Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement OF INDIA (M.G.O.C.S.M)

M.G.O.C.S.M is the student wing of the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church is celebrating its centenary in Dec 2008.  The origins of this movement go as far as back as the early years of 20^th century, when a number of our young men went to madras Christian college for higher studies some of them, even after their studies stayed back in madras choosing their own carrier in different fields. These students as well as senior members of our church, resident in madras, experienced a king of richness in Christian fellowship as they participated in an annual student camps at Pallavaram, which the madras YMCA was organizing year after year. The help and inspiration that these young men derived from such camps prompted them to venture forth in organizing a similar camp for our students at home.  So after much prayer and thought they brought out the following announcements dated November 19^th 2007. “It has long been thought a necessity that some means should be devised to bring together the students of our community with a view to deepening their spiritual lives and creating in them a livelier sense of fellowship”. It was resolved at a meeting of the members of our community resident in madras thought that steps should be taken to arrange for a conference of our students studying in colleges and high school during the coming Christmas holidays. A committee was formed consisting of M/S A.A. Paul, C.T. Varghese, K.J. Jacob, P.A. Abraham, E.J. Philipose, K.C. Chacko, C.O. Oommen and T.T. Mathew. Thus the first conference was held under the patronage of metropolitan Mar. Dionysius Pulikkootil at the Balika Madam Girl’s High School, Thirumulapuram, Thiruvalla from January 1^st to 3^rd 1908.

               The next milestone came in 1960, when it was restructured and renamed as M.G.O.C.S.M after Mar Gregorios of Parumala, its Patron Saint. The high ideals behind finding of the Movement included bringing together the Orthodox Christian students of different educational institutions into one body in order to get them rooted in Orthodox faith and traditions and to strengthen them in spiritual life and Christian fellowship.

M.G.O.C.S.M is the oldest Christian Organization in India; the Motto is "Worship, Study, Service”. The Movement has grown as an international one with about 1500 units all over the world. It has been maintaining inter-disciplinary contacts in the academic field for a long time by the formation of its wings. They are the high school, higher secondary, college-post college wings; University, higher secondary, high school teachers association, medical auxiliary, technical auxiliary, missionary forum, literary forum and publication wing.

Our student centers at Kottayam, Trivandrum and Alwaye stand as fitting monuments to the continuous and tireless efforts of the Movement during the past years. Each centre provides hostel facilities in addition to Chapel, Auditorium, Reading room and Guest rooms. Any student of a college or a high school who belongs to the Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church shall be eligible to become a member of the Movement. Any person other than a student belonging to the Church and subscribing to the aims and objects of the Movement shall also be eligible to become a member of the Movement.

The greatest contribution the Movement has made to the Church and society is that it has prepared and provided able and outstanding leaders from time to time. Running in the centenary, the Movement looks forward to venture into new areas and to establish more centers for effective work.

The present president of M.G.O.C.S.M is H.G. Philipos Mar Eusebius; Vice presidents are H.B. Paulos Mar Militheos, H.G. Geevarghese Mar Coorilos, H.G. Paulos Mar Pachomios and H.G.Zachariah Mar Theophilius. Rev. Fr. Dr. V.M. Abraham is the present general secretary of M.G.O.C.S.M India.

We thank The Almighty for the Blessings showered on us and also seek the blessings of our Patron Saint Mar Gregorios of Parumala.