Maramon Convention begins

PATHANAMTHITTA:  Supreme head of Marthoma Church Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan has said that progress achieved in society over the years has caused grave problems like corruption, violence, exploitation and harassment of women and the aged.Inaugurating the 117th Maramon convention, organised by the Marthoma Evangelistic Association,  on the sand-bed of Pampa  near Kozhenchery on Sunday, Joseph Marthoma Metropolitan said that the people across the world face grave problems consequent to materialistic progress.Joseph Marthoma said that the people have now distanced themselves from the path of God due to the improvement in the standard of living and are clamouring after  excessive materialistic satisfaction.The Metropolitan said that development in education facilities had resulted in improved earnings and the consequent exploitation of the less privileged. Hence, the progress achieved in recent times had created more problems than virtues for the people, Joseph Marthoma said.The metropolitan said even evangelists prefer to work in foreign countries instead  of serving the poor and  backward class people for their upliftment.Valiya Metropolitan Philipose Mar Chrysostum delivered the benedictory address. Evangelistic Association president Thomas Mar Thimothios presided over the meeting. Association general secretary Rev Abraham P Oommen welcomed the gathering.Rev Martin Alphonse delivered the discourse.  Geevarghese Mar Athanasios, Geevarghese Mar Theodosios, Joseph Mar Barnabas, Abraham Mar Paulose,  Mathews Mar Markarios, Gregorios Mar Zephanos, Thomas Mar Timothios, CSI Bishop Sam Mathew, Bishop Malusi Mpumlwana and Rev Kang-San-Tan were present at the inaugural meeting.Chief Minister Oommen Chandy,  Ministers P J Joseph and Adoor Prakash, MPs P J Kurian, Anto Antony and Kodikunnil Suresh, Chief Whip P C George, MLAs K Sivadasan Nair, Raju Abraham and P C Vishnunath,  District Panchayat president Babu George,  District Collector P Venugopal, Annapoorandevi, P Mohanraj, Peelipose Thomas,  D K John,  Rev Sam T Mathew,  P P Achenkunju and Thomas T George were among those who were present on the occasion.