SPIRITUAL organisations

A Brief History

Marth Mariam Samajam (MMVS) is the Women's wing of the Malankara  Orthodox Church of India, it is also known as the St. Mary's Orthodox  Women's League of India. MMVS is one of the major spiritual  organizations of the church dedicated to female members. It is spread  throughout the world and is functioning in all parishes of the church.

The organization was founded in 1920 and aimed at the spiritual  progress of women. The founders named it "Marth Mariam Samajam" after  the Blessed Virgin Mary whom they accepted as their interceding saint.  It was started under the patronage of the Late Very Rev. M.C.Kuriakose  Ramban and with the leadership of K.M Annamma and co-workers.

Achievements

St. George Malankara Church Vancouver BC is a very small parish with  few members and limited resources. Due to the vast geographical area,  people are spread across wide distances which makes the operation very  difficult. Despite all challenges, the Samajam is very active in  supporting the church activities such as; conducting product sales  during Agape or any other events held by the church, bake sales,  fundraising program, preparing children for cultural events,  participating in local events, etc. to name a few. The members belong to  all age groups, unmarried youngsters, young mothers to grandmothers  working together towards a common goal. 

The Samajam members are actively involved in making their members  ever more loyal to the faith and practices of the church by holding  prayer meetings, bible study, etc. under the guidance of the Achen. Our  Samajam members are also actively participating and sharing their views  on the administrative matters of the church and at one stage we had an  elected committee member on the church administration board.  Our  Samajam members actively participate in Retreats, Bible Classes, and  Competitions held both on the Diocese and Parish levels. They have won  several awards and recognitions. Our first MMVS Secretary was Mrs.  Annamma Philip. 

The Office bearers of 2024 are:   

Secretary: Kavitha Jacob

Joint secretary:  Reena Prince

Treasurer: Sosamma Saji   

A Brief History 

Prior to the official  formation of the Orthodox Christian Youth Movement, during the first  half of the nineteenth century, a spiritual organization called Yuvajana  Sangam was working effectively along with other organizations like  Sunday school, suvishesha sangam etc in then parishes.

In the year 1933 a parish–centered Syrian Yuvajana Sangam, (youth  league) was formed with the active leadership of Joseph Mar Severios  Valakuzhyil Episcopa (President) and Rev Fr TS Abraham (secretary).

The  historic conference in 1936 held at Mavelikara broadened the vision of  the Yuvajana Sangam and the Sangam was established as the official wing  of the Church with Metropolitan Geevarghese Mar Philexinos (Puthenkavil  Kochu Thirumeni) as president and Clergy P E Daniel (Later Daniel Mar  Philerinos) as general secretary.

In 1958 at the annual  conference held in Puthupally the forum officially accepted the title  ‘The Orthodox Christian youth movement’ and initiatives were taken to  start a monthly publication with the title Orthodox Youth (now published  with the title Orthodox Yuvajanam). The Movement continues its  spiritual journey with broader visions and effective Christian youth  leadership.

The Orthodox Christian Youth Movement (OCYM), the Youth-wing of the  Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church continues its journey to witness Christ  in the Church and society. It contributes to the goodness and progress  of the Church and community in the three-fold path of worship, study and  service. It aims at molding the minds and visions of the youth against  the background of the contemporary issues.

Achievement

The OCYM movement in our  church is in its infancy, we have fewer youths and much larger  challenges in organizing and managing events based on the group’s motto.  Efforts are being put to revitalize the youth movement.

A Brief History

Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM) is the  student wing of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church. Chennai being an  educational hub where many Malayalee’s went for studies, in the early  part of this century, few visionary students and senior leaders of the  Orthodox church felt the need for an organization to bring together the  students from the various colleges and high schools with a view to  enhance their spiritual life and to create sense of fellowship even when  they are away from their home town. Thus, they founded the Syrian  Student Conference in 1907 and first conference was convened on January  1st, 1908 at Tiruvalla, Kerala, India. Ever since, Annual conferences  have been a regular feature.

Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM) is the  oldest Christian Student Organization in India. It is the student wing  of the Indian Orthodox Church, officially known as the Malankara  Orthodox Syrian Church with Headquarters at Devalokam, Kottayam, Kerala,  India.

The motto is Worship, Study and Service.

It is the re branding of The Syrian student conference, the parent organization, assumed its present name MGOCSM in 1960. 

Activities

Here in Vancouver the unit is expected to meet every Sunday after the  Holy Qurbana, however does not always happen due to people’s  non-availability. The sessions comprise of prayer, bible reading,  devotional songs, classes/speeches, quizzes, personality development  programs, games, entertainment programs etc. Various other activities  which do justice to the motto are also organized.

Some of them are: 

-     Classes on faith, liturgy and traditions of the church.
-     Educational orientation classes and personality development programs.
-     Providing study materials, uniforms and other scholarships to financially backward students.
-     Awards for academic excellence.
-     Providing clothes, medicines and financial aid to the needy.
-     Annual grants to selected orphanages and charitable institutions.
-     Arts and sports competitions for Sunday School students, during Onam Holidays.
-     Annual tours to various Christian centers and other important places.
-     Quiz and Light Music competitions.
-     Publishing Newsletters and Magazines (for circulation among members only).
-      MGOCSM helps students to review the Sunday school topics, discuss  the disturbing thoughts, and doubts they carry, enlighten through  seminars and conferences etc.

It is our earnest effort to revive this unit in the future and make it more successful.

A Brief History

This is a spiritual organization functioning in all the parishes of  the Orthodox Church throughout the world. It takes care of the spiritual  nurturing of the children, by bringing them up in the knowledge and  fellowship of Jesus Christ and His Church.

The classes range from Pre-primary classes to the 12th class. As in  secular schools, class ten concludes the secondary level and a  certificate is awarded –Sunday school final Certificate (SSFC) to the  successful candidates. Higher Secondary course is for another two years.  We follow a curriculum, jointly prepared and published by the Oriental  Orthodox Churches which is revised from time to time.

The  vacation Bible School conducted during the mid summer holidays (OVBS) is  a very vibrant wing of the O.S.S.A.E. we publish separate text books,  devotional materials, song books and cassettes for the OVBS every year.

Achievements

We  have an efficiently running Sunday school program under the leadership  of our Vicar.  Our founding member of the Sunday school program is Mr.  Kurian Varkki who in the early stages, single handedly organized,  planned and conducted the Sunday school. With the passage of time many  others volunteered and the number of teachers increased thus making this  a wonderful place for the children of our church.

Our Sunday school program follows the official curriculum of the  Indian Orthodox Church. We believe that Sunday school plays a vital role  in empowering the children with the knowledge of God and helps  appreciate, understand and take pride of being an Orthodox Christian.  The classes provide children who participate with the basic  understanding of the Holy Bible, the faith and beliefs of the Orthodox  Church and the history of our church. In addition the children are also  exposed to the hymns of the Holy Eucharist and prayers.

Annually we conduct OVBS (Orthodox Vacation Bible School) which is  open to all denominations in the Vancouver region. For OVBS we get close  to 100 students of all age groups, the event is conducted between 3 – 5  days and various levels of competition is part of the exercise. People  generously donate to pay for the gifts of winning students and the event  ends with a gala dinner for all attendees and their parents, friends’  teachers, judges and specially invited guests.

Our students have won several prestigious awards at the local and  regional levels. The parents, teacher and church members take active  participation in helping the Sunday school to remain successful.

Our present Sunday School Principal is Mr. George Cherian.