Marth Mariam Samajam

Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam

Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam is the Women’s wing of the Malankara Orthodox Church of India. It is one of the major spiritual organizations of the church consisting of all-female members. The organization was founded in 1928 for the spiritual progress of women. The founders named it “Marth Mariam Samajam” after the Blessed Virgin Mary, whom they accepted as their interceding saint.

MARTHA MARIAM VANITHA SAMAJAM of our Diocese comprises of 3 regions namely Bangalore, Hyderabad, and Gulf.

BANGALORE REGION

• This region consists of 13 churches of which 11 are in Bangalore and 1 each in
  Mysore and Tumkur. Rev. Fr. Bino Samuel is the Vice President of the MMVS
  Bangalore Diocese and Mrs. Annamma James is the Regional Secretary. MMVS
  conducted regular meetings in every church and held 2 Regional One Day
  Conferences & A One Day Diocesan Conference.
• Bangalore Region sent 40 participants to take part in the Akhila Malankara the Conference held at Pampady Dayara from 27 to 29 April 2016.
• In the Annual Examination held on 23rd October 2016, 64 members from
  Bangalore Region participated.
• Old Seminary Contest was held on the 23rd February. This Region sent 6
  candidates to take part in this Contest comprising of Quiz, Elocution & Essay
  Writing.
• Bangalore Diocese sent 5 participants for the Leadership Training Programrd th conducted at Kottayam on the 23 & 24 of February.

Chaitanya Samskarika Vedi

MMVS started its Junior Wing known as Chaitanya Samskarika Vedi to include
young women of our Churches in the activities of MMVS. Many meetings have
been conducted at various Churches with the active support of the Vicars. Convenors
have been selected in every Church to push forward the inclusion of young women
in MMVS through Chaitanya Samskarika Vedi.
In the past one year, a lot of activities were initiated like Health awareness
programs on Cardiac Health, Gynaecological Issues, Cancer Risks, and awareness
etc. A class was conducted on Parenting which was well appreciated by the young
participants. Classes on Holy Qurbana were conducted regularly. We are proud to
report that increasing numbers of young mothers of our parishes participate in
these meetings while their children attend Sunday School Classes.

Sneha Sparsham Programme

Bangalore Region proudly reports its increased participation & contribution this
year. We are happy to inform that MMVS Centre allotted Rs. 40,000/ to this Region
and this amount was given to two deserving candidates here.

Charity activities of Bangalore Region

1. All MMVS Units in this region regularly collect money through Food sale,
Harvest Festival, Lent period contribution etc. and utilize this amount for
various charity purposes.
2. St. Gregorios Cathedral started its Woman & Child Welfare Organization
10 years back continue to feed poor children and donate funds to our
institutions caring for needy children.
3. St. Thomas Maha Edavaka runs a children’s home called Makkal Mana
where MMVS members of that Church support education and feeding of
the children.
4. All units in this Region regularly contribute funds to Snehabhavan at
Mysore.
5. Members of St. Gregorios Cathedral and St. George Church Indira Nagar
visited Snehabhavan.
6. Once a year MMVS members visit Dayabhavan at Kunigal and Snehasadan
at Vidyaranyapura.

Other Spiritual Activities

Friday fasting and prayer are carried out on all Fridays without fail by all units.
Visiting Old and Sick people are also regularly done.
All Units conducted prayers in their respective Churches this year on World Day
Prayer.
The Month of Bible Reading is observed from 15 July to 15 August. Women’s Day is
celebrated. Retreat during Lent of Mother Mary is also conducted.

