The 116th Maramon Convention, billed as Asia's largest annual Christian religious meet, organised by the Mar Thoma Evangelistic Association (MTEA) attached to Mar Thoma Church, will be held on the Pampa riverbed at Maramon, near Kozhencherry, from February 13 to 20.
Addressing a press conference here on Wednesday, Fr C.K. Mathew, MTEA general secretary, Raju Abraham Vennikkulam, Fr. Thomas John, Abraham Varghese, K.K. Royson and Biju Idiculla, association leaders, said preparations were under way for the smooth conduct of the convention.
Archbishop Roger Herft from Austria, Prof N. Barney Pityana from South Africa, Rev. Canon Peter Maiden from England, Rev Ulf G.Ekman from Sweden and Dr. R.Rajkumar from New Delhi will be the evangelists to address the week-long religious meet.
“Where are you? Where is your brother?” will be theme of this year's convention, said Fr. Mathew.
Dr. Joseph Mar Thoma, Metropolitan of Mar Thoma Church, will inaugurate the meet at 2.30 p.m. on Sunday. Dr Philipose Mar Chrysostum, senior Metropolitan of the church, will deliver the benedictory address.
Dr. Zacharias Mar Theophilus Saffragan Metropolitan, Geevarghese Mar Athanasius, Geevarghese Mar Theodosius, Euyakim Mar Corilos, Joseph Mar Barnabas, Thomas Mar Themotheos, Issac Mar Philoxenos and Abraham Mar Paulos, bishops of Mar Thoma Church, will address the religious meet.
There would be three sessions at 10 a.m., 2 p.m. and 6.30 p.m. from February 14 to 20. Bible classes will be held separately for men and women at the convention venue from 7.30 a.m. to 8.30 a.m. from February 14 to 19.
The ecumenical meet as part of the meet will be held at 10 a.m. on February 16 and the meet against social evils will be held at 2 pm. Bishop Mathew Arackal will deliver the keynote address at the ecumenical meet and Dr. Thomas Mar Athanaseus will address the meet against social evils.
The MTEA general secretary said the family meet would be held at 4 p.m. from February 14 to 16. The Mar Thoma Metropolitan will deliver the valedictory message on February 20 afternoon.
The 101-member choir of the Department of Sacred Music and Communication (DSMC) attached to Mar Thoma Church will present music sessions on all the eight days.
Fr. Mathew said government departments, including the Kerala Water Authority, Kerala State Electricity board, Water Resources Department, Public Works Department, Police, Fire and Rescue Force, Health Department and the Kerala State Road Transport Corporation, had taken steps for the smooth conduct of the meet.
KSRTC service
The KSRTC would operate special services to Maramon from depots in the district during the convention period.
Construction of a large ‘pandal' as well as footpaths leading to the convention venue was progressing. Fr. Mathew said plastic ban would be strictly enforced at the convention venue.
