3 March, 1547: Seventh Session of the Council of Trent
The Council of Trent meeting in Santa Maria Maggiore church, Trento (Trent). (Artist unknown; painted late 17th century.)
At the Seventh Session of the Council of Trent, the Roman Catholic Church defines its theology of the sacraments. Arguing that seven sacraments are necessary for salvation; Baptism, Confirmation, the Eucharist, Penance, Extreme Unction, Orders, and Matrimony; the council rejected the teaching of most Protestants that only two were required: Baptism and the Lord’s Supper.
2 March, 1791: Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London
“John Wesley,” by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Founder of Methodism, John Wesley dies in London. Thanks to his organizational genius, we know exactly how many followers he had when he died: 71,668 British members, 294 preachers, 43,265 American members with 198 preachers and 19 missionaries. Today the Methodists number about 30 million worldwide.
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China
Hudson Taylor
1 March, 1854: Pioneer missionary Hudson Taylor lands in Shanghai, China. Hudson Taylor founded the China Inland Mission in 1865, and popularized the idea that missionaries should live and dress like the people they seek to evangelize.
I am no longer anxious about anything, as I realize the Lord is able to carry out His will, and His will is mine. It makes no matter where He places me, or how. That is rather for Him to consider than for me; for in the easiest positions He must give me His grace, and in the most difficult, His grace is sufficient. ~ Hudson Taylor
Many Christians estimate difficulty in the light of their own resources, and thus they attempt very little and they always fail. All giants have been weak men who did great things for God because they reckoned on His power and presence to be with them. ~ Hudson Taylor
Maramon Convention for Children
Children at the 120th Maramon Convention Pandal. Photo Courtesy: Photo Courtesy http://marthoma.in/maramon-convention
120th Maramon Convention for Kids
A pdf resource sheet for Parents / Sunday School Teachers to explain to their children facts and events chosen from the history of the Maramon Convention.
https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/02/120th-maramon-convention-for-kids.pdf
March 9 – 18, 1895: The first Maramon Convention
An undated early photo of the Maramon Convention. (www.marthoma.in)
The first Maramon Convention was held from 9th March (Friday) to 18th March (Sunday) in 1895 at the Parapuzha Manalpuram of the River Pamba (the location was situated between the famous Aranmula Temple and the Maramon Church) about one kilometer away from the present venue. It was a ten day event.
The pandal (tent) could accommodate about 7000 people. Mr. David and Mr. Wordsworth, both missionaries from Ceylon (today known as Sri Lanka) were the main speakers of the convention. Mar Thoma Metropolitan Titus I gave the leadership for the convention meetings. Deacon Kakkasseri Varghese of Kunnamkulam (7 July 1867 – 4 June 1897) translated the messages from English to Malayalam for the audiences to understand.
Pages from History: 2nd December, 1842 – Birth of Iype Thoma Kathanar (Kovoor Achen)
Very Rev. Iype Thoma Kathanar
2 December, 1842: Birth of Iype Thoma Kathanar (Kovoor Achen d.27 Jan,1917).
Ipe Thoma Kathanar was one of the prominent priests of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church. He bought the Panchayathu Purayidam (present SCS Compound in Tiruvalla, Kerala) for the Church in 1892 for Rs.600. It was he who started the Kettuthengu – practice of dedicating coconut trees from each house for the fund collections for the welfare of the Church.
Read more about his life in our free pdf Ebook: https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/very-rev-iype-thoma-kathanar.pdf
First Sunday of December – Bible Sunday
A Myanmar child holding the Bible.
The First Sunday of December is observed as Bible Society Day. It was the British and Foreign Bible Society, established in London in 1804, that first made a concerted effort of translating, printing and publishing Bibles in different languages.
In India, it’s auxiliaries were formed in Calcutta (1811), Bombay (1812), Madras (1820) and in Kerala (1956). Other auxiliaries were formed later. Even before the formation of the auxiliaries in India, the work of translation of the Bible to Indian languages had been taken up by William Carey and his associates in Calcutta. In obedience to the commandment of the Lord “Go ye unto the uttermost corners of the earth and preach my gospel”, the Bible Society aims at making available, copies of the Bible, New Testaments and portions of the Bible to
1.To Every Person in his/her own language.
