- Posted by Abbin
Monday 5 April 2010
Sunday 17 January 2010
Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam
The Mar Thoma Yuvajana Sakhyam was organized with a view that all the young people in the Church should accept Jesus Christ as their saviour and Lord, and bear witness to His saving power. It was organized in 1933 by a resolution of the Sabha Prathinidhi Mandalam. The first president of the Sakhyam was Rev.V P Mammen and the Vice- Presidents were rev. K E Oommen and Rev. C M John (later Juhanon Mar Thoma Metropolitan) and the first Secretary was Mr. V E Thomas (later Rev. V E Thomas, Singapore). Branches of the Sakhyam were set up in the Parishes with a four-fold programme of worship, study, witness and service. Mr. M M Thomas (later Dr. M M Thomas) was appointed as Organising Secretary in 1945 and he was the full time worker of the Sakhyam. Under his dynamic leadership, the Sakhyam struck deep roots and spread its branches far and wide.
Most of the Parishes both inside and outside Kerala have branches of the Sakhyam. A group of such branches form a Center(Pradeshika Group). There are a number of such Centres under each Diocese. The Constitution of the Sakhaym prescribes that the President should be a Bishop of the Church. Rt Rev Joseph Mar Barnabas Episcopa is the President and Rev Jose C Joseph Mathew is the General Secretary.
The Sakhyam publishest wo monthly magazines called Mar Thoma Yuvadeepam and Ripples with articles of interest to the youth and with focus on the needs of the Church and Society. It also contains Bible reading notes for daily devotional study. The Sakhyam also publishes an annual calendar.
Gospel tours are arranged to mission centers so that the young people get a first hand knowledge of the challenges and opportunities of the mission fields. Gospel distribution squads are trained to distribute the scriptures in different places. Youth conventions are held on Diocesan and regional basis to promote study, and dedication of life. Campaigns are held against alcoholism and other social evils. In pursuance of such projects a vigilance corps is operating. Vocational guidance is being provided in a few branches. There are also self-employment projects under the auspices of the branches and centers. The Yuvajana Sakhyam works for meeting the varied needs of the growing generation.
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Saturday 16 January 2010
Belfast MarThoma Congregation, Northern Ireland. UK
WELCOME
Worship & Holy Communion in Malayalam : Every 1st Sunday 3rd Saturday of the month at 10.30 am,
Place of worship : Belfast Bible College , Dunmurry ,Belfast
For details please contact
Secretary / Co-Ordinator : Dr.Binu Mathew K.Thomas,62, FinaghyRoad South, Belfast BT10 0DE,Phone :02890625452, 07760332048
E mail : belfastmarthoma@yahoo.co.uk
His Grace The Most Rev.Philipose Mar Chrysostom MarThoma Metropolitan Primate of All India , 20th MarThoma upon the holy Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas in Malabar established in AD 52
please visit the official web site of the church for more details about bishops & church at www.marthomasyrianchurch.org
HISTORY :
The Mar Thoma Church of India is an oriental church
In 1806-07 chaplains of East India Company visited Tranvancore and Cochin
The Mar Thoma Church which began in Kerala is now grown into a church with Parishes all around the Globe. The Head Quarters of the Church is in Thiruvalla, Kerala, India and the Primate is known with the title '' Mar Thoma Metropolitan upon the Holy Apostolic Throne of St.Thomas in Malabar ''. The Mar Thoma Church is an amicable blending of two characteristic tracts, namely, the Orthodox Church features and reformation (Protestant) ideals, or in other words, blending of Eastern and Western forms. This nature of the Church points to its uniqueness when compared to other Churches. The supreme authority of the Church is the General Assembly which is consisted of the bishops, the clergy and elected representatives of the local parishes.
The conventions convened time and again enriched the spiritual life of the people. Of all the conventions the Maramon convention which began in 1896 ranks first with respect to the large number of people attending it every year. There are around half a million members in this Church
The MarThoma church uses modified version of the Liturgy of St.James which is used in the Syrian Orthodox Church of Antioch and accepts the doctrines of the Three Ecumenical councils at Nicea,Constantinople and Ephesus. The church is in full communion with the Anglican church and church of South India & Church of North India and has priest hood communion in terms of Laying of Hands for the Apostolic Succession with the Independant Syrian Church of Malabar and ecumenical and social communion with Indian Orthodox church , Jacobite Syrian Orthodox church and the three Rites of the Roman Catholic church in India. The church has full membership in World Christian Council .
In Belfast there were very few members of the MarThoma church prior to the year 2000 and worship services were conducted few times by visiting Bishops & priests due to the efforts and intersts of the then members of the church who were living here . Members of all denominations from the Malankara (Kerala ) used to join for the worship . From year 2002 large number of Indian doctors and nurses came to UK and for higher training and jobs and many were from Kerala state which is the Malabar coast of South India.Thus members of the church gathered for regular prayer meeting & worship in Malayalam, the language of Kerala, India, and that led to the formation of a congregation of the MarThoma church .MarThoma congregational regular worship was started in Belfast, capital city Northern Ireland on 10th April 2005 at 62,Finaghy Road South,Belfast at the residence of Dr.Binu Mathew K.Thomas under the leadership of Rev.Thomas P.Koshy ,Vicar,St.James MarThoma Church London and the first official Episcopal Visit and General body meeting and appointment of office bearers were done on 27th January 2006 in the presence of the Diocesan Episcopa, Mar Coorilos Euyakim.