Pages from History: Malayalam Bible translator reaches Kottayam (1817)
March, 1817: The Great Bible Translator, Benjamin Bailey, reaches Kottayam.
Rev. Thomas Norton, was the first missionary of the Church Missionary Society to reach Kottayam on 19 June, 1816. A year later the second missionary, Benjamin Bailey and his wife Elizabeth, reached Kottayam on March, 1817. Benjamin Baily translated and printed the New Testament into Malayalam in 1829, and the full Bible was translated and printed in 1841-42. In 1846, he also published the first English-Malayalam dictionary. He returned to England on 20 March, 1850 after 33 years of mission work in Kerala.
Benjamin Bailey
Pages from History: Death of John Wesley (1791)
2 March, 1791: Founder of Methodism, John Wesley (b.17 June 1703) 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.
“John Wesley,” by the English artist George Romney, oil on canvas. Courtesy of the National Portrait Gallery, London.
Pages from History: CSS (Christava Sahitya Samithy) Tiruvalla (1925)
March, 1925: Establishment of the Malayalam wing of the Christian Literature Society. The Malayalam Language wing of the Christian Literature Society (CLS) was established in March, 1925.
Rev. V. P. Mammen, Mr. K. K. Kuruvilla and Mr. T. K. Kuruvilla were Mar Thoma Church members who co-operated with the Anglican Church leaders for the establishment of the Malayalam wing. After many years the name was changed from CLS to CSS (Christava Sahitya Samithy).
Christava Sahitya Samithy
Pages from History: 40 Years – No Salary – Selfless Parish Service – Rev. C M Joseph
26 February, 1876: Birth of C.M. Joseph Kathanar, Cheruvathur, Kunnamkulam (d..28 February 1943) was ordained deacon on 17 November 1900 and priest on 5 Jan 1901. During his 40 years of service as vicar of various parishes he did not take any salary or any monetary benefits. It was a totally voluntary service! He was the vicar of Kunnamkulam, Pzhanji, Trichur, Chennamkerry, Chalasserry, Varakkara, Vengoor, Kizhillam, Valakam and Kochi. With ten of his friends he formed an association” Kunnamkulam Mar Thoma Suriyani Suveshesha Prasangasangam” and he was the president for it for 35 years.
Rev. C. M. Joseph
Pages from History: Generosity Personified – Bishop Edward Alfred Livingstone Moore
25 February, 1925: Consecration of Bishop Edward Alfred Livingstone Moore (13 Nov 1870 – 22 Sep 1944) Fourth Bishop of the Anglican Diocese of Travancore and Cochin. He was consecrated in England by the Archbishop of Canterbury. He arrived in Kottayam on 10th August, 1925. He had a great concern for the people from the backward community. He ordained Rev. P. J. Isaac and Rev. C. I. Mathai – both from the backward community. He served the diocese for 12 years. He was a very generous man who donated his full salary for charitable work in the diocese.
Bishop E. A. L. Moore
Pages from History: Metropolitan Suspends Vicars for violating Sabbath (1881)
27 February, 1881: (M.E. Kumbham 15, 1056): The Metropolitan suspended several vicars for solemnizing a marriage on Sunday morning. One of the Vicars of the Maramon Parish solemnized the marriage of his son a deacon on a Sunday morning with the help of another priest. All three of them were suspended from official duties for violating the fourth Commandment (Observe the Sabbath and keep it holy).
Maramon Mar Thoma Church
Pages from History: Birth of Emperor Constantine (AD 272)
27 February, 272: Constantine, the first Roman Emperor (d 22 May 337) who converted to Christianity, is born. Though, some scholars question the authenticity of Constantine’s conversion (which came after he saw a vision on the battlefield), the Emperor did seek to settle church controversies, and he called the Council of Nicea in A.D. 325.
Emperor Constantine (Metropolitan Museum of Art # 26.229)
Pages from History:- Johannes Gutenberg publishes the Bible – 1455
23 February, 1455: (traditional date): Johannes Gutenberg publishes the Bible, the first book ever printed on a press with movable type. Gutenberg (c. 1400 – February 3, 1468) was a German goldsmith and printer, who is credited with inventing movable type printing in Europe and mechanical printing globally. His major work, the Gutenberg Bible, also known as the 42-line bible, has been acclaimed for its high aesthetic and technical quality.
The Gutenberg Bible
New York Public Library, 2009. (Author NYC Wanderer (Kevin Eng))- wikipedia.com
Pages from History: Formation of Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam – 1905
Formation of Mar Thoma Sunday School Samajam – In a meeting held on Saturday 25 February, 1905 at the Maramon Convention Pandal under the leadership of Rev.C. P. Philipose.
The following decisions were made:
1. All the Sundays Schools (52 Schools) which are run by various parishes of the church are to be included in this Samajam.
2. The name of this association will be “Malankara Mar Thoma Suriyani Christiyani Sunday School Samajam.”
3. Headquarters of the Samajam will be in Tiruvalla .
4. Mr. V. P. Mammen will be first secretary
5. A committee is to be formed for the running of the Samajam.
Sunday School – Mar Thoma Parish Sharjah.
Photo from http://www.marthomaparishsharjah.com/sunday_school.php
Pages from History: Inauguration of Vanitha Mandiram 1925
25 February, 1925: Inauguration of Vanitha Mandiram. To give training for the women workers of the Mar Thoma Suvisesha Sevika Sanghom, Vanitha Mandiram was established in Tiruvalla in 1925. A Church Mission Society (CMS) missionary Miss. Kellaway from Australia was willing to give the training and necessary leadership. After serving the Vanitha Mandiram for 20 years she returned to Australia in September 1946.
Miss Kellaway
Nalloor Library 