HYDERABAD REGION:

• This region comprises of 4 churches in Hyderabad, 1 in Vishakhapatnam and 1 in
  Vijayawada. Rev. Fr. Mani K. Varghese of St. Mary’s Orthodox Church,
  Ramachandrapuram, Hyderabad is the Vice President of this Region and Mrs.
  Saramma John is the Regional Secretary. Besides the Regional Secretary, all 4
  churches have Unit Secretaries.
• They hold regular meetings in every Church and Regional meetings, every quarter,
  by turn in all 4 churches. On all Wednesdays and Fridays, Fasting and Prayer
  meetings are held.
• 10 members from this Region participated in the Akhila Malankara Conference, at
  the Pambady Dayara, from April 27 to April 29th. They also participated in the Diocesan One Day Conference held at St. Thomas Church in Bangalore on 9 July
  2016.
• One Day Annual Conference was held on 11th March 2017 at St. Mary’s Orthodox
  Church, Ramachandrapuram, presided by the Diocesan Metropolitan, H.G. Dr.
  Abraham Mar Seraphim.
• In the Annual examination, 20 candidates participated.
• This region also collected money very actively for Charity projects and generously
  supported our Andhra Mission, Mysore Sneha Bhavan, and Yacharam Balagram.
  They have also donated generously to the Centre for the Snehasparsam project.
• The churches in Visakhapatnam and Vijayawada are also very active in MMVS
  projects and initiatives. We proudly report the contribution by MMVS unit of St.
  Stephen’s Church, Visakhapatnam who contributed generously to furnish the
  Madbaha of the Elur Chapel, by donating the Thiraseela, Evangelion Tablecloth
  and Carpet.
• We are so happy that 5 members took part in the Annual Examination, from our
  the youngest unit in Vijayawada.

GULF REGION

Comprising of Ras Al-Khaimah, Fujairah and Dibba. We have been able to maintain good & regular communication through telephone and emails with this region. We are happy to report that they generously contributed to our Charity projects. However, due to practical difficulties, they are unable to participate in Diocesan
Conferences. 13 Members from this region took part in the MMVS Annual examination.

1. Ras Al-Khaimah

• This unit conducts meetings twice a month on Fridays after the Holy
  Qurbana.
• Every month, one Saturday is kept for fasting prayer meeting. Month of
  th th Bible Reading was observed from 15 July to 15 August.
• An Exchange Class program was organized on Holistic Healing by UAE
  Zone.
• Special events such as Martha Mariyam Smriti 2016, Cultural Events, Essay
  Competition, Medical Camps etc. were conducted.
• Mrs. Susan Koshy, UAE Zonal Secretary, visited this Unit.
• It is noteworthy that members of this unit made a beautiful garden on both
  sides of the entrance to the Church as part of the beautification programme.
• During Harvest Festival, a competition called Pachaka Rani was organized.
• A function was held in April 2016 to bid farewell to Rev. Fr. Skariah
  Mathew, the outgoing Vicar of the parish and Vice President of the Unit
  and to give a warm welcome to Rev. Fr. Iype P. Alex, the incoming Vicar and
  Vice President.
• Funds collected through various activities like Charity Tin Collection,
  Lent Cover Collection, Food Sale etc. were donated to Central Office
  Building Fund, Central Sneha Sparsam Charity Project and House
  Construction Fund for the needy.

2. Fujairah

• This unit conducts regular unit meetings, twice a month, on Tuesdays and
  rd Fridays in the Church and an additional meeting on the 3 Saturday of the
  month, in the residence of one of their members.
• Over the year, 30 meetings were conducted. Some meetings were graced by
  distinguished guests like the Diocesan Metropolitan H.G. Dr. Abraham
  Mar Seraphim, and Zonal Secretary Mrs. Susan Koshy.
• A class was conducted on “Holistic Healing”.
• The Unit hosted zonal meeting of Martha Mariam Smrithi 2016.
• Harvest Festival & Women’s day were celebrated.
• In the zonal competition, Mrs. Sheeba Varghese secured first place in Essay
  Writing and in the inter unit quiz competition, Mrs. Annamma Varkey &
  Mrs. Sheeba Varghese secured first & second palces.
• Six members took part in the Annual Examination and Mrs. Lija Mathew
  nd secured 2 Rank in the UAE Zone.