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 combining all the female members. It is spread throughout the world in all the 30 Dioceses and functioning in all parishes of the church.

The organization was founded in 1928 aimed at the spiritual progress of women. The founders named it “Marth Mariam Samajam” after the Blessed Virgin Mary whom they accepted as their interceding saint. It was started under the patronage of the Late Very Rev. M.C. Kuriakose Ramban and with the leadership of K.M. Annamma and co-workers.

Administration & Activities

There is a central committee with all the 30 Dioceses of the church, with His Holiness as the Patron. According to the constitution, the Central Committee—consisting of the President, Vice President, General Secretary, Joint Secretary, Treasurer, and Secretaries & Representatives from the 30 Dioceses—is the deciding body.

The Diocesan Metropolitan is the President of the diocesan committee, the Vice President is a priest from that Diocese, and the vicars head the branches. Each Diocesan Samajam has a secretary who encourages branch samajams and makes members loyal to the faith. Retreats, Bible Classes, and Competitions are held at the Parish, Group, Diocese, and Akhila Malankara levels.

There is a Leadership Training Camp held annually for 2 days. Annual examinations based on prescribed text books of church faith, Bible portions, and liturgical hymns are conducted inside and outside India every October.

Key Projects & Initiatives

* Other projects include the Navajyoti MOMS Charitable Society & Chaithanya Samskarika Koottayma for the upliftment of women.

Present Concerns & Future Prospects

• ✦ Preparing women for theological training (Divyyabodhanam course).
• ✦ Training women for social awareness, political participation, and decision-making.
• ✦ Conscientization programs for women denied basic human rights in the family.
• ✦ Training women to conduct prayer groups, Bible classes, and preach the gospel.
• ✦ Preparing cells to solve the problems of working women.
• ✦ Enhancing spiritual practices, observing lent, and finding dedicated Sunday school teachers.
• ✦ Continuing the struggle against the dowry system and other social evils.
• ✦ Persuading authorities for equal opportunities, recognition, and participation in church administration (Managing Committee, Working Committee, Advisory, etc.).

Milestones & Achievements

The Samajam was in the fore-front of the struggle to achieve equal ancestral property rights for Christian women of Kerala. Besides the central administrative office at Kottayam, almost all the Dioceses have their own headquarters and conference centers, vocational guidance centers, Nursery schools, self-employment projects, schools for the specially-abled, and Balika Bhavans.

Recently, many historic changes have occurred in the life of the Church through the humble persuasion of this Samajam:

• During Baptism, girls are now permitted to enter the sanctuary and kiss the altar.
• The tradition of only baptizing boys just after the feast of Epiphany has been changed.
• Females are allowed to read the Bible during the liturgy.
• Nuns are allowed to serve at the altar during worship services and Holy Liturgy in convents.
• Women are now elected as members and office-bearers in Parish administration.

Marth Mariam Vanitha Samajam activities are actively conducted across the Gulf, America, U.K, and Europe.