2.At a price within his/her reach
3.In a style which is easily understood
It is in pursuance of this objective that it brings out special editions for students,members of the armed forces, in Braille type for the blind, etc. The United Bible Society distributes an average of 32 million full Bibles each year. In addition to that, they distribute enough New Testaments and Scripture portions to potentially reach 5% of the world’s population each year. In 2012 they distributed over 405 million Scripture items.
They also manage a growing social media ministry on Facebook and other social networks. The Digital Bible
Facebook page reaches millions of young adults every year. 71% report it helps them apply the Bible’s teaching to their lives. https://www.facebook.com/UnitedBibleSocieties
The Advent ( Lent from 1 to 25 December)
The 4 themes/candles of Advent with the centre candle for Christmas Eve (Image from http://www.beaconhillmd.org)
The Advent (Lent from 1 to 25 December). For Eastern Churches this is the season waiting for the birth of Christ. During this time the church prepares herself through cleansing and renewal for the advent of her Lord. It serves as a time of spiritual discipline and renewal in preparation for Christmas. Christians observe lent with fasting, prayer and self-sacrifice. The term is an anglicized version of the Latin word adventus, meaning “coming”.
Latin adventus is the translation of the Greek word parousia, commonly used to refer to the Second Coming of Christ. For Christians, the season of Advent anticipates the coming of Christ from two different perspectives. The season offers the opportunity to share in the ancient longing for the coming of the Messiah, and to be alert for his Second Coming. In 2014 the four Advent Sundays are November 30, December 7, December 14, and December 21.
In recent times the most common observance of Advent outside church circles has been the keeping of an advent calendar or advent candle, with one door being opened in the calendar, or one section of the candle being burned, on each day in December leading up to Christmas Eve.
Pages from History: 30th Nov 1945 – Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi passes away.
Sadhu Kochu Kunju Upadesi
30th November, 1945 (1121 Virchikam 15): Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi (b.Dec.1883) passes away. Sadhu Kochukunju Upadesi (Mr. Moothampakkal Itty Varghese,Moothampakkal, Edayaranmula near Chengannur) was a unique personality in history of the Mar Thoma Syrian Church.
For almost forty years he preached the Bible in simple language all over South India. He practised and lived the life of a Sadhu. He wrote more than 200 hymns, many of that are printed in worship books across denominations even today. Thousands turned to God by hearing his messages. He was the first General Secretary of the ‘Mar Thoma Voluntary Evangelists’ Association, which was founded in 1924, and he continued in the post until 1945.
His continuous travels and gospel work made him sick many times. But on Friday, 30th November 1945 he became very sick and called to eternal rest on 15 Virchikam 1121 (8.45 am) and was buried in the Lakha St.Thomas Mar Thoma Church Cemetery on the following day. The funeral service itself was a great honour for him. Two Bishops, more than 100 priests and more than 40,000 people attended the funeral service.
Read more about his life in our free pdf Ebook: https://nalloorlibrary.com/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/sadhu-kuchujunu-upadeshi.pdf
Pages from History: 30 November, 1979: First Catholic Pope to attend Eastern Orthodox service
His Holiness Pope John Paul II (left) and His Beatitude Father Teoctist, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (right) in Bucharest. Photo credit: (c) Artur MUSTATA / AGERPRES ARCHIVE
30 November, 1979: John Paul II (18 May 1920 – 2 April 2005) attends an Eastern Orthodox service in Romania, the first pope in 1,000 years to do so.
In May 1999, Pope John Paul II visited Romania on the invitation from Patriarch Teoctist of the Romanian Orthodox Church. This was the first time a Pope had visited a predominantly Eastern Orthodox country since the East-West Schism in 1054, the event that separated Eastern Orthodoxy and Western Catholicism.
On his arrival, the Patriarch and the President of Romania, Emil Constantinescu, greeted the Pope. He embraced the head of the Romanian Orthodox Church in Bucharest’s Union Square before a congregation of 50,000 worshippers. The Patriarch stated, “The second millennium of Christian history began with a painful wounding of the unity of the Church; the end of this millennium has seen a real commitment to restoring Christian unity.”
His Holiness Pope John Paul II (right) and His Beatitude Father Teoctist, Patriarch of the Romanian Orthodox Church (left) in front of the worshippers gathered to worship together.
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