present on the occasion.

Feb, 14 2012 : Episcopa of the Delhi diocese of the Marthoma Church Abraham Mar Paulose has said that the faithful should protest against indiscriminate  exploitation of the environment and other natural resources.

Delivering the discourse at the 117th Maramon Convention on the second day on Monday, Abraham Mar Paulose said that exploitation of the natural resources for the selfish and personal ends should be put to an end. He asked the faithful to show the courage to fight against the indiscriminate use of natural resources and destruction of environment.

Awareness programmes should be launched to prevent destruction of environment, he said. Protection and preservation of rivers should be given the much-needed focus, he said. Abraham Mar Paulose said that efforts should also be channelised for moral and social uplift of people.

The Maramon Convention, Asia’s biggest Christian convention, got underway here Sunday afternoon on the banks of the Pampa river. The week-long event will see around three million people attending and will be addressed by prominent evangelists from across the world.

Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior metropolitan, of the Mar Thoma Church led the opening worship of the 117th edition of the convention. It is being held under the aegis of the Syrian Mar Thoma Church, headquartered at Thiruvalla, about 130 km from Thiruvananthapuram.

Maramon is situated on the banks of the Pampa river, about 20 km from Thiruvalla and the convention takes place on the river bed under a temporary shed made out of coconut leaves, which can seat a lakh of people.

“Arise, let us be going” is the theme for this year.

Prominent evangelists like Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana from South Africa, Rev Kang-San-Tan from Malaysia and Rev Martin Alphons from the US will be the main speakers.

A record three million believers from various Christian denominations are expected to visit the convention, which will be managed with no police or volunteers.

There would be three separate sessions daily with special sessions for women and men, besides a series of prayer and devotional music sessions.

The Mar Thoma community has nearly a million believers.

The week-long convention would also see a big crowd of Kerala politicians taking time off from their busy schedule to attend the convention.   

The 117th Maramon Convention, widely regarded as Asia’s largest week-long annual Christian spiritual retreat, will be held on its traditional venue of the riverbed of Pampa at Maramon near Kozhencherry from February 12 to 19, said Fr Abraham P. Oommen, general secretary of Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA), missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church that organises the annual event.

Fr Oommen, accompanied by P.P. Achenkunju, MTEA treasurer; Sam T. Mathew, Thomas T. George, secretaries; K.K. Royson and Vincen Thomas Elanthoor, conveners, was addressing a press conference here on Friday.

According to them, ’Arise, let us be going’ will be the MTEA theme for his year’s religious convention.

He said it was the ecumenical spirit and the reformation ardour of the 19th century was led to the birth of Maramon Convention way back in 1895. This spiritual retreat is a week of prayer, meditation, singing sharing and hearing Bibilical discourses by promiment speakers.

Fr Oommen said the Marthomites across the globe used to take it as an occasion of spiritual renewal.

Inaugural function

Dr Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church, will inaugurate the annual event at a function to be presided by the MTEA president, Thomas Mar Themotheos Episcopa, at 2.30 pm on February 12.

Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior Metropolitan, will lead the opening worship. Other bishops of Mar Thoma Church will also address different sessions during he week-long spiritual retreat.

Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana from South Africa, Rev Kang-San-Tan from Malaysia and Rev Martin Alphons from United States of America, all evangelists, will be the main speakers at this year’s Maramon Convention, Fr Oommen said.

He said the social commitment inspired by the convention had led to formation of institutes like Mar Thoma Sunday School SAmajom (1905), Mar Thoma Sevika Sanghom (1919), orphanages and destitute homes. Projects like ‘Home for the homeless’ and ‘Land for the landless’ were also emerged out of the convention, he added.

There will be three sessions at 10 am, 2 pm and 6.30 pm from February 13 to 18. Bible classes will be held separately for men and women at the convention venue from 7.30 am to 8.30 am from February 13 to 18. The Ecumenical meet as part of the annual meet will be held at 10 am on February 16 and the meet against social evils will be held, later, at 2 pm.

According to MTEA general secretary, the family meet will be held at 4 pm from February 13 to 15.

The Mar Thoma Metropolitan will deliver the valedictory message on February 19 afternoon.

A 101-member choir of the Department of Sacred Music and Communication (DSMC) attached to Mar Thoma Church will present music sessions on all the eight days.

Arrangements

Fr Oommen said various government departments, including Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity board, Water Resources Department, Public Works Department, Police, Fire and Rescue Force, Health department and Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, were also engaged in making arrangements to facilitate the smooth management of the annual meet.

KSRTC special service

KSRTC would operate special services to Maramon from its different depots in the district during the convention period.

Construction of a large pandal (thatched shed) as well as footpaths leading to the convention venue is fast progressing on the riverbed.

