From available records and documents one could trace the roots of the youth work in the Malakara Orthodox Church to the early stirrings in the last decade of the 19th century, precisely from 1892 onwards. The immediate impact of the CMS mission of help to the Syrian church resulted:

1) The formation of the CMS church from 1840 onwards and
2) The development of a renewal or revival group within the church under the leadership of Palakkunnathu Abraham Malpan.

The historic Mulanthuruthy Synod of 1876 presised over by the visiting Patriarch of Antioch, Petr III condemned the renewal group which resulted in protracted litigations. The final verdict of the Travancore High Court in 1889 favoured the Malakara Metropolitan Pulikkottil Joseph Mar Dionysious and renewal group seperated from the church and subsequently assumed the name "The Mar Thoma Syrian Church". After the Mulanthuruthy synod the church was divided into seven dioceses and six more Bishops were consecrated. The youngest among them- Mar Gregorios Chathuruty (Parumala Mar Gregorios) consecrated in Dec. 1876 was placed in charge of the three southern Dioceses of Niranam, Thupanom and Quilon, where the reforming group was wide spread and strong. These events turned a new leaf in the chequered history of the Malankara Orthodox Church for the better.

Devout and dedicated as he was, the saintly Bishop was determined to meet the situation. He called a joint meeting of all the clergy (both priests and deacons) in three dioceses in 1892 at Parumala. After explaining the critical situation facing the church he organized "the Malankara Syrian Cleric Association" inclusive of all the clergy in the Church. He emphasized the great need of added Vigour on the part of the clergy to improve the pastoral ministry and starting preaching and evangelistc activities. The prime importance was given to spiritual organization such as Sunday School, Suvisesha Sangham etc. for the better nurturing of the members and evangelistic witness among the non-believers. The Edavaka Patrika, the official publication of the Church reported about the activities promptly. The Yuvajana Sangam at Niranam was lead and instructed by Malapan V.J. Geevarghese Vattasseril (Later Mar Dionysius). Under the leadership of Alumoottil George Paulose, the youth of Ayyam Pally- Cherai, Parur met with the aim of learning the faith, work to make up for the past failures and preaching the Gospel. Surch youth groups (yuvajana Sangams) met in different places like Ayroor, Ranni, Kottayam, Kunnamkulam, Niranam, Vanchitra, Maramon, Parumala etc. These were independent activities according to the local leadership without any central coordination. So isolated Yuvajan Sangams were working in various places. On his return from his historic pilgrimage to the Holy Land in 1895 Mar Gregorios all the more emphasised the need of spiritual activities with the cooperation of competent lay people. Imparting education to the backward communities was also insisted. This tempo was further strengthened even after his sudden demise in 1902, by forming mar Gregorios memorial suvisesha sangams in more places. The educated Youth was awakened to their responsibilities and consequently the Syrian students conference, bringing together all our students in Colleges & High Schools, was started in 1908 chiefly with the initiative coming from our educated youth in Madras. With the blessing of the the Malankara Metropolitan Joseph mar Dionysios and under the leadership of ramban V.J. Geevarghese (Later Mar Dionysios Vattasseril) the first conference was held at Thiruvalla. Balikamadom High School. This annual activity was carried on systematically in an organised way every year.

In the Silver Jubilee celebration (25th Session) of the Student Conference in 1933 at Balikamadom Sri. K.M. Cherian Kandathil, then lecturer in Madras Christian College, made the proposal that a similar parish-Centred organiztion be formed for the spiritual upbringing of Youths who are not students.

