The Mar Thoma Church is one of the
historic Churches of Christendom and belongs to the
family the Lesser Eastern Churches.The Mar Thoma Church
retains its essential Character of the Eastern Church
in its liturgy and mode of worship, its ceremonies,
rituals and traditions. It also maintains friendly contacts
with some of the Protestant Churches.
The Mar Thoma Church is a part of the Ancient Syrian
Church of Malabar, founded in AD 52 as a result of the
missionary efforts of St. Thomas, the Apostle.
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.
The Mar Thoma Church has 9,00,000 members, 708 clergy
and 1062 parishes including congregations divided into
11 dioceses. The church has a democratic pattern of
administration with a representative assembly (Prathinidhi
Mandalam), an executive council and an Episcopal Synod.
The Church has been active in the field of education
and owns 8 colleges, 6 High er Secondary Schools, 9
High Schools, 15 UP Schools, 117 Primary Schools and
one Training School. There are several schools and other
educational institutions owned and managed by individual
parishes. The Mar Thoma Church have three technical
institutions.
The Mar Thoma Church has 30 social welfare institutions,
9 destitute homes, 5 Hospitals, 4 Camp centres and 3
Study centres. The Mar Thoma Theological Seminary and
7 other institutes cater to the theological education
of both clergy and the laity. The religious education
of the children is looked after by Sunday School Samajam
and the work among the youth is carried on by the Yuvajana
Sakhyam. The famous Maramon Convention held annually
for the last 104 years is a source of great spiritual
power and inspiration for innumerable people. As members
of the Mar Thoma Church, let us humble ourselves under
the mighty hand of God so that He may exalt us in due
time and use us for His glory for the extension of His
Kingdom in India and abroad.
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