He further called upon the faithfuls to make it a point to maintain the serenity and tranquility of the occasion, keeping in mind that “the pandal and the venue are sacred to God.’’

Theme ‘Arise Let us go forward “

117th Maramon Convention starts on 12th Feb 2012 and end on 19th Feb 2012.

117th Maramon convention 2012

117th Maramon Convention Panthal (Tent) Kalnattu

Maramon Convention, the largest annual Christian Evangelistic Convention in the entire world, will begin on the banks of River Pampa in Kerala on Feb 13.An estimated two lakh people are expected to attend each day’s convention which is set to conclude on Feb 20.
The convention, organized by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church, is known for its orderly arrangements and smooth conduct. Though some fundamentalist groups owing allegiance to the Sangh Parivar had threatened to disrupt the convention around 12 years ago, the controversy was quelled thanks to the swift intervention of the then government.
The convention has been conducted every year since 1895. People from all around India gather at Maramon near Kozhencherry in Kerala to listen to the speakers. Renowned speakers from all over the world have been part of the convention.
This year, Archbishop Roger Herft of Australia, N Barney Pityana of South Africa, Rev Canon Peter Maiden of England, Rev Ulf G Ekman of Sweden and R Rajkumar of Delhi, would be the speakers at the convention.

Besides the general sessions, Bible study class will be held from 8.30 am to 10.30 am from February 14 to 19.The convention will have guest speakers deliver messages from the Word of God in the morning and afternoon sessions on all the five days from February 14. A special session for women and campaign against addiction would be the important events.
The convention would be inaugurated by the supreme head of the Church Joseph Mar Thoma Metropolitan at 2.30 pm on Feb 13, Rev C K Mathew, general secretary of the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association told media persons. Also present at the press conference were correspondence secretary Raju Abraham Vennikulam and travelling secretary Rev Thomas.
Special prayers for indisposed would also be held.
John Philipose Mar Chrysostum Mar Thoma Valiya Metropolitan will lead the inaugural prayer.
Philipose Mar Chrysostum, Joseph Mar Thoma, Zacharias Mar Theophilos, Suffragan Metropolitan, Geevarghese Mar Athanasios, Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, Euyakim Mar Coorilos, Joseph Mar Barnabas, Thomas Mar Timotheus, Isaac Mar Philexinos and Abraham Mar Paulose will preside over the sessions during the convention days.

The Maramon Convention is a Christian convention held at Maramon, Pathanamthitta, Kerala, India annually during the month of February on the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Kozhencherry Bridge. It is organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association, the missionary wing of the Mar Thoma Church.

Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association.

By 1877, there were two factions in the Malankara church, known as Bishop faction (Methran Kakshi) and Patriarch faction (Bava Kakshi). By a court verdict on 12 July 1889 Bishop faction lost all the properties. Just before the verdict was given, on 5 September 1888, 12 members of the Bishop faction formed a missionary group called “Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association”. These 12 members are considered to be the founding fathers of the Maramon convention. The names of these 12 members are:-

1. Kottarathil Thomas Kasseessa, Chengannur 2. Edavamvelil Mathai, Eraviperoor. 3. Kottooreth Yohannan, Chengannur 4. Chempakasseril Kadavil Abraham, Kallissery 5. Chakkalayil Cherian Upadesi, Puthencavu 6. Chempakasseril Kadavil Mathew, Kallissery. 7. Azhakinal Thommi, Kallooppara 8. Nathaniel Upadesi, Chengannur 9. Kurichiath (Vattadiyil) Ittiyavara, Niranam 10. Arangat Philipose, Maramon 11. Ottaplammoottil Kunju Mathew, Kallissery 12. Kochumannil Skariah, Edayaranmula

They met at the Kadavil Malika belonging to Kadavil Abraham and Kadavil Mathew. This house at Kallissery near Chengannur was built by their grandfather Unnithan Kathanar and father C. Abraham in the early 19th century. (This historic Kadavil Malika was reclaimed by the Marthoma church and has recently been renovated and recommissioned on Saturday, 10 September 2005.)

Beginning.

By 1894 a number of small prayer groups were formed in the Methran Kakshi and this was followed by a big revival. They had regular meetings in various parishes. Because the number of people attending these meetings was growing it was decided to have a meeting of all these groups at a central place. The duty of organising this meeting was given to the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association and the first convention was held in 1895 at Maramon. By 1900 Methran Kakshi adopted the name Malankara Marthoma Suriyani Sabha also known as the Mar Thoma Church.

First Convention.

The first convention was held for 10 days from 8 to 17 March 1895. The venue was the vast sand-bed of the Pampa River next to the Maramon church. The parishes in and around Maramon – Kozhencherry helped in making a very large panthal (tent) to accommodate about 10,000 people. The main speakers were David and Wordsworth. On an average 10,000 to 15,000 people attended these meetings. On the last day almost 25,000 attended. There were no proper roads during those days. So nearby houses accommodated the people from far away places. Some of them came in boats and used them as their shelter.

Convention these days.
Maramon Convention is held for eight days during the first week of the Great Lent that usually falls in February. The tent has a seating capacity in excess of 160,000 people. They are seated on the dry sand bed. Old and weak are given chairs to sit on. There is also a smaller tent erected next to the larger one for people with infants and with children below 5. All around the tent there are temporary sheds and tents for various purposes related to the Convention. Stalls for the sale of religious literature, church offices and restaurants are allowed to operate in the vicinity of the tent under the strict control of the Church authorities

Programme.
The Maramon Convention is pre-eminently an assembly of Christians who once a year come here for listening to the Word of God as read and expounded by leaders of Christian thought from all over India as well as abroad. Preaching and Bible study occupy the major part of the convention programme. In the morning there will be separate Bible study classes for Men, women, youth and children conducted by specially invited leaders. In the mornings and afternoons there are public meetings and in the evening, meetings for men. Four of the afternoon public meetings are for ‘’Social evils awareness. Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelistic Association, Ladies sessions (Sevika Sangham) and Missionary Session. Though the choir leads the singing the whole gathering joins in singing. A hymn book with 101 hymns including 16 new ones are printed every year for the convention use. Everyday half an hour is spent for intercessory prayer. Also there are family gatherings, youth meetings and special gatherings after the afternoon session.

Leaders

In addition to the Metropolitan and Episcopas of the church, distinguished world renowned speakers addressed this convention. The Revd Thomas Walker, England (1900–1912), Sadhu Sunder Singh, Punjab (1918), Dr. G. Sherwood Eddy (1919), Dr. E. Stanley Jones, USA (1920–1968), Dr. Toyohiko Kagawa, Japan (1938), John R. Mott, Nobel Peace Prize winner (1946) and President of World Alliance of YMCAs, Dr. Bob Pierce, founder and president of World Vision (1964 & 66), Astronaut Colonel James Irwin, who spent a few hours on the moon (1985), Dr. John Haggai, founder president of Haggai Institute (1973), Bishop Donald Jacobs, Mennonite church (1974), the Most Revd Dr. Robert Runcie, Archbishop of Canterbury (1986), the Most Revd Dr. George Carey, Archbishop of Canterbury (1995), Dr. Samuel Kobia, WCC General Secretary (2007), the Revd Dr. A. B. Masalamani, the Revd Dr. Sam Kamalesen, and a host of others.

Special Programmes.

Social actitivities.

The MTEA attaches greater importance to a crusade against social evils, alcoholism and drug-addition. In fact an afternoon session in the convention is exclusively devoted for programmes against such evils to motivate the people to stand solidly against such evils and to take up programmes designed to route out such evils. Besides there are special sessions to focus attention on the ecumenical concerns, dalit activities, women’s issues and children’s programme.

Missionary responsibilities.

The Church is constantly challenged through this convention to fulfill its missionary responsibilities and to spread its service activities from Tibetan Border in the extreme northern end of Uttar Pradesh, to Kanya Kumari (Cape Comerin) in the South. Several service institutions of the Church owe their origin to this annual get together at Maramon. Destitute homes, Ashrams, mission centres, hospitals, leprosy clinics, schools, and colleges have been started in and outside Kerala, thereby creating a congenial atmosphere fort the moral, social and spiritual upliftment of the masses and for the social and economic emancipation of the poorer sessions of the community. Schemes for homes for the homeless, land for the landless, marriage aid schemes etc. have been started through the inspiration and challenges at the convention, long before such schemes were initiated by the Government. In this way the Church by and large, was inspired to become alive and responsive to the contemporary issues and challenges through the messages of the Maramon Convention. It was in this way that the Mar Thoma Church was made known the world over through the Maramon Convention.

Law and order.

Most interesting aspect of this convention is the discipline shown by the participants all through the convention, which has almost become an inviolable tradition. Police contingent is not required in the convention premises to maintain law and order.

Financial matter.

History of the financial matters is an interesting one. The panthal (tent), and the sheds are the voluntary contributions of the parishes nearby. Earlier, offerings were collected in every meeting. Now it is collected only in four of the 21 general meetings. The collection is distributed to various organisations of the church and also for the Bible society and CSSM.

Conclusion.

All those who come to the convention area will feel the spiritual liveliness that inculcates a self discipline. The unbroken prayer is the force behind the spiritual inspiration. The Maramon Convention displays co-operation and union between different sections of Church in Kerala. It fosters an ecumenical outlook. It is also a source of spiritual inspiration and enlightenment for thousands.