MMVS (Martha Mariam Vanitha Samajam) |
Martha Mariam Vanitha Samajam is the association of women in the Malankara Orthodox Church started in 1928 as prayer groups in the various parishes scattered all over the Malankara Church. Mrs. K.M. Annamma, the visionary lady behind the Samajam, and the Rev. Ramban Barskeepa brought the entire parish based women’s prayer groups under one umbrella - The Martha Mariam Vanitha Samajam. The head office is 'Vanithasamajam Mandiram' located in Kanjikuzhi, Kottayam. His Grace Mathews Mar Barnabas, Metropolitan of the American Diocese, serves as the President of the Samajam for the American Diocese.
The Samajam mainly aims at spiritual growth of women. It is named after the Blessed Virgin Saint Mary, its patron saint. St. Mary showed us a good example of supporting the Christian Ministry. By reading the Bible, we can see that St. Mary followed Jesus throughout His ministry, even to His death at the cross. Jesus taught us to pray, asked us to help the needy and called us to be the “light of the world.” Samajam members try to follow that in their daily life, living the motto of their organization - "Pray, Act, Shine.”