Mar Gregorios Orthodox Christian Student Movement (MGOCSM), the student wing of Malankara Orthodox Syrian Church (Indian Orthodox Church) originated in Madras as a fellowship of students and senior friends which opened its way to an annual Student Conference. It had its primary thoughts and origin at Madras and the first conference was held under the Patronage of
Metropolitan Mar Dionysius (Pulikkottil) and presided over by the Very Rev. Fr.V.J Geevarghese Ramban (Saint Dionysius Vattasseril) at the Balikamadom Girl’s School, Tirumoolapuram, Tiruvalla from Jan 1-3,1908. The first committee consisted 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. The next milestone came in 1960, when it was restructured and renamed as MGOCSM 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. 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. 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. Heading towards the centenary in 2008, the Movement looks forward to venture into new areas and to establish more centers for effective work.
BLESSINGS FROM THE PRESIDENT
Apostolic blessing to one and all, The year 1908 saw the dawn of MGOCSM. Ever since its inception,. MGOCSM has made its mark in the Malankara Orthodox Church.. Thousands of Orthodox Christian students have been molded in the Orthodox Christian faith and traditions and many of them turned to be very eminent personalities. The activities of MGOCSM do not confine to a mere statement of the motto, but rather, is demonstrated by the philanthropic activities and the love and care it shows towards the poor and the needy, irrespective of their cast or creed. It is our desire and prayer that MGOCSM must be able to reach out to each and every student of our Church, so that they would be built up on a solid foundation of our Church tradition and faith, during there formative years.
MESSAGE FROM THE GENERAL SECRETARY
I have great pleasure to greet you all on behalf of MGOCSM and send my good wishes to all. I do hope that our Lord has greatly blessed us through MGOCSM, as the Student Movement has become an instrument to partake in His ministry and accomplish its fruitful service to reach the golden mark of completing hundred years in 2008.The Movement has great concern on the spiritual welfare of our youths all over the globe. I request you to pray for the Movement and its members around the world. I would like to remind you that you are privileged to be the members of a great Church, which has the history of twenty-one centuries; spirituality and traditions received from the first century Church. May God the Father protect you, God the Son guide you and God the Holy Spirit perfect you.