This idea was followed up through the Bethany Masika by young leaders like Fr. T.S. Abraham, Ayroor, George Vallakalil, E.J. John, C.M John, Puliyoor and others. Enthusiastic responses came from different quarters and the "Syrian Yuvajana Sangam" was formed in 1933 with Joseph Mar Severios Valakuzhiyil Episcopa as President and Fr. T.S. Abraham as Secretary With the exit of mar Severios in 1933 as embraces Roman Catholicism (Syro Malankara Rite) the samajam suffered a severe blow. Undaunted by the set back, at the initiative and encouragements of leaders like Pathros Mathai, George Vallakkalil and others aconference with a wider perspective was organized in 1936 at Mavelikara and Clery P.E. Daniel, (later mar Philoxenos) secretary of the Thumpamon Diocese, was made the general Secretary for the whole samajam and Metropolitan Geevarghese mar Philoxenos (Puthenkavu) came to the leadership, and till his sudden demise in 1951 he remained at the hem of affairs. So we have a potracted history beginning with the nineteenth century and as celebrate the "Sapthathy" now, we take into consideration the formation of the Samajam for the wider Church only. On parish level and Diocesan level the work was carried on till then.

In 1954 further development took place with the appointment of T.C. Oommen, Puthupally as the general Secretary of the Youth movement with Devalokam as the headquarters. But he couldnot continue for long. Metropolitan Mathews mar Coorilos assumed the presidental responsibility and Dn. K. C. Oommen (later Ramban Thephoros) became the general secretary. The annual conference held in 1958 in Puthuppally broke new grounds and decisions were made to start a publication with the name "The Orthodox Youth" as the official organ of the Movement. Dn. Daniel N. Varghese was appointed chief editor and he discharged his responsibility very ably till he left for Ethopia to teach there. During the tennure of Dn. K.C. Oommen, the number of units of the movement increased considerably spreading in Thumpamon, Quilon and Niranam Dioceses and activities of units were strengthend. We appointed a fulltime organizing secretary and Fr. T.G. John (Pathanamthitta) worked very ably as surch from 1958-60 and the units were strengthened in 1961 Fr. T.J Joshua was appointed general Secretary and with his vigour and eloquence he could multiply the number of units and activities further. We developed an emblem with the motto- Worship-Study-Service and new constitution was drawn. Publication of Bible Reading cards, Bible study, Seminars, regular meetings of units, helping the poor and needy etc. were emphasized. Work camps were organized in places like Chittar-Koothattukulam, Thannithodu etc to establish Churches for the sake of new settlers.

Regular annual conferences were the occassions where important decisions were made. Among the venues for conferences we find places like Kottayam, Mavelikkara, Manarcadu, Puthuppally, Puthen cavu, Pathanamthitta, Thiruvalla, Pathichira etc. After peace was established in the Church following the vendict of the Supreme Court of India and the mutual acceptance of the Catholicos and the Patriarch in 1958, conferences were held in the northern region as well. The conferences held in Karingachira and Piravom were very exiciting. Visits to leprosy hospitals in Nooranadu and Koratty attracted enthusiastic response from members year after Year. The movement spread to the dioceses in due course and now we can find local units in almost all the parishes belonging to our church the world over. In the region outside Kerala the Youth Movement and MGOCSM work Unitedly in parishes for the better. The present writer still nurtures the good memories of such working together in Bangalore, Coimbatore, Jalahalli, Culcutta etc. Infact the Youth movement and the student movement are the two wings of the Youth department of the Church just like the two sides of the 'Syndesmos' the World fellowship of the Orthodox Youth. We cherish happy memories of our participation in the Syndesmos Assemblies in Rattvik (Sweeden), New Valamo monastery in Finland, Moscow and Albania. Our members have served the fellowship successfully as Vice-presidents and members of the general and executive committees. This cooperation continues.

Beginning with H.H. M.M. Baselius Geevarghese II Catholicos of the East and Malakara Metropolitan we enjoyed the benign patronage and blessings from all the Catholicoses. Also we had the blessing and guidance from all the Metropolitans who are Diocesan Presidents of the Movement. It was under the presidentship of H.G. Mathews Mar Coorilos (later Catholicos Marthoma Mathews II) and H.G. Daniel Mar Philoxenos the Movement made significant progress in venturing forth to new dimensions. Their graces Thomas Mar Themotheus, (now Catholicos Dydimus I) Geevarghese Mar Osthathios, Paulose Mar Milithios and Jacob mar Ireneus added new vigour and vitality in their own way in establishing youth centre in Kunnamkulam, organising flood relief work in Idukki and holding annual conferences in centres even outside the Kerala region, such as Banglore, Madras, Bombay etc. The efforts to establish the headquarters in Kottayam was undertaken under the Presidentship of H.G. Jacob Mar ireneus and H.G Yuhanon Mar milithios, the present president had the good fortune to fulfill that hope in establishing the St. Thomas Orthodox Youth Center very near to the Orthodox Theological seminary. After a flowering period of publishing "The Orthodox youth" as joint venture of both the youth Movement and the M.G.O.C.S.M. under the editorial responsibility of Fr. Daniel N.Varghese, Fr.T.J.Joshua,Fr. K.L. Mathew Vydian, and Dr. Samuel Chandanapally, it stopped abruptly a few years ago. The services rendered by Fr. K.V. Samuel, Prof. D. Mathew and A.georgekutty as publishers are thankfully acknoweded.Now under the present leadership "Yuvajanam" is being published monthly.But one fervently hopes that one day "The orthodox youth" be revived with new file, vitality and vigour.

he role played by the General Secretaries is really great, for they bore the brunt of all the struggles in upholding the life of the movement, in Co-operation with the Diocesan and regional colleagues. The great contributions made by some of them will ever be remembered with gratitude. But for their enthusiatic enterprises we should not have reached the present stature. They include Rev.P.E.Daniel clery, Sri.T.C. Oommen,Fr.K.C.Oommen, Fr.T.G.John,Fr.T.J.Joshua, Fr.T.M.Varghese, Fr.Alex Kurampil, Pro.K.M.Kuriakose, Sri.K.M.Mathew(Retd.H.M.) Fr.Dr.K.L.Mathew Vaidian, Fr.Dr.O.Thomas, Fr.O.P.Varghese, Fr.Kurian Daniel, Fr.Jobson Kottapuram, Fr.k.Y.Wilson(Kalloopara) Fr.M.D.John and Fr.Varghese Varghese(the present secretary). Among the Vice-presidents we find a number of outstanding preiests: Fr.M.V.George(Mar Osthathios) Fr.A.T.Gabriel, Fr.Joseph(later mar Pachomius) Fr.Alex Kurampil, Fr.K.T.Mathewkutty(thumpamon) Fr.K.T.Varghese(Chengannur) Fr.K.G.Johnson & Fr.Ninan P.Kuriakose(the Present incumbent).

Among the treasures, we have M/s George Varghese, Koodathu muriyil, C.George Kaipattor, Prof.D.Mathew, Prof.Abraham Thalavady, M/s K.M.mathew(Thiruvalla), T.T.Kuriakose(kottayam) P.T.Pathros(Thumpa mon), K.K.Kuruvilla(Kottayam)M. Yohannan (Niranam)A.M.Philip (thumpamon)Mathew G.Manoj and Biju Panthaplavil (The Present incumbent). The services of all those mentioned above and a lot more together contributed to build up the OCYM as we see it today. An year long sapthathy celebration has been officialy inaugurated in November 13th 2005 at Pathanamthitta and many celebrations and activities are anticipated during the current Year. Looking forward, we need to have more commited workers to make what it ought to be. We need more Prisidents or Vice-presidents on regional basis. Congratulations to the formation of the new secretariate with more secretaries and the establishment of the The Youth Centre in Kottayam. Remember we have miles and miles to go before we sleep. I close this with the dictum

"Expect great things from God Attempt great things for God" :-    Dr.William Carey

Courtesy:- OCYM 70th International Annual Conference Sovenir
Published By- St. John's Orthodox Valiyapally Pathichira